[DeTomaso] R.I.P. Bud Williams

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

In a message dated 2/20/17 2:29:01 PM, julian_kift at hotmail.com writes:


I have just learned from a Facebook post and confirmed in a thread on the 
Tiger Club forum that long time Pantera owner Bud Williams passed away some 
time early February. I have no further information on the circumstances, but 
Bud was getting up in years.


I recall meeting Bud at one or more Fun Rally's in years past, he came 
across as a true gentleman.

>>>Damn.

I wish I could say that I knew Bud well, but I really didn't.   Sure, we 
would see each other at the Fun Rally every year, and would usually have a 
long talk at one point during the weekend, but that was about it.

He was an unusually friendly and gracious fellow though--even though we 
weren't close friends, he always made me feel like we were.   Some people (few 
people) have that particular gift.   I also remember he was unusually 
empathetic when my longtime girlfriend died of cancer in 2010.

He had a small but terrific car collection that was very Ford-centric, 
including a genuine 289 Shelby Cobra, a flawless '65 Shelby GT350, and I think 
he had some Thunderbirds and other lesser (but still fun and interesting) 
cars including an original Mini Cooper.   He had a plastics business with a big 
plant in the Los Angeles area and set aside one of his buildings to store 
his cars and memorabilia.   He also hosted an all-De Tomaso Pantera parts 
swap meet on a few occasions.

He had a really, REALLY nice Pantera, which was featured in the 2007 No. 1 
POCA Profiles.   It's worth pulling it off your shelf to take a look at it.  
 He did a really nice job with it--as, it's fair to say, he did with all 
his other cars as well.   His Pantera was a time machine for him--when he 
rolled into the POCA Fun Rally, he was usually wearing 20+ year old Fun Rally 
shirts and an old 1970s custom-made black nylon jacket with his Pantera 
emblazoned upon it.   

He was one of those guys who was much older than he looked (or acted).   He 
smoked constantly, which was worrisome, but he was always trim and fit.   
When I first got to know him, he was already well past normal retirement age, 
but he was still working hard every day.   

I'm going to miss seeing him every year….

Mike
-------------- next part --------------
   In a message dated 2/20/17 2:29:01 PM, julian_kift at hotmail.com writes:
   I have just learned from a Facebook post and confirmed in a thread on
   the Tiger Club forum that long time Pantera owner Bud Williams passed
   away some time early February. I have no further information on the
   circumstances, but Bud was getting up in years.
   I recall meeting Bud at one or more Fun Rally's in years past, he came
   across as a true gentleman.
   >>>Damn.
   I wish I could say that I knew Bud well, but I really didn't.  Sure, we
   would see each other at the Fun Rally every year, and would usually
   have a long talk at one point during the weekend, but that was about
   it.
   He was an unusually friendly and gracious fellow though--even though we
   weren't close friends, he always made me feel like we were.  Some
   people (few people) have that particular gift.  I also remember he was
   unusually empathetic when my longtime girlfriend died of cancer in
   2010.
   He had a small but terrific car collection that was very Ford-centric,
   including a genuine 289 Shelby Cobra, a flawless '65 Shelby GT350, and
   I think he had some Thunderbirds and other lesser (but still fun and
   interesting) cars including an original Mini Cooper.  He had a plastics
   business with a big plant in the Los Angeles area and set aside one of
   his buildings to store his cars and memorabilia.  He also hosted an
   all-De Tomaso Pantera parts swap meet on a few occasions.
   He had a really, REALLY nice Pantera, which was featured in the 2007
   No. 1 POCA Profiles.  It's worth pulling it off your shelf to take a
   look at it.  He did a really nice job with it--as, it's fair to say, he
   did with all his other cars as well.  His Pantera was a time machine
   for him--when he rolled into the POCA Fun Rally, he was usually wearing
   20+ year old Fun Rally shirts and an old 1970s custom-made black nylon
   jacket with his Pantera emblazoned upon it.
   He was one of those guys who was much older than he looked (or acted).
   He smoked constantly, which was worrisome, but he was always trim and
   fit.  When I first got to know him, he was already well past normal
   retirement age, but he was still working hard every day.
   I'm going to miss seeing him every yeara|.
   Mike