Shif ting into the shoebox era, the lot contains a pair of 1951 Mercury boulevard-cruising classics: a highly original unrestored coupe equipped with a 255 CI flathead V-8 and a maroon sedan with 59,437 believed-original miles. There are also vehicles from the 1960s, including a Corinthian White 1960 Ford Thunderbird in highly original unrestored condition with 38,645 believed-original miles, a black-on-black 1962 Mercury S-55 hardtop, which is one of only 2,772 produced that year and a 1963 Ford Galaxie 500XL equipped with a factory R-code 427 CI V-8 engine. From there, Thomas has rounded up a stable-full of vintage Mustangs as well. There’s a 1965 pace car edition—one of 185 produced—and a slew of Shelbys, including a Wimbledon White 1967 GT500 fastback, a 1968 GT350H fastback—one of 233 produced—a 1968 GT500 conver tible and a Royal Maroon 1969 GT350 fastback with the correct Cobra dress- up kit. A quartet of colorful Boss Mustang fastbacks are also punched in comprising an eye-searing Bright Yellow 1969 Boss 302 and a trio of 1970 examples in Calypso Coral, Medium Lime Metallic green and yellow. Rounding out the herd are two more Mustangs in highly original, unrestored condition: a Medium Lime 1970 Mustang Grande with 39,250 miles and a 1970 Mustang Fastback in Grabber Orange with a white interior. The Texan can’t shake his Ford truck roots, and as such, Thomas’ collection includes a 1985 Ford XLT Lariat pickup. The Wimbledon White hauler shows 43,705 miles on the odometer and was sold new at Fred Jones Ford, Inc., in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Rounding out his Indy-bound collection are a few other rolling classics hailing from other American makes, including a French Gray 1948 Cadillac Series 62 convertible in highly original condition with 55,045 believed-original miles, an iconic 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air in Skyline Blue and Ivory two-tone in highly original, unrestored condition with 34,620 miles and a 1968 AMC AMX, one of 6,700 produced that year. It’s an impressive assortment, assembled by one passionate individual who learned firsthand from Dad at a young age the value of hard work, the benefits of maintenance on machinery and the lifelong satisfaction that results from caring for rolling pieces of automotive history. Some might know Texas for its black gold, but come May, eager bidders and collectors will have their chance to own their slice of another precious resource from the Lone Star State: vintage iron from the Gary Thomas Collection. OFFERED MAY 20 AT INDY 2022 MECUM.COM // 45
