Features Ford Thunderbolts Photos Wanted

Yep still being restored although VERY slow progress. I am still looking for ANY pictures or info on the car.
I talked to Don McCain the other day about the car. He was the performance manager at Mel Burns Ford back then. He told me he once ran the Mel Burns Ford 65 Shelby Mustang against Bill Beck driving the Fairlane in the finals at an AHRA race at Lions probably in 1966. Interesting that both cars from the same dealership would be in the finals. Now that is a photo I would like to get my hands on.
He said he would look for anything he had on my car but I haven't heard back from him. He is running Shelby's engine division these days.

 

Alan, maybe Don can get you some names of folks that worked there at the time. Mechanics, sales etc. Ya never know

 

This one was at the Turkey Run in Daytona last weekend.

 

Re: 65 Thunderbolt

Check the 65 at the 7:47 mark in this video

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Popular Hot Rodding 1979

 

Yup 64 Cyclone that is the 65 T-Bolt after Droke had it. It went to Jerry Harvey in Indy. That is the first video of that car I have ever seen !!

 

Looks like they cleaned it up a bit. Maybe a new paint job. It looked a little rough in some of the pictures when Droke had it. But as I tell my drag racer buddies today "it's just a damned old race car"

 

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/clips/ford-booth-at-sema-2009/1173111/

Jay & Brian need a class on T-bolt facts....lol It is cool Ford had the car in their booth though!!

 

Jody, this is a great thread. Tbolts are cool. A tip of the Hemi cap to them.

I remember reading about the Droke Fairlane back when it was built (my uncle crewed for Gas Ronda and the late Les Ritchey, and they all ran together). As I recall, it definitely had a cammer.

 

It's a shame that this



Became that

 

I think Ron only removed components off of the Thunderbolt Fairlane to build the A/FX Mustang. Ron built this car to demo to Ford about becoming their sub contractor for 1965 for the A/FX Mustang, but the deal didn't go anywhere. This car was then sold to Dick Loehr and campaigned as Stampede? - Rod Tyler Ford - Schoolcraft MI.

I asked Ron what ever happened to the Thunderbolt body, he thinks they gave it away and scrapped it.

The person that bought the 1964 Tasca Thunderbolt in early 1965 was going to convert it to a 1965 by changing sheet metal until they found out there was no Fairlane in Super Stock for 1965, so they eventually cut it up and made it into an AWB car, injected HR with an PCA-F automatic.

For the most part, the Thunderbolt was a one year deal, except for a few that ran A/MP or NASCAR U/S class in 1965 and later.

Regards,
Dennis

 

UPDATE on LSD car:

I ran into a friend of Murray who owned the McAnary Ford T-Bolt back in the 70's and 80's at the Columbus UFO Meet. He said the car was painted like a Coral snake when he got the car in the late 70's. Sounds like an accurate description for the paint job on that car and since that is US 30, probably one and the same as I previously thought. Next time I see Murray, I'll ask him about it.

Regards,
Dennis

 

John Lacko has a pic of Stampede on this site. It is certainly the Pellegrini car.

 

Droke crashed the former Butch Leal Thunderbolt....I think after he drove the 65 B/FX car.

 

This will make your eyes bleed!

 

I saw that on eBay also and was thinking about how much work it would be to disassemble and repaint this car into something that I would consider being seen in. Have you ever wondered what goes through someones mind when they make these types of design and color decisions? I can't imagine doing all that work and ending up with this.

It will be interesting to see if there is a bidding war. (LOL)

Joe

 

Hard on the eyes but soothes the stomach!

 

I remember reading that the hemi motor was I.D.'d in pieces in montana about 10-15 years ago. someone has the motor somewhere.

 

The guy that has the Hemi-FE Galaxy lives in AZ. He had the car at Dick Brannan's show in AZ.in 2006.I saw the M/T, T-Bolt hemi on display in Bakersfied many years ago. ROY

 

Back in the early 70's there was a 64 T Bolt in Nanuet NY at a service station painted almost the same color. Had white lettering on it. No idea what happened to it. I can remember the word Thunderblot at it had lightening on the sides.

 

64Cyclone;is that an original T-Bolt ? If not someone built a nice car!! Where and when was that taken ? I'm talking the white one,not that pepto thing. ROY.

 

Check out this vid.First half is Comets ,second half T-Bolts.Good job to whoever put this together.

 

He started driving a 66 Long Nose Mustang after the Fairlane. I'll ask him about the Leal T Bolt

 

I saw this T-bolt-inspired Fairlane, '63, I think, at George Ray's this year, running in the 7.0 class (these images are from a video, which is why they look a bit odd). Don't know what was under the hood. A 1960s Valiant was in the same class, but they never raced each other. Would have been a nice picture.
George will be missed. His track is my favorite, no contest. I hope it remains in operation.

 

Nice thievery.

 

My apologies if this has been posted already ... One of drag racing's greatest passed away December 5th ... take a look at Bret Kepner's story ...
http://www.dragracingonline.com/finishline/xi_11-georgeray-1.html
Joel

 

I actually spoke to Darrell. He said that Butch had some kind of falling out with Ford and he gave the T Bolt back to them. While the 65 was being made Darrell said he " practiced " with the Leal car a short while. He also was very clear in that he NEVER crashed it.

 

What low life bastard would do such a thing?

Too bad the audio I had to add to the Bill Lawton clip didn't load.

 

Might be a mix up in who wrecked it. Droke drove it...but it was crashed and junked in 66.