Rare Fords in the Pacific Northwest
Written by Keith Fudge

A short time ago, Dennis Gage and the crew from My Classic Car had the chance to see one of the most quality collections of low-mileage vintage cars anywhere.  Gary McKay of Tacoma, Washington is the owner of this stellar group of cars.  On a bright and sunny day in Tacoma, Dennis visited with Gary to take a look at some of these marvelous vehicles.

The first car that Gary showed Dennis was a primo 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 XL.  The factory red paint is all still original and no wonder!  This car only has 9,000 original miles on it!  In addition, this is no “run-of-the-mill” Galaxie.  This car was built for nothing but business and featured a 427 cubic-inch engine with dual four-barrel carburetors from the factory.  The car is also equipped with a factory four-speed transmission.  Just to prove that this baby was built to race, there is no power steering, no power brakes, and no air conditioning.  This car is a pristine example of a factory-built racer!  While Gary’s interests primarily reside within the Blue Oval, that loyalty does not keep him from appreciating other outstanding low-mileage muscle cars from other manufacturers.  A case in point is his flawless 1966 Plymouth Satellite.  This car is totally original except for new wheels and tires.  Gary says that the car drives like new, and it should.  It only has 1,700 actual miles!  Sporting a factory console and automatic transmission, the interior is stunning, but the real story is what lies under the hood in the form of the legendary 426 Hemi engine.  Also a factory racer, this car has no power steering or power brakes.  Another great car in Gary’s collection is a 1962 Chevy Bel Air Bubbletop.  This car has the historic 409 engine, but this one is not just any 409.  This rare rod is equipped with the Z11 racing version of the engine.  These engines were dealer installed and featured such high-performance goodies as dealer-installed heads and a two-piece intake manifold.  This car is just immaculate and has twice won awards at the Chevy Nationals.  Next up, Gary showed Dennis a pair of go-fast Fords.  First, there was one of the sweetest street rods that we have ever seen in the form of a 1939 Ford.  Featuring a fuel-injected Flathead engine, Gary describes this car as being subject to “subtle improvements.”  The car is not radical in terms of design or refinement but features all the comforts that one would ever need such as power windows, air conditioning, cruise control, a tilt steering wheel, and a CD changer.  Gary installed a dash from a 1940 Ford Deluxe that accommodates all the updates nicely.  Gary describes the car as “comfortable.”  We can easily see why it is fun to drive!  The next car that Gary showed Dennis was another factory racer and a rare one at that:  a 1966 Ford Fairlane Lightweight.  With a factory fiberglass hood (without hinges no less) and without insulation or sound deadener in the car, this bright white beast could get down and dirty with the best of them.  Gary said that this car was really a rare one and that only 57 were ever built.  This one is # 53.  He also noted that really the only way to get one was to know somebody.  Gary went on to say that this is his favorite musclecar of those that he owns.  Finally, Gary showed Dennis a car that simply took his breath away:  a 1961 Ford Starliner.  These cars were only made in 1960 and 1961, and this one was equipped with the 390 Hi-Po engine!  From the factory, this engine was rated at 375 horsepower if the motor was equipped with a single four-barrel carburetor, or it produced 401 horsepower if the engine had the three-deuce option.  We were lucky enough to see the tri-power setup up close and personal on this one!  In addition, Gary said that the high-compression engine is equipped with a solid lifter cam and factory shorty headers!  Gary mentioned to Dennis that he purchased the car in the process of being restored and that he upgraded it here and there including a restoration of the interior to its original state.  He noted that the car had only been finished for a couple of weeks.  Well, you know Dennis.  He wasted no time in mentioning to Gary that it was a beautiful sunny day in Tacoma.  Gary quickly agreed and noted that they should take advantage of it.  Soon, Gary was behind the wheel of the Starliner, and he and Dennis were cruising the streets of Tacoma.  Dennis remarked that the car seemed just like new, and Gary responded that is exactly how it felt from behind the wheel.  After a good drive, Dennis and Gary swapped places and Dennis manned the Ford for the trip home.

It was a great day in Tacoma.  Great cars, fabulous weather, and fantastic company! Gary, thanks for sharing your collection with us!  That’s it from the Pacific Northwest.  So until our next trip, “Honor the timeless classics.  Happy Motoring!”