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s Americans, we tend to reach for the nostalgic, always reminiscing about the “good old days,” when cars were fast and things were built to last. Many of us would agree that some of our most prized possessions may not be prizes at all, but they mean the world to those of us who own them. Think of a family heirloom that has dozens of stories or your grandpa’s beat up old Chevy that you restored to its old glory.
These prized possessions become more valuable to us as they age and even spark collections from time to time. One such instance occurred to Dean Smith after acquiring a 1934 Ford street rod. After rebuilding the Ford model made infamous by the outlaws Bonnie and Clyde, Dean built himself a shop to carefully house the street rod. A man’s love for his vintage car sparked a collection like none other. The shop quickly took on an antique gas station vibe and Dean’s patina passion was born. For over 35 years, Dean has been collecting vintage oil and gas signs, gas pumps, oilcans, tobacco cans, and many other antique advertising pieces. “I like Texas stuff,” says Smith, “you just can’t get enough of the old stations and how [things] were made to last forever.” If a collector truly can have a favorite, one that is special is his Panhandle Texas 18 Our Hometowns | Fall 2019