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Features Ford Thunderbolts Photos Wanted

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Troublemaker427, Oct 11, 2006.

  1. 64Cyclone
    Joined: Aug 30, 2009
    Posts: 1,496

    64Cyclone
    Member

    I wonder what happened to the original body. It is a shame they didn't save it in the restoration....but I guess people saw things a little different then. I'll bet if they did it today, they'd have used the original body.
     
  2. Dennis K.
    Joined: Dec 28, 2006
    Posts: 479

    Dennis K.
    Member
    from Detroit MI

    From the Drag Cars inventory list. Note misspelling of Leal. The car went from Thompson to Leal around mid July 64, after the Indy 500 wreck incident.

    Regards,
    Dennis
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Jun 15, 2010
  3. Dennis K.
    Joined: Dec 28, 2006
    Posts: 479

    Dennis K.
    Member
    from Detroit MI

    The body was scrapped. From what I recall the car was rebodied in the real late 80's or very early 90's. Before 1992. That was already getting into the high water mark on value of these cars. I assume it simply didn't matter to the owner.

    There is a nice period engine compartment shot of the car in the Aug 10 issue of HRM, pg 70. I would post it, but the magazine is copyrighted.

    Regards,
    Dennis
     
  4. Falcon Gasser
    Joined: Aug 29, 2007
    Posts: 940

    Falcon Gasser
    Member

    [​IMG]


    That is a neat picture, thats back when things were around at decent prices still.

    Jon
     
  5. 64Cyclone
    Joined: Aug 30, 2009
    Posts: 1,496

    64Cyclone
    Member

    That's a shame. In the pics it appears very restorable, but pics don't always tell the whole story. I recent saw a webpage where a shop was restoring a 68 Shelby for Hershel Walker. It appeared that they replaced at least 80% of the sheet metal of the uni-body alone to get it solid. Factoring in the cost of the labor, that one might have merited a re-body. The car didn't look that bad to start with but there were alot on underlying rust issues. But these days a "re-body" can get you in a world of trouble....just read up about Unique Performance and the charges of title washing that brought them down.

    Maybe there was a similar issue with the Tyree Thunderbolt? Perhaps there were rust issues or something??
     
  6. 6t5frlane
    Joined: Dec 8, 2004
    Posts: 2,401

    6t5frlane
    Member
    from New York


    OK Darrell Droke E mailed me back. He said Ford picked up the Leal T-Bolt from his shoip. It had No engine and NO damage. I will try and find out if Leal took the engine while DRoke had it or did Darrell put his own in and remove same.
     
  7. thunderkiss65
    Joined: Jan 6, 2008
    Posts: 122

    thunderkiss65
    Member
    from Detroit

    When I was a kid in the early 80s a neighbor of mines dad in the Detroit area had a bunch of drag racing trophies in his basement. My dad told me he used to race a Thunderbolt in the 60s. In 69 he traded it in at a Chevy dealer and bought a brand new COPO 427 Camaro and a 69 El Camino SS to tow it with.

    The racers name was Bill Oestrike. Anyone remember this name and him linked to a 64 Thunderbolt?
     
  8. Anyone else that has looked at the latest issue of Hot Rod magazine (Aug issue)noticed the removal of the shock towers on the Hemi Ford motored Fairlane. I knew from the Wyoming owner of the former Tyree car back in 1981 that there was aluminum flat stock bracing used from the top of the shock tower back to the firewall. Those engine bay parts or recreated items are currently on the car today.
     
  9. Race Artist
    Joined: Feb 9, 2008
    Posts: 954

    Race Artist
    Member

    The Whuppett car in the background, track unknown, photographer unknown. The Nova is Jerry Inmon, later to become a nationally known dirt track late model racer.
    Joel
     

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  10. 64Cyclone
    Joined: Aug 30, 2009
    Posts: 1,496

    64Cyclone
    Member

    A few pics I took at the NHRA Reunion in Ky

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

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    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  11. MUNCIE
    Joined: Jan 24, 2006
    Posts: 2,357

    MUNCIE
    Member
    from Houston

    Emrhae Ford - Virginia Beach, VA

    [​IMG]

    Does anyone know what type of tires are on here? Im not sure if they are piecrust slicks along with the front treaded pie's or something else as in bf's?
    Thanks in advance,
     
  12. Dennis K.
    Joined: Dec 28, 2006
    Posts: 479

    Dennis K.
    Member
    from Detroit MI


    Yes, however I believe the surname is spelled Oestreich and had the former Hi Risers T-Bolt.

