Tom McComas evidently has two great passions in life — risking his life for your entertainment and the Ford Mustang.
A stunt performer in countless movies, including Star Trek: Into Darkness, The Dark Knight and The Town, McComas (below) always carried a torch for the Pony Car. Since Ford is busy celebrating the Mustang’s 50th Anniversary this year, the stuntman produced and narrated a DVD love letter to the American classic, Mustang: The First 50 Years. The two DVD set marks the 50th anniversary, marking the car’s influence on pop culture, films, music and fashion.
With DVD production credits via John Deere, Boeing and Lionel Trains, McComas and his father were contacted by Ford to produce this Mustang film for the birthday celebration. Father and son are huge car buffs and Mustang collectors — with junior owning a hanger in Southern California with their Mustang collection lives.
According to the DVD’s producers, the show tells the story of “America’s love affair with the Mustang through the eyes of collectors, enthusiasts, journalists and former Ford employees who were there at the beginning, including Gale Halderman (who designed the 1965 Mustang), Henry Ford III, Mustang expert Jeff Burgy, authors John Clor, Bob Fria and Matt Stone.”
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After McComas wrapped stunt work on the next Terminator franchise entry, he connected with Crave Online for a very Mustang-centric interview.
Tom McComas; Mustang is power and brute torque which, in my business, is important because when I do a reverse 180, I have to have power. Mustang gives it to me.
It’s the 50th Anniversary of the Mustang. What does that mean to you?
Ever since Mustang was introduced at the New York World’s Fair in April 1965, Mustang has captured the spirit of America – freedom, independence and adventure — better than any other car. And, amazingly, Mustang has been able to maintain that image for 50 years. Mustang is America’s car.
Would you call yourself a Mustang purist? Do you ignore the “lost years” of the boxy 1980s and such?
They had some not-so-great years — especially in the early 70s when the gas crunch made them lose their way for a while. But it’s an evolutionary process. All Mustangs played a role in where the cars are today.
With 50 years to work with, how did you make your decisions as to what to include in the documentary?
We set-up interviews with Mustang experts and enthusiasts from around the country and let them show us the way. We kept the segments brief, minimized talking head shots and covered the words with action shots of Mustangs. During the transitions, we went full-up with those glorious Mustang sounds.
Be honest. What do you think of the brand new 50th Anniversary Mustang? How does it look to you? Does it look like a Mustang?
I haven’t driven one yet but the reviews have been great. What I like about it is they made it look new while working in styling cues from the glory years, so they still pay homage to Mustang’s legacy while making huge technical and power advances.
What’s your take on the new Ecoboost Mustang? Can there be a true four cylinder Mustang?
With the new Ecoboost Mustang, Ford has done the impossible — combine performance and economy. Amazing.
My thesis: Any man who calls it a ‘Stang should be taken down with a wrist lock and pounded in the nuts. Discuss.
They’re the same guys who call San Francisco “Frisco.” Mustang has the largest and most passionate following of any auto nameplate in history, so there’s bound-to-be a few clueless guys. There are Mustang enthusiasts clubs all over the world. That will only increase now that they are marketing the Mustang worldwide.
When you buy a Mustang you are buying into a lifestyle. There are meets all over the country, Mustang folks vacation together, go on cruises. it’s an entire culture. No other car brand even comes close.
Mustang is America’s car.
