Features Ford Thunderbolts Photos Wanted

Seats from A-100 van (installed in a 330 Dodge).

 

Yes, Bostrom supposedly made one or the other, or both. (Bostrom is still in business.) But, they are not the same seats. Econoline seats are very square, and have no leg or side bolster padding. The bottom seat frames of the A-100 seats are rounded. The Econoline seat frames are square. The back is square on the Econoline and somewhat rounded on the A-100 seat. They just really are nothing alike.

 

Hey Guys,
Do not forget to pick up the latest copy of HOT ROD Magazine (Nov '09 issue)...Has great coverage of the 45th anniversary Thunderbolt Reunion/Thunderbolt Owners Association! Seven detailed pages of pics, people and History! I like the comment made on the Phil Bonner car where "George, Jody and Ian Aberts of Troublemaker 427 Racing lent a hand tuning the hairy 427 mill"! Great read....Check it out!...John

 

Bostrom is still in business. The correct style of seat for a Thunderbolt is like the ones in an A-100. They have an opening in the bottom of the seat back...the Econoline seats don't. Here's the closest thing Bostrom still offers...for boats!

 

http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicles/hrdp_0911_ford_thunderbolt_reunion/index.html

Yeah, it was nice of Steve Magnante to mention us in the article. My dad, George did a bunch of work on the car to get it ready for the summer's reunions. Phil was very pleased when he saw the car in Dearborn after all the work.

 

Where'd you find that? I didn't see it on Bostrom's website.

EDIT: I have found that there are TWO Bostrom companies that make seats. One is H.O. Bostrum, and the other is Bostrom Seating. The seat that you show is from H.O. Bostrom. It is called the "Grand LX".

I wonder which company was the supplier to Ford and Mopar?

http://www.bostromseating.com

http://www.hobostrom.com/en/

 

Oldtimers Drag Race Reunion tomorrow:

3:30pm -- T-BOLT SHOOT OUT

4:10pm -- SECOND ROUND T-BOLT SHOOT OUT

 

T-Bolts and Fairlanes at the Old Timers Drag Race Reunion.

 

Please do....I wish I could have made it but I had to work.

 

Some more from the Old Timers Drag Racers Reunion. Galaxies, this time.

 

Tasca Challenger recreation:

 

^^nice pics! thanks

 

Yes it is a clone. But the owner and builder of this clone also owns the original version of this car. He bought the original, but the previous owner had restored it to is plain white factory style.

For a few years the current owner debated about putting is back to it's altered wheelbase stance and black color, the way it looked when Emmet Austin drove it. He could not bring himself to start cutting up the original (retro job) so he built a clone of the the Emmit Austin version.

 

Historical Revisionist?

There was only ONE car built. 778 and 1077 are the same cars. See attached photo with the 778 taped over and 1077 on the tape. The car was relettered later with paint.

Both 778 and 1077 have the same Michigan license plate numbers (have photos to support this), internal factory paperwork supports only one car, etc ... . The color of the car was Peacock Blue.

The photo with the different bumper/hood was taken at Detroit Dragway. The others at the 1963 Summer Nationals.

If someone thinks these were two different cars, kindly post your facts / documentation.

Regards,
Dennis

 

Thank you for posting that info on the 1963 car, Dennis.

 

here's a T-bolt inspired '65 we just finished, the height of the teardrop was increased for carburetor clearance.

 

neat ride ...diggin the teardrop. thank god its not a cowl hood

 

Were the seats in Thunderbolts the same seats used in Lightweight Galaxies?

 

No. Although manufactured by Bostrom. The Thunderbolt used a fixed seatback and basically were the same style as used in the Dodge van. The 1963 Lightweight Galaxie used a Ford police/taxi seat with a folding seat back. The 1964 Lightweight Galaxie also used a Bostrom seat with a folding seatback, but the seat style was different than the 1963 version.

Regards,
Dennis

 

hey TROUBLE...glad u ask because our brothers came up with some great pics. man it seams like yesterday i watched those bad boys run in person! WOW where has the time gone? BOB TINKLE ran 1 at PORTER DRAG STRIP in texas. those were the days my friends... POP

 

If you'd ever sat in a T-Bolt.....you would have been looking at one of these:



From the 80s at a PFCA meet in Columbus

 

Thanks for getting this thread back on track!!!

 

WOW Nice pic

 

The new "Worlds Fastest REAL Thunderbolt". Still running the same rear suspension installed by DST in 1964, untubbed and column shift!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzkEviShBUw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1WImIk0emw

Very impressive!!!

 

And it seems to be biting quite well!

Ya know I'm torn. On one hand it is great to see a Thunderbolt on the track where it was built to be. But if I had a car that rare, I don't think I could do it.

 

Some "not in the 60s" stuff.

 

I hope these are not reposts

T-Bolts in color.

 

And a few b&w