The SHELBY AMERICAN
330 Fall 2015
LA SAAC’s TONY SOUSA CAR SHOW AT THE SANTA MONICA PIER
September 19, 2015.
The 11th an-
nual Santa Monica show, put on by the
LA SAAC region, is held on the fa-
mous Santa Monica Pier. The show
has been honoring the memory of Tony
Sousa, a ‘65 GT350 owner who was
one of the region’s most active mem-
bers prior to passing away in 2005. He
purchased 5S515 in 1987 and in 1994
he drove the car across the country in
the Mustangs Across America rally. In
2003 he also drove it to Dearborn for
Ford’s 100th Anniversary celebration.
He drove the car to all west coast con-
ventions and was an inspiration to all
LA SAAC members.
It is interesting to note that this
show is the only car event held on
Santa Monica’s famous pier and it is
an official city-sponsored event. A
source inside the club close to Jay
Leno reported that Leno was slated to
take possession of a new GT350R and
it was suggested that the car be deliv-
ered to him at the show. The plan was
that Galpin Ford, one of the show’s
sponsors, was going to have Beau
Brockman, one of the dealership’s
principals, present the car. It would
have made a nice focal point if all the
planets had been in alignment, but
they weren’t.
None of the new GT350Rs were
available so Ford sent Leno a 2015
street GT350 and drove it to the show
and then chatted up the new GT350R.
He said he couldn’t wait to get his. LA
SAAC had an excellent showing of
1965 and 1966 GT350s to commemo-
rate the cars’ 50th Anniversary and
also to backstop the new car. The
GT350s included a pair of back-to-
back cars, 5S258 and 5S259. Best of
Show was awarded to #5029, one of
the three original Carroll Shelby
School of High Performance Driving
GT350s. It is owned by Bruce
Kawaguchi.
Photos by Bob Cassling.