At The Wheel: Tom's T-Topped Turbo

My name: Tom
My age: 30
My profession: Disney Animation
City/town: Burbank, CA
Relationship status: Involved
Sexuality: Gay

Do you like to take road trips in your car?  Describe your favorite road trip -- where did you go? What did you do?

Yes I love road trips! I took my 1988 Shelby Z with T-Tops from Los Angeles to Seattle and back in the summer of 2003. I drove the coast on highway 1 going up, and the 5 freeway coming back. It was a blast driving along the coast. I took a zillion pictures and drove with the t-tops out most of the way. Despite being summer it was cold along the coast in some places, so I was often driving with the heat on while wearing a knit hat and my leather coat. The car returned over 33 miles per gallon, despite the fact that I enjoyed tipping into the throttle and enjoying the turbo boost.

Do you like tinkering under the hood, or do you leave repairs and routine maintenance to your mechanic?

I do as much as I can myself. Oil changes, and maintenance stuff for sure. The other stuff I trust to my mechanic. When I was restoring one of my cars I did all the interior restoration myself, replaced the carpet, re-dyed the plastic, headliner, etc. The cool thing about my car is that even with all the electronics and computer, I can still interface with it via the check engine light and not have to get a scanner to get fault codes.

What is the best thing that you like about your ride?

That it is as unique as me! Seriously, I love the styling. If I was every a car this is what I’d be. Not to mention the fact that it’s a somewhat rare and overlooked car from the 80’s. If you look at the production numbers of my cars, there weren’t many like them when new in 88, so imagine how few there are now 21 years later.

What special touches have you added to your car that reflect your personality and individuality?

I’m really anal about my cars, and can’t stand most aftermarket stuff. I like clean original the best. Therefore most of the mods are things that look really original, but might have been modified where you can’t see. I’ve got a custom plate on one, and some fuzzy dice, but otherwise they are bone stock.

What is the most you’ve ever paid for a car?  What is the most you would ever pay for a car?

The most I ever paid was $33k for my BMW, and I think that is a lot. Generally I am pretty frugal but willing to pay more for a clean unmolested original. Probably will not spend that much again anytime soon.

Do you have a great memory of a date that relates to you car?  Describe that night (or day).

Funny, but the cars never seemed to be a big part of any date; they just got me there or back.

Do you find yourself more attracted to people with similar car tastes to your own?  Or doesn’t it matter?

I am the only gay guy out there who appreciates fwd Shelby/Turbo Dodges from the 80’s. I accepted that fact along time ago. My BF is also a car nut, but he has drastically different taste, and his Dad builds Custom cars, the rockabilly kind. He loves old cars and stuff from the 70’s, but doesn’t really appreciate my stuff much….but then again I want to gag when I think of most cars from the 70’s. It doesn’t bother me at all, because despite not liking the same stuff, we both understand how important our cars are to the other.

If you had an unlimited budget and could change anything you wanted on your car, what modifications or accessories would you add?

If this were the case I’d be like Jay Leno, but with a garage full of 80’s cars, and a staff to restore them to a like new condition. Most of the cars would be Shelby Dodge cars, Taurus SHO’s, and a mix of other stuff from 85-96 or so.

Do you think your car has a personality or soul? What kind of sound or behavior does it have that makes it unmistakably your car?

Absolutely! Each one is very unique in it’s own way. Each one has a personality, and I swear they have moods just like people. Some are kind of high strung, others are more relaxed. I think for me the one sound I love more than any other is the high-pitched whistle that you hear as the turbo starts to boost. It’s a sound I love, and I know that once I hear it, the power is about to come on strong.

Do you have a nickname for your car?

Nope, they seem to be referred to by there color or model year.

 Have you upgraded the car stereo? What is your "dream" sound system?

I’ve resto-modified them in ways. My cars came with the Chrysler Infinity stereo, which for 88 was a pretty decent system and very good by OEM standards at the time. In fact the cars even have the original slave cd player, which was a $400 option in 1988 the first year it was offered. The down side is the amps are built into the speakers and are slowly dying one at a time. Finding working ones or getting them repaired is almost impossible now. So I am keeping the head units, but will discretely add aftermarket amps and speakers in their place. My dream system is one I can hear and feel clearly at freeway speed with the t-tops out and the windows down.

What aspect of your ride most attracted you when you decided to own and drive it?

It was like I found my soul mate, at least that how it felt in 1988 when I sat in one new in the showroom. Ironically my first Daytona as I started collecting them was almost identical to the one I had sat in as a kid.

Have you ever pushed your car to its performance limit? What was the fastest speed?

Pretty close, I took one of my Daytona’s to Willow Springs for a track day, and had a blast! Pushed the car hard, but never ever found the total limits of it, got it up to 140 or so on the straight away, which is pretty much about the top speed they can do.

Are you a member of any car clubs or other auto related organizations?

Great Autos of Yesteryear. And I am on a few online message boards pertaining to my cars.

What was the first car you ever had? Do you ever get nostalgic for it?

1992 F-150 truck. Yes, in fact I still have dreams about it.

If you could trade your ride in for any other car, what would it be, regardless of the price?

Nope, happy with what I have!

If you share a burning passion for your car like thousands of other gays, now you have a chance to let the world know. We don't just want to see your auto obsession, we want to hear all about it!