Survivor Thunderbolts - Page 7

Hemi Moose · 12-27-2012, 05:27 PM

A few before & after shots of Gas Ronda's 1964 Thunder Bolt...

DRAKE VISCOME · 12-27-2012, 05:40 PM

Hey "Moose"...geez...it's real good to see that car again...Gas...the former dance instructor (said all the other stuff in previous post)...a still very handsome "movie star" like devil @ 80 plus...looks not a day over 40 (has found the fountain of youth for sure)...a class act that never goes out of style...the late Les Richey's Performance Associates "help" ...with somewhat un-heralded longtime super-wrench Cliff Brian...Russ Davis Ford dealership..."dem's"...were the daze 'eh...seems like just... yesterday

Drake...the Downtown Ford deal ended early in the "life" of the T-Bolt...they had...however...long been a part of Gas's racing career/cars for some time time in earlier (years) Galaxies as well...

DRAKE VISCOME · 12-29-2012, 11:35 PM

Hey...here's a photo...of legend...Gaspar (Gas) Rhonda...with Tom Caldara...(the longtime partner with Nate "Nazy Crate" Cohen)...two "boys" still lookin' pretty good 'eh...Gas @ 80...Tommy @ 68... and counting...love 'em both...

inquiring minds want to know...could it be the "air" quality on the west coast???!!! Drake

GRAPE · 12-30-2012, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hemi Moose

A few before & after shots of Gas Ronda's 1964 Thunder Bolt...

Front bumper seams longer on side of the Russ Davis version also no tow tabs

DRAKE VISCOME · 12-30-2012, 03:37 PM

Hey Grape..."first" bumper in photo on car (maroon) was fiberglass...second bumper in photo was aluminum (orange) hence "seams"...the first 11 cars produced by Andy Hotten/Dearborn Steel Tubing for Ford Motor Company were maroon (and given to their "chosen" racers)...the rest were all white...Gas always had a trailer to carry...not sure why the "change" in bumper along with paint (although orange color with/lettering style was Russ Davis "colors" with Gas through the AFX Mustang & later series of funny cars as well...Drake...p.s....not sure if my "re-call" is correct...but Plaza Fiberglass (Ontario,Canada) made fiberglass components for FoMoCo T-Bolts,Falcon,AFX Mustang... very early stuff was kind of heavy...they did make some lighter stuff later on...also possibly "re-call" (memory?) that front of car was damaged in towing/trailer accident...not terrible "damage"...hence bumper replacement though

..."our"(originally was Bill Rick Ford/Centraila,Illinois-pictured elsewhere on this thread under our Carmel Ford banner in mid/late 70's "form")) T-Bolt (original white) had aluminum front bumper being like # in the seventies (production wise of 111 produced)...NHRA does "accept" both...at least...now

Hemi Moose · 12-31-2012, 08:28 PM

troublemaker427 · 01-04-2013, 12:19 PM

The total number of 1964 Thunderbolts built was 100. I have the VIN list and a Thunderbolt has never been found that was outside of this 100 on the list.

They were produced at DST as follows:

Group 1

October 1963
Consisted of 11 cars, all vintage burgundy
- 10 Four Speeds, 1 Automatic
Group 2

December 1963 - Feb 1964
Consisted of 39 cars, all white
- 9 Four Speeds, 30 Automatics
Group 3

March - May 1964
Consisted of 50 cars, all white
- 22 Four Speeds, 28 Automatics

Yes there were more automatics built than 4-speeds. Many of the automatics were converted to 4-speeds as the Lincoln auto trans just wasn't fast. Dearborn Steel Tubing actually sold a conversion kit to install a 4-speed into an auto car.