    Regards,
    Dennis
     
  13. Dennis K.
    Joined: Dec 28, 2006
    Posts: 479

    Dennis K.
    Member
    from Detroit MI

    Kentuckian,

    I sent you a PM (Private Message).

    Regards,
    Dennis
     
  14. MP&C
    Joined: Jan 11, 2008
    Posts: 2,499

    MP&C
    Member


    I've noticed quite a few of the 64 Tbolts had a 63 front bumper. Was this an attempt at weight savings or just using what they had available if the orig was bent up?
     
  15. Dennis K.
    Joined: Dec 28, 2006
    Posts: 479

    Dennis K.
    Member
    from Detroit MI

    The front bumper originally furnished on the first 50 Thunderbolts was a fiberglass version of a 1963 Fairlane bumper that bolted to flanges on the front fenders.

    NHRA mandated metal front bumpers just before the Winternationals for S/S class. Ford stamped them on production dies out of aluminum. The glass bumper was still legal for A/FX class.

    As time went on bumpers may of not stayed with the car, etc ... . However, either bumper is correct. I have seen later cars with glass bumpers match racing or running FX class.

    Regards,
    Dennis
     
    Last edited: Jun 27, 2010
  16. Dennis K.
    Joined: Dec 28, 2006
    Posts: 479

    Dennis K.
    Member
    from Detroit MI

    From 2010 NHRR Bowling Green KY:

    Bob Ford Thunderbolt
    Paul Hatton - original letterer both in 1963 and for restoration

    Romy Hammes Ford automatic car originally sold to Stan Rohrig

    Regards,
    Dennis
     

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  17. Falconred
    Joined: Mar 27, 2008
    Posts: 872

    Falconred
    Member

    Dennis, hate we didn't get to come up to Bowling Green this year. With Gopher passing and the economy the way it is Don and I decided to skip this year. We are going to try to come down to the Old Drag Racers Reunion this fall in Panama City, FL.
     
  18. Dennis K.
    Joined: Dec 28, 2006
    Posts: 479

    Dennis K.
    Member
    from Detroit MI

    With members and drivers from the Ford Drag Council and Ford Drag Team there it was an event that all Ford enthusiasts of that period shouldn't of missed. Dick Brannan, Jerry Hammes, Paul Harvey, Jerry Harvey, Phil Bonner, Gas Ronda, Hubert Platt, Randy Payne, Ohio George Montgomery, Bill Holbrook, Ernie MacEwen, Earl Wade, Ron Stealy, Jim Cagle, Domenic Garofoli, Randy Ritchey, and others were in attendance.

    Regards,
    Dennis
     
    Last edited: Jun 27, 2010
  19. A few shots from the NHRR.
     

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  20. webspeed
    Joined: Jun 30, 2010
    Posts: 2

    webspeed
    Member

    Hello, My father Jack Lindeman drove and campaigned the Jack Mefford Ford Tbolt Thunderbolt and other BullMouse team cars throughout the Ohio Valley Area. I would love to find out more of its whereabouts and condition if anyones knows more. Here is a interesting story about those tbolt days relayed to me by my father.

    My dad reported to Lee Iococa every Monday morning about his successes or lack there of. They battled constantly over switching out the standard optioned automatic for the much more successful manual transmission. You can guess who won those battles until quite out of character the car started winning and Lee could not be happier that he was right that the car could win with the automatic.

    He talked it up everywhere and remained happy until he found out throrugh the grapevine that the car was winning now because it no longer had the automatic in the car. Dad said he was furious and threatend to get him fired from his day job as service manager of the dealership. But Iacoca couldn't argue for too much longer since now the car began winning only after the stick shift was installed.

    I have uploaded some old scanned photos for your viewing pleasure. I truly treasure the racing part of my childhood and these photos bring it all back to memory. I hope they do the same for you.
    Jeff Lindeman
     

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    Last edited: Jun 30, 2010
    Howard Butler likes this.
  21. 64Cyclone
    Joined: Aug 30, 2009
    Posts: 1,496

    64Cyclone
    Member

    Neat pics. Thanks for posting!
     
  22. webspeed
    Joined: Jun 30, 2010
    Posts: 2

    webspeed
    Member

    Corrected above post thanks to 64cyclone!
     
  23. Dennis K.
    Joined: Dec 28, 2006
    Posts: 479

    Dennis K.
    Member
    from Detroit MI

    Jeff, thank you for posting the photos.

