Story by Matt Avery Photos by Jason Brant and persuasions through the guidance of his father. “Consistently, the main thing he owned and drove were Fords and Mercurys,” Thomas recalled. Long before taking possession of a ride of his own or even his driver’s license, Thomas was tuned into the details of proper ownership. “Dad had a black 1956 Ford pickup that he drove every day, all through the dusty roads around town,” Thomas explained. “Even as a kid, I loved washing and keeping that truck clean for him, detailing it several times a week.” When it came time for Gary’s first car, his dad was there, A helping him through the process. And a process, it was. “Dad and I spied a worn 1951 Ford pickup abandoned in a field some 40 miles from our home,” Thomas said, noting that he had just turned 16 at the time. “Wanting to be like Dad and own a Ford pickup, I had to have it.” To make that happen, he saved up the needed $100 mowing yards, and on an early Saturday morning, he and his dad headed down to the lot and dragged the heap home. “After getting it in our carport, he turned to me and said, ‘Now you’ve got to make it run,’” Thomas recalled with a laugh. The young and industrious man did just that and even sold it a few short years later for a profit before replacing it with a 1968 Ford F150. From there, his love of old cars only intensified, especially his passion for performance. Lots of that high-octane interest was fueled firsthand by Thomas’ cousins. They were into drag racing and visited Thomas’ family from time to time, bringing their latest tales from the track. “I was always anxious to see and hear what Ford they were driving,” Thomas recalled. “One time, it was a 1966 Fairlane 427, another time, a 1955 T-bird, and then a 1968½ Super Cobra Jet Mustang. It was always exciting to see what they were running in competition.” native of the Lone Star State, Gary Thomas grew up in Odessa, Texas, and formed his automotive preferences MECUM.COM // 43
