If you had the opportunity to build your own single-brand collection, which brand would you choose? For Gary Thomas, the brand he went with was Ford. Not only that, it focuses on high-performance models from the past, and a few from not too long ago. The Petersen Automotive Museum also calls Thomas’ selection “one of the best, if not the best, collection of Shelby cars in the world.”
Thomas’ assortment of Ford and Shelby models is so extensive that Petersen had to break it all down into a three-part series. So if you have about 40 minutes to spare today, these videos are worth checking out. And if you think it’s all about Mustangs, it’s not. There is also a good mix of other fast Fords in this video. That said, not the entire collection is shown, but that’s because there are around 200 cars under Thomas’s roof.
According to Thomas, it took him about 40 years to amass all the cars he currently owns. The Texan also has a neatly organized load of spare parts in his warehouse, along with other Ford-related memorabilia. Plus, some cars have a story to tell. One such car with an interesting background is a black 1968 Shelby GT500KR.
The GT500KR is a rare beast, but Thomas’ example is made even more special with three autographs. These come from Carroll Shelby, Lee Iacocca and Chuck Cantwell. Without these three people, the legend of Shelby, the GT350 and the Mustang would not exist. With these great names signed on the car, it is one of the most valuable cars in the collection.
But aside from the Shelbys and Mustangs, Thomas also spoke fondly of his black Sunbeam Tiger. The British roadster stands in stark contrast to the cars in the range, but there is a connection between Blue Oval and Carroll Shelby. The Tiger was designed in part with Shelby, the latter installing a Ford 260 cu in (4.3 liter) V8 in a Sunbeam Alpine. After that, Shelby stuck a V8 in the AC Ace, and the rest is history.
Thomas also offers a wide selection of Ford models from 1932 through the 1950s. There are street rod versions of ’32 Fords, as well as standard versions of the car. He also owns several 1939 Fords, a 1942 tractor and early 90s SVT models.
If you had the opportunity to build your own single-brand collection, which brand would you choose? For Gary Thomas, the brand he went with was Ford. Not only that, it focuses on high-performance models from the past, and a few from not too long ago. The Petersen Automotive Museum also calls Thomas’ selection “one of the best, if not the best, collection of Shelby cars in the world.”
Thomas’ assortment of Ford and Shelby models is so extensive that Petersen had to break it all down into a three-part series. So if you have about 40 minutes to spare today, these videos are worth checking out. And if you think it’s all about Mustangs, it’s not. There is also a good mix of other fast Fords in this video. That said, not the entire collection is shown, but that’s because there are around 200 cars under Thomas’s roof.
According to Thomas, it took him about 40 years to amass all the cars he currently owns. The Texan also has a neatly organized load of spare parts in his warehouse, along with other Ford-related memorabilia. Plus, some cars have a story to tell. One such car with an interesting background is a black 1968 Shelby GT500KR.
The GT500KR is a rare beast, but Thomas’ example is made even more special with three autographs. These come from Carroll Shelby, Lee Iacocca and Chuck Cantwell. Without these three people, the legend of Shelby, the GT350 and the Mustang would not exist. With these great names signed on the car, it is one of the most valuable cars in the collection.
But aside from the Shelbys and Mustangs, Thomas also spoke fondly of his black Sunbeam Tiger. The British roadster stands in stark contrast to the cars in the range, but there is a connection between Blue Oval and Carroll Shelby. The Tiger was designed in part with Shelby, the latter installing a Ford 260 cu in (4.3 liter) V8 in a Sunbeam Alpine. After that, Shelby stuck a V8 in the AC Ace, and the rest is history.
Thomas also offers a wide selection of Ford models from 1932 through the 1950s. There are street rod versions of ’32 Fords, as well as standard versions of the car. He also owns several 1939 Fords, a 1942 tractor and early 90s SVT models.