 |
|
This vehicle has been built specially as a lightweight competitive car and includes certain fiberglass and aluminum components. Because of the specialized purpose for which this car has been built and in order to achieve maximum weight reduction, normal quality standards of the Ford Motor Company in terms of exterior panel fit and surface appearance are not met on this vehicle. This information is included on this vehicle to assure that all customers who purchase this car are aware of the deviation from the regular high appearance quality standards of the Ford Motor Company. |
|
Thunderbolt #1 went to Ford's rising star, Dick Brannan. This car originally had the unusual "cloverleaf" hood scoop and the fiberglass front bumper. After Brannan was done with it, #1 bounced around several owners in Southwest Michigan. It was painted aqua blue and lettered as "Hullabaloo" and then "Thunderball." Eventually a collector snapped it up and had it restored to it's 1964 appearance. Is now owned by Don Snyder, who also owns several other ex-Brannan race cars.
|
|
| |
|
ThunderBolt #2 was one of several cars that went to Bob Ford in Dearborn. Bob Ford covered the original burgandy paint with an attractive shade of gold with a black roof. Len Richter was the driver who grabbed the 1964 AHRA championship in this car. In 1965, Bob Ford employee Ken Vogt took over the driving duties, with Bob Ford sponsorship continuing and another color change, this time being bright yellow. It was eventually sold and it's next owner painted it blue and orange with "Expressway Gulf" lettered down it's flanks. It continued tearing up Detroit area dragstrips in the mid-60's. Dennis Kolodziej found the car in 1982, still in Detroit, and completed a restoration to it's 1964 appearance in 2004.
|
|
| |
|
One of the original 11 Vintage Burgandy cars, Tasca Ford's Thunderbolt was masterfully driven by Bill Lawton. Tasca added their logo and lettering, and gold paint on the roof. Like all the others, #11 was an old used-up race car in 1965 and it was sold off as Lawton moved on to an AFX Mustang. It's new owners put it through a typical mid-60's transformation, turning it into an radical altered wheelbase car. In the process, it lost it's entire original floor and front clip assembly. It was purchased in the late 80's by renowned restorer Randy Delisio, who replaced all the missing sheetmetal and returned it to it's original Tasca livery.
|
|
| |
|
California based Jim Demmitt Sr. purchased his Thunderbolt through Lafayette Ford in 1965. Sponsorship came from McCullough Racing Cams, a close friend of Demmitt's that made cams for the 427 Hi-Riser. Other sponsors were Bruce's Tires of Oakland Ca., who made special compound slicks for the car, and Doug's Headers with their tuned headers. Demmitt ran the car at the famous West coast tracks Vaca Valley and Fremont, where it was one of the winningest cars. The car competed at Sears Point in 1969 in a special bracket race, beating 101 cars, Gas Ronda also won in his funny car that day. Ronda and Demmitt were good friends for many years. The car was very consistent and ran in well into the 10's. Demmitt would frequently pull the motor and put it into his 1957 Thunderbird and run B/MP, then back into the Thunderbolt it went for Super Stock races. The Thunderbolt is now in a car collection in New York.
|
) |
Sold by Ed Martin Ford in Indianapolis to Chris Stauffer. Driven to a AHRA National Record by Nike Byerly in 1964. Photos shot at the 2009 Thunderbolt Reunion in Dearborn, MI.
|
) |
This Thunderbolt was sold by Allan Brothers Ford in Port Clinton, OH. This is one of the rare automatic transmission cars. Photos shot at the 2009 Thunderbolt Reunion in Dearborn, MI.
|
) |
This Thunderbolt was sold by Bill Rhodes Ford in Jackson, MI., and driven by Bob Phelps. It is another rare automatic transmission car. Photos shot at the 2009 Thunderbolt Reunion in Dearborn, MI.
|
) |
This is the "Strip Teaser" Thunderbolt campaigned by Howard Neal and Bob Thomas. It was sold through Gilmer Ford in Ellijay, GA. It has been owned by Dennis Kolodziej since 1977. Photos shot at the 2009 Thunderbolt Reunion in Dearborn, MI. More photos can be found here.
|
) |
Sold by Walker Ford in Treasure Island, FL. to Milo Coleman with an automatic transmission. Photos shot at the 2009 Thunderbolt Reunion in Dearborn, MI.
|
) |
This Thunderbolt was originally sold by Hawkinson Ford in Oak Lawn, IL with an automatic transmission. It was "tubbed" for Super Stock racing by Wolverine Chassis for Barrie Poole in the early 1980's. Ford collector Brent Hajek owned it for awhile, then it was sold to Al Rowland. Current owner is unknown. Photo taken at Milan Dragway in the mid-90's.
|
Website not affiliated with or supported by Ford Motor Co.
Free Web Counter