It is unknown an exact reason why there were a greater number of autos over 4-speeds. Possibly Ford wanted to compete with the Mopars but it just didn't work out with the Lincoln transmission.

ww63 · 01-04-2013, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hemi Moose

Where is this thing at today? Last I knew it was on the west coast and I think went thru a auction. Was still black with the gold tricks

DRAKE VISCOME · 01-05-2013, 12:20 AM

Hey...I'm sure...at least I think I'm "sure"...Jodi's numbers are correct...just squeezing the tomatoes...but I "guess" this...at least...I like the production numbers 1....and 100 (of 100 produced)...better for ownership (along with his other 3 Thunderbolts) of Don Snyder's "nice" collection

...I just have to be content for the couple years opportunity racing/driving the "then" SS/C Carmel Ford/VindicatorT-Bolt (original Bill Rick Ford car)...wasn't smart enough to hang on to it..am a very lucky/grateful guy...just not the "smartest" guy 'eh...

Drake p.s. did make a few "laps" early on for ol' pal the late Nate"Nazy Crate" Cohen in his "then" SS/C T-Bolt as well...to get it to go from point a-b...under his watchful eye...

Hemi Moose · 01-05-2013, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ww63

Where is this thing at today? Last I knew it was on the west coast and I think went thru a auction. Was still black with the gold tricks

Here are a couple of other pics of the car, the last one was from the Grand National Roadster show back in 2010...have no idea where it's at today.

12-27-2012, 05:27 PM	#61
Hemi Moose VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 2,824 Likes: 0 Liked 11 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Survivor Thunderbolts A few before & after shots of Gas Ronda's 1964 Thunder Bolt... Last edited by Hemi Moose; 12-27-2012 at 05:40 PM.

12-27-2012, 05:40 PM	#62
DRAKE VISCOME Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 276 Likes: 180 Liked 91 Times in 35 Posts	Re: Survivor Thunderbolts Hey "Moose"...geez...it's real good to see that car again...Gas...the former dance instructor (said all the other stuff in previous post)...a still very handsome "movie star" like devil @ 80 plus...looks not a day over 40 (has found the fountain of youth for sure)...a class act that never goes out of style...the late Les Richey's Performance Associates "help" ...with somewhat un-heralded longtime super-wrench Cliff Brian...Russ Davis Ford dealership..."dem's"...were the daze 'eh...seems like just... yesterday Drake...the Downtown Ford deal ended early in the "life" of the T-Bolt...they had...however...long been a part of Gas's racing career/cars for some time time in earlier (years) Galaxies as well... Last edited by DRAKE VISCOME; 12-27-2012 at 07:48 PM.

12-29-2012, 11:35 PM	#63
DRAKE VISCOME Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 276 Likes: 180 Liked 91 Times in 35 Posts	Re: Survivor Thunderbolts Hey...here's a photo...of legend...Gaspar (Gas) Rhonda...with Tom Caldara...(the longtime partner with Nate "Nazy Crate" Cohen)...two "boys" still lookin' pretty good 'eh...Gas @ 80...Tommy @ 68... and counting...love 'em both... inquiring minds want to know...could it be the "air" quality on the west coast???!!! Drake Last edited by DRAKE VISCOME; 12-29-2012 at 11:43 PM.

12-30-2012, 03:37 PM	#65
DRAKE VISCOME Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 276 Likes: 180 Liked 91 Times in 35 Posts	Re: Survivor Thunderbolts Hey Grape..."first" bumper in photo on car (maroon) was fiberglass...second bumper in photo was aluminum (orange) hence "seams"...the first 11 cars produced by Andy Hotten/Dearborn Steel Tubing for Ford Motor Company were maroon (and given to their "chosen" racers)...the rest were all white...Gas always had a trailer to carry...not sure why the "change" in bumper along with paint (although orange color with/lettering style was Russ Davis "colors" with Gas through the AFX Mustang & later series of funny cars as well...Drake...p.s....not sure if my "re-call" is correct...but Plaza Fiberglass (Ontario,Canada) made fiberglass components for FoMoCo T-Bolts,Falcon,AFX Mustang... very early stuff was