Remembering "The Sixties"-hot pants and hot rods, black and white TV, the Andy Griffith show, songs of puppy love and cars-we rocked n' rolled to Elvis, the Beatles, and the Beach Boys on AM radio. No iPad or cell phones. If you were in high school, your thoughts were of Friday night high school football and Saturday night cruising and racing.
The Year; That Shaped a Hot Rod Generation and Drag Racing, the 427/425HP Ford Thunderbolt beats in the heart of every drag racer! This was a specially prepared lightweight drag vehicle capable of running low 11's in the 1/4 mile.
The Year; That Shaped a Hot Rod Generation and Drag Racing, the 427/425HP Ford Thunderbolt beats in the heart of every drag racer! This was a specially prepared lightweight drag vehicle capable of running low 11's in the 1/4 mile.
Nine were done and presented to the drag teams at the same time. All of these cars were identical, except for one automatic. It was driven by Paul Harvey and sponsored by Bob Ford in Dearborn. Tragically, it was destroyed in a crash after being sold in 1965, killing the driver. If this was not demolished it would be a very valuable Thunderbolt today.
The second and third production runs were created slightly different. They were NOT assembled at the factory but, rather transported to DST in pieces to be assembled there. This made the production easier and cost effective. A total of 100 units were built. The price tag was $3,780 for the 4-speed and $3990 for the automatic. Of those original Thunderbolts, there are approximately 60 still in existence.
by: Dwight Boteler
The second and third production runs were created slightly different. They were NOT assembled at the factory but, rather transported to DST in pieces to be assembled there. This made the production easier and cost effective. A total of 100 units were built. The price tag was $3,780 for the 4-speed and $3990 for the automatic. Of those original Thunderbolts, there are approximately 60 still in existence.
by: Dwight Boteler
The year, was 1963 a dealership named Tasca Ford from East Providence, RI and a racer Bob Tasca was running a '62 Fairlane stuffed with a 406ci engine that captured Ford Motor Company's attention. So, these two forces joined together to create a heart throbbing; adrenalin rushing, black top pavement roaring 427ci 425 horsepower, 4sp transmission test car. It became known as the "The Ford Thunderbolt", and the rest is history. This gave Ford the opportunity to run with the MOPAR Max Wedge and the soon to be released Hemi. The old saying "Win on Sunday sell on Monday"
The first production, in late '63 eleven cars were built at the Dearborn plant as a Fairlane 500 2 door sedan and they came in burgundy with tan interior and delivered to Dearborn Steel Tubing (DST). DST was chosen to do the conversion work to build these cars into full-fledged drag beasts. They were completely dismantled for the transformation and built minus sound deadener, sealer, insulation, no radios, heaters, or rear side window cranking mechanisms and the side windows were Plexiglas. With an optional 289/271 engine, which was later used in the Mustang GT. The car came equipped with a 427 High Riser race engine with unique ram air induction system, dual four barrel Holley carburetors, 12 to 1 compression ratio, tubular headers, aluminum scatter shield, four-speed transmission, 9" rear, drag suspension, trunk mounted battery, electric fuel pump, heavy duty brakes, tachometer, gauges, special wheels and drag tires.
The first production, in late '63 eleven cars were built at the Dearborn plant as a Fairlane 500 2 door sedan and they came in burgundy with tan interior and delivered to Dearborn Steel Tubing (DST). DST was chosen to do the conversion work to build these cars into full-fledged drag beasts. They were completely dismantled for the transformation and built minus sound deadener, sealer, insulation, no radios, heaters, or rear side window cranking mechanisms and the side windows were Plexiglas. With an optional 289/271 engine, which was later used in the Mustang GT. The car came equipped with a 427 High Riser race engine with unique ram air induction system, dual four barrel Holley carburetors, 12 to 1 compression ratio, tubular headers, aluminum scatter shield, four-speed transmission, 9" rear, drag suspension, trunk mounted battery, electric fuel pump, heavy duty brakes, tachometer, gauges, special wheels and drag tires.
Gary's Car
