Although Old Salem Chapter AACA member Tommy Gentry has always enjoyed antique and classic cars, he didn’t really get into it until he purchased one about 10 years ago.
While he says it’s more of a rat rod, Gentry said it is a 1949 Chevrolet pickup truck.
“I’ve also had a 1966 American Motors Rambler Rogue, but I sold it,” he said. “I started getting more into antique cars when I started getting into antiques and I even have an antique shop myself in Ellisboro.”
While his Chevrolet is a little rusty, Gentry said it has all of the conveniences of a modern vehicle.
“When I got it, I fixed it up original and drove it down the road, but when it about knocked my teeth out I changed all that,” he said.
Gentry got the car while he was working as a body shop manager, noting that he worked in a body shop for 40 years before retiring.
“I was driving someone home from work one day and he had the car underneath a pile of damaged taillights. I asked him what was under all of them and he showed me the car,” he shared. “I told him if he ever wanted to get rid of it to give me a call.”
Gentry said one day, the gentleman pulled up with the truck and gave it to him. When asked how much he wanted for it, the guy told him nothing, that he was the best boss he ever had.
While he said the car is a lot of fun and he enjoys driving it in parades and taking it to car shows, he said more than anything, it has a lot of sentimental value.
“I also like that it’s something that no one has on the street anymore,” he said.
Gentry said he joined the Old Salem Chapter AACA about five years ago, just before retiring from the body shop.
“It’s a lot of fun and we go to a lot of shows and do a lot of good things for the community, too,” he said. “I also love going to the cruise-ins. Kernersville probably has one of the best cruise-ins in the state. The whole town is full of old cars and I just love going down there to talk to people and meet people.”
