Anybody heard of a Ford Thunderbolt?

[Micah]

Yesterday at work I saw a Black Ford Ranger for sale. It was the most recent body style. It was all black with 2 huge hood scoops. On the side it had a badge that said "Thunderbolt" and had a lightning bolt right under it. I searched and I only came up with this: Link And that's a lightning bolt. Has anyone ever seen or heard of one of these? Is it like a small Lightning?

 

[JasonD]

Was it this?

http://www.slpeng.com/vehicles/thunderbolt/index.shtml

 

[Little6pack]

I thought the old 60's fairlane was called a thunderbolt?

 

[fireberd350]

there was a 60's thunderbolt from ford that was basically a factory race car....think they ran 10's w/ some slicks and gas

 

[Micah]

Originally posted by JasonD
Was it this?

http://www.slpeng.com/vehicles/thunderbolt/index.shtml

Yes, that's exactly it. The black one anyway. Well I'm a whole lot less impressed now. I like the one in my link better

 

[gnturboray]

The 1964 Fairlane "Thunderbolt" is still the fastest production car ever built. The car was basic with windows that were held up by a strap. It came from the factory with street tires and slicks mounted in the trunk. It had a 427 ci Cobra engine with a high rise cross ram intake sportin dual four barrel carbs. The hood had a large tear drop scoop to accomodate the carbs and high rise intake. I've read that the car was pushing over 500 bhp and ran mid 10's with the slicks. Needless to say there was no factory warranty.
I've only seen one of these cars about 15 years ago on a Ford power tour in Dallas. They had it roped off. The ford guy then told me it was worth around $200k. you can probably double that now !

 

[Gary Wells]

Originally quoted from "gnturboray"

"It had a 427 ci Cobra engine with a high rise cross ram intake sportin dual four barrel carbs. The hood had a large tear drop scoop to accomodate the carbs and high rise intake."

This was the infamous 427 side-oiler, which was also in most, or all of the 427 cobras.
This motor took 2nd place only behind the equally infamous
427 SOHC (single overhead cammer) the baddest of all ford motors. Behind the 427 side oiler was the boss 429 hemi.
There were a handful of 427 side oilers factory installed in Mercury cougars, also.
Those were definitely the days for Ford.

 

[Little6pack]

When I was a PONTIAC NUT I got to TOUR Steves Ames personal collection here in NH.

Even he had a thunderbolt fairlane.. That is where I saw it.
What a collection mostly pontiac, few fords, few chebbies.
NO GN's
Mr Ames hates the 80's & was going to skip making parts for the 80's TA's

 

[salvageV6]

Here's a link with some infor. about the real Thunderbolt.

http://detoursdiecast.homestead.com/TBolt.html

Prolly ran closer to 11.8 than 10's.

3200 lb. stripped car.

Prolly would be real fast with some drag radials.

 

[Gokou]

I've been fortunate enough to have rides in 2 original T-bolts, one an automatic, and the other a stick. Stock, they are fast cars, but the butt-dyno thinks 10's are quite a bit optimistic. I'd say mid 11's with good traction, good air, and a good driver.

However, the person I know with the auto T-bolt has done quite a bit of work and is now running low 10s/high 9s... and it still looks very stock under the hood, and runs nearly all stock parts. Very impressive.

Neat cars.

 

[Pronto]

The one Steve Ames has is cool. His collection is really nice. If anyone has a chance to go to see it do it.

 

[JoeHorvith]

Tasca Ford out of R.I. was the creator of the "ThunderBolt" he did a 63 fairlane and then in 64 added the teardrop hood.. Is the only car I would like to have if I could afford one.... Those dual quads with the ram air!!!!! And yes they were low 11sec machines running a hard rubber compound on an 8" tire.... If they had the tires we have now it would run in the high 10's with no problem.... And remember they had aluminum fenders and bumpers which if you could find any pieces are worth a small fortune to a TBolt man.... I still have Tasca Fords 64 T-bolt model..
Joe

 

[bishir]

A die hard Ford guy that owns a speed shop in my town owns a Thunderbolt. It's part of the first 11 built and it has the lowest serial number of all. He bought it from Bob Glidden. At one time it held most of the NHRA records for it's class.. Here are some pictures I snapped of his speed shop a few weeks ago..
The cars have fiberglass panels and plexiglass windows too. The windshield it rear glass, but that's it.

http://home.bellsouth.net/p/s/commu...id=84725&groupid=121728&folderview=thumbs&ck=

James

 

[Nick Micale]

Originally posted by JoeHorvith
Tasca Ford out of R.I. was the creator of the "ThunderBolt" he did a 63 fairlane and then in 64 added the teardrop hood.. Is the only car I would like to have if I could afford one.... Those dual quads with the ram air!!!!! And yes they were low 11sec machines running a hard rubber compound on an 8" tire.... If they had the tires we have now it would run in the high 10's with no problem.... And remember they had aluminum fenders and bumpers which if you could find any pieces are worth a small fortune to a TBolt man.... I still have Tasca Fords 64 T-bolt model..
Joe

A couple of the Tasca Thunderbolts came down south to race with my 426 Mopar. They were not able to catch the alum front end, pushbutton Plymouth! One of my better Sunday's back then.

You are right Joe, with the tires we had, low 11's were about the best we could do.

 

[olds443]

I have a 65 and my dad had a 66 and a 65 Sport Coupe, never had a 64 but do remember reading about them due to the interest in the previously mentioned Fairlanes.
I don't believe they came with aluminum fenders or fiberglass panels. Only the hood was fiberglass, the bumpers were aluminum and windows were plexi or similar. They also had radio deletes and lightweight seats from the econoline van. They are one of the first mass produced unibody cars (no separate frame, same as a Mustang). There probably isn't much more stripping that can be done to lighten them up as the STEEL that they were made from was much better quality (heavier) than currently or in the 80's.
Love them old Thunderbolt's though.
There were 3 clones at the Goodguy's show last time out. One 5.0, one big block looked just like a real T'bolt and one small block.
All were nice and clean, glad to see them being restored/modified and not thrown away.

 

[olds443]

Also, JoeHovith is correct when he said Tasca Ford (a dealership) was the first to put the big block in a Fairlane and race it successfully. I think they used a Lincoln engine (430???) and had to modify the shock towers as anyone wanting to put in a big block would have to do. A company called Crites makes conversion parts and restoration pieces. I believe he has the history on his site. Check it out if interested.

 

[ACME RACING]

Here's a factory hot rod that will run it

http://www.budgetperformance.com/articles/hemidart/


Like to have one of these.....Small Dart with a 426 Hemi ...


Alan

 

[Grumpy]

Originally posted by Wells
Originally quoted from "gnturboray"


This was the infamous 427 side-oiler, which was also in most, or all of the 427 cobras.
.

lots of 427 AC Cobra's had 428's in them... early cars had 427's...lots of the early street 427s were low riser's