Features Ford Thunderbolts Photos Wanted

Thanks Much!

 

Hello again,

This is sort of an evolution of RONDA's T-BOLT.
Late '63', Mid-'64' Late '64'. Some one asked the question. If Les Ritchey and Gas Ronda faced each other at the big Kingdon meet. According to my records. The answer is no.

Take care.........TOM

 

10 or less.

Verified cars with cloverleaf hoods:
Brannan
Bob Ford
Bonner
Ritchey
Ronda
Tasca
Bob Ford Automatic

In the test track presentation photo, the #3 Ed Martin car has a teardrop hood. Don't recall seeing any photos of the two M/T cars or Wickersham car with a cloverleaf. Allegedly the #7 M/T car had the cloverleaf hood switched to a teardrop from another burgundy car, possibly the #3 Ed Martin car, in the hotel parking lot. More than one story about this.

Never saw a white car with a cloverleaf.

Regards,
Dennis

 

Note the long bars on the Poppy Red Russ Davis car. The long bars and shocks behind the axle was developed by Ernie Mac Ewen of the X Garage and the Bob Ford Team. Earliest application was on the 1963 289 HiPo Bob Ford Inc D/S Fairlane 500 HT of Doug Nash and Ernie MacEwen. The first T-Bolt was the Bob Ford S/S car in April 1964.

Also seen long bars on Brannan's, Ed Martin, M/T-Leal, Wickersham, Milo Coleman, Jerry Alderman, Bob Ford A/MP, Jenkins-Wynne, Koelle-Greenwood, Brondes Ford, Allan Bros. and others.

Regards,
Dennis

 

They are not my pics, but the were sent to me by Art Goodsel from the FCA. Art got these photos from Milo and he currently owns Milo's T-bolt. I am happy to post them.

 

I just stumbled across this photo of Hazel on another website, and I don't recall seeing it posted here yet.


Deron

 

How many cloverleaf cars are known to still exist today ?
Tom S.

 

From post #936

"The closest thing to an original cloverleaf hood was on Brannan's T-Bolt when it had the 65 Mopar style scoop on it. That scoop was installed on the remains of that hood. The hood survived until the car went through one of its "restorations" and dissapeared. I believe all the fiberglass on that car was replaced during one of its restorations or fluffings.

Regards,
Dennis "



Last I heard no known original hoods remain but someone reproduced one but it didn't look right....a little too square if I remember correctly.





Amazing pics CJ2!

 

I never even knew such a thing as a cloverleaf hood lump ever existed until this history discussion here.
I desperately wish I could have had even a part of the knowledge I have presently gained, back in the day even as late as the 70's as these cars and parts were being obsoleted and found in broken pieces. I could put a kid through Vanderbilt with what has escaped me alone.
Tom S. in Tn.

 

"Allegedly the #7 M/T car had the cloverleaf hood switched to a teardrop from another burgundy car,"

Dennis the story I got from Leal was that they switched the hoods the night before show day. Not sure of the other car but they were t'ed off about it.

I've told this story several times but I'm not sure I have put it on here. I was working in Camden, AL in '75 or '76 and saw a burgundy '64 Fairlane going through a light at an intersection ahead. I then noticed that it had a cloverleaf hood. I chased it around the bypass, two lane, until I got blocked in traffic and lost him. I am sure this was a cloverleaf hood and not a bubble as I was/am familiar with both. Whether this was a real T-bolt or not I don't know. He might have gotten the hood when someone else changed to a bubble or something. I would love any information about this anyone might have.

 

Years ago, "Larry" told me he/they switched the hood in the hotel parking lot.
I think the only way to find out which story is correct would be to find photos of the other cars to see if the #7 or any any other cars had a teardrop hood or if the #3 Ed Martin car wound up with a cloverleaf hood. It really doesn't matter. Regardless, the cloverleaf hood had an extremely short life span. The driver to change to the teardrop was to add the vents and I'd imagine somewhat improved aerodynamics.

Probably the hood you saw was from Bonner's car.

Regards,
Dennis

 

Great pictures ... thanks for sharing them. Joel

 

Thanks for sharing all these great pictures. Joel

 

The car I was talking about seeing was being driven on the street at the time and I guess the closest one around that area would have been Bonners. Yep, I remember that Bonner's car had the cloverleaf hood on it in the beginning but is was changed to a bubble before the wreck.

Sorry I don't know whose photos these are except for the wreck and it was taken by Ronnie Evans.

 

I'm sure you probably have more but the only photos I have of cars with the cloverleaf hood are:

Brannon, Bonner, Ritchey and Ronda. I looked at the show day photo (I believe that you posted it before) but you can only tell they first three cars and the third in line had the bubble. The first two had the cloverleaf. Is your copy clear enough to tell anymore??

Take care. I hate I had to miss Bowling Green hope you all had a good time.

 

A couple of days ago, I seen a semi on Greenfield Rd. with the Dearborn Steel Tubing logo on the side of the trailor.. Guess they're still in business after all these years.. I wonder what the driver was hauling????

 

It wasn't anything to do with motor sports or racing I can guarantee you.
Tom S.

 

addendum:
Looks easy enough to make a cloverleaf, however the exact measured dimensions might be ever so little off, but who would actually know. I'm wondering why someone hasn't tried to clone a cloverleaf. They have everything else. Are they too rare to be artificially fabricated with a story as some kind of ultra rare find?
Tom S.

 

At this time none are known to still exist from what I understand. Dennis can bring more light to this than I can.

 

Probably because they're butt ugly...


Deron

 

Genuine Jack just posted this current advertisement he saw recently in a very popular magazine, over on the Holman Moody history discussion.
I think I may have to take back my previous statement about DST and stand corrected. Detroit sure is undergoing some changes at the present time, but who knows what DST might have going on let alone what could have been in that truck.
Tom S. in Tn.

 

Doesn't mean one couldn't let you retire young.
Tom

 

Very true Tom, very true! On a smaller scale I've always wondered why one of the resin caster guys hasn't done a 1/24 scale version so some of us modelers could do a scale replica of some of the earliest cars.


Deron

 

There's a maroon Thunderbolt on the Indianapolis Craigs List. Real or clone I don't know. Seller wants 50K

 

Not even close! that car has been for sale for a long time.

 

Yeah I was a little confused over the cruise control buttons on the stg wheel!

 

I guess I should have scrolled down and looked at the bottom 2 pix.