    Years ago, the car was restored by Mershon in Springfield OH, who I believe is more of a Corvette specialist. The car was shown at the 1984? Super Ford Meet at the old Packard Proving Grounds in Utica, MI, when the event was still organized by John Paradise. Some things I recall were the DST fabricated components, all of the welds were ground down for cosmetic purposes. Also a standard set of brake lines were installed, running on the firewall, which is incorrect. The car changed hands a couple of times, and the last I knew the car was owned by a private collector in AZ.

    I've attached four photos that I took at the SF84 meet. Nice looking car. Note brake line on firewall, absence of apron supports (shock towers will eventually cave in without these), automatic column with four speed floor shifter, etc ... .

    Regards,
    Dennis
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Jul 2, 2010
  24. 6t5frlane
    Joined: Dec 8, 2004
    Posts: 2,401

    6t5frlane
    Member
    from New York

    Dennis, Are there any " group " shots of those gents ??
     
  25. Dennis K.
    Joined: Dec 28, 2006
    Posts: 479

    Dennis K.
    Member
    from Detroit MI

    I would imagine there is, as a lot of flashlamps were going off when the recipients were up on stage. As I was also on stage to receive a Ford Drag Team Spotlight Award along with the others, I was unable to take any photos. However, I did send an e-mail to my NHRA contact to see if I can obtain one.

    Regards,
    Dennis
     
  26. mercuryjunky
    Joined: May 7, 2009
    Posts: 1,970

    mercuryjunky
    Member
    from arvada,co

    Nice 64 Thunderwagon made into a 2 Door NSS car at Bowling Green.

    [​IMG]
     
  27. bubba22349
    Joined: Oct 30, 2005
    Posts: 62

    bubba22349
    Member

    I would think that if the body no longer had it's original VIN number or they tried to weld them into another body regardless of if it was restored with every other correct period part than its no longer the same car. To me those who did a rebody destroyed the rarity and it would not have that much value over any of the other clone or recreation type of car. On the Falcons and Mustangs there are three known VIN locations and two hidden ones. In the rebuilding of several of them I found these hidden ones. It is my understanding that the factory and also law enforcement type agencies only know of the location of these to ID a stolen car. Obviously they could also tell if a car had a genuine pedigree too. I am not as well up on the Fairlane body’s specs but I think I would be able to maybe guess were these hidden locations would be in them.

    Started rebuilding my 63 Fairlane street / drag car so might find out were they are, for sure it won't mean anything as it's not any thing rare or valuable. It is just an old drag car & street car from the parts that were used in the build dates it to around mid to late 1960’s style i.e. Econoline axle and no spring towers, a 9 inch rear etc. Was told it once ran a 427 and a 4 speed back in the day but doubt could ever prove that unless someone happens to know of the car, when I bough it had a 351C and 4 speed. Have been looking for the info on the rear suspension setup’s used in the Tbolts dimensions of traction bars and the other chassis tuning setups they would have used. Was there any factory documents or setup tips sent with the cars or were they just on their own to figure out the fine tune the details? Some of the cars sure did run quicker than others. Also looked through all of the posts with the photos (those old racing shots are great) looks like there are some Fairlanes that have just a slightly altered wheelbase unless that is just from the camera angle. Any one know or have the measurements for the altered cars? Seams like remember that there were a few Dodge’s and Ply's during 1964 that were ok’ed to run SS or AFX they called a 2% altered wheelbase. Did the Ford teams also do this with the Tbolts? Remember that some the lightweight Galaxies other stockers had the body slid back to the rear 1 or 2 inches in 63. I know they went all out in 65 and 66 moving the front and rear axles forward these are the one I remembers seeing more of. Am considering building mine something like the ZimmyI and the Tbolts but with maybe slightly altered wheelbase. Like to find the early style fiberglass front bumper too. Want to get back into drag racing soon and have some fun banging the gears.
     
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2010
  28. 64Cyclone
    Joined: Aug 30, 2009
    Posts: 1,496

    64Cyclone
    Member

  29. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 25,166

    Deuces

    Here's one........ :)
     

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  30. 64Cyclone
    Joined: Aug 30, 2009
    Posts: 1,496

    64Cyclone
    Member

    Sort of....that's actually a replica (tribute or whatever they call them right now) of the Bob Ford car that's owned by a member here.

    I've seen the original many times and it is certainly one of the best looking original "as raced" paint schemes.
     
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2010

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