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At first glance you might mistake Vernon Estes as a Range Rover or suburbanite SUV kind of guy. Truth be told, as he tries to avoid thinking about all together. “My first car was a 2007 Volvo XC90,” he said with a light-hearted hint of shame. Today however, with that early misstep firmly in his rearview mirror, Vern is the name to know if your blood pressure has even risen slightly at the thought of a classic Shelby beneath your hind quarters.
With a discerning eye and impeccable reputation, Vernon has amassed a collection of significant and historic automobiles rivaling even the most well-known names.
“I’ve been obsessed with cars from literally as early as I can remember,” he said.“I was lucky in that my parents recognized that I had a passion for something.”
Vernon Estes with his first Shelby. (Photo Credit: Tom Strongman)
I knew from very early on that I wanted to be involved in some way with the great cars. — Vernon Estes
For Vernon, whose early taste included early European grand prix cars, like Bugatti, Alfa, Silver Arrows, as well as classics such as the Auburn-Cord- Duesenberg, Packard, Peirce Arrow, and Stutz, further separates this Kansas City, Kansas, collector from your run-of-the-mill broker.
Vernon’s first ’65 Shelby believed to have 10,000 original miles due to its early life of drag racing.
I love all cars, particularly any sort of competition car. — Vernon Estes
What put distance between the rest for Vernon was Ford being the only American manufacturer producing sports cars which not only dominated domestic racing, but also went on the international stage and won big there too.
“Pretty much every American road racing car from the mid- to late ’60s is known for being beaten to death by Cobras or GT350s during that period,” he said.
Vernon makes no apologies for driving all of his cars including this alloy bodied continuation Cobra (CSX4227).
Living The Dream
Vernon’s first real car was number 6S825. A factory blue/gold liveried 1966 GT350H, which retained all of its original sheetmetal and drivetrain.
“It was a great car that a previous owner had loaded up with day-two modifications like an over-the-counter Shelby wood wheel, a bench seat, AM/FM Ford radio, alloy 10 spokes and a Cobra dual quad carter setup,” he said.
Can you blame him for trying to forget that Volvo?
Vernon’s first Shelby was this ’66 GT 350H.
“I made the mistake passing on a number of cars over a few bucks in the past but I have learned how difficult it is to find great examples of these cars and, when something great comes along, you just need to buy it.” Vernon explained. “There are plenty of great cars out there that don’t cost a fortune. Being a car enthusiast/collector has nothing to do with how much money you have. There are plenty of 10,000 cars I will gawk at shows than cars which can cost over $1 million dollars. Just because a car cost a fortune doesn’t mean that it is the most interesting or engaging car you can buy.”
It’s a recurring theme among those in the hobby.
Vern's ’69 black Mach 1 Double R-Code four-speed 428 Cobra Jet is about as good as it gets.
With no shortage of fun at his disposal, you might be surprised which non-Shelby has brought Vernon the most enjoyment.
“The happiest car I have ever owned was my 1952 Nash Rambler Wagon Green brier,” he said with a laugh. “It was one of few in existence and one of even less in the sort of condition that it was in.”
“It looked like a green jelly bean rolling down the road and was simply a smile on wheels,” the guy with a king’s ransom worth of muscle at his disposal added. “I have never owned a car before or after that got the positive reaction that car got.”
Vernon gives an appreciative nod to this a 1952 Nash Rambler Wagon Greenbrier as the best, most enjoyable, happiest car he has ever owned.
If I won’t drive a particular car or if it strikes me as one I wouldn’t actually use I won’t buy it. — Vernon Estes
“It’s just the whole ‘instant collectible’ image which is commonly associated with these cars bothers me a bit because it prevents people from having fun with them as they were intended.” Vernon, who says he has seen a shift in the hobby toward this trend, said. “If I won’t drive a particular car or if it strikes me as one I wouldn’t actually use I won’t buy it. I have no use for a 200-square-foot paperweight.”
Taking particular joy in getting a great car out for a few hours and “buzzing all over town or country roads,” he makes no apologies for enjoying his collection.
Vernon says he has no interest in average or sub-par cars even if there is money to be made.
“I have no interest in buying or selling average or sub-par cars even if there is substantial money to be made,” Vernon added. “My purchase decisions are based on knowing what I am buying is of substantial quality and value and when the time comes to sell that’s exactly what the new owner is getting.”
It would seem all those trips to the library as a kid pouring over car magazines has served Vernon well — even if it did start with a Volvo.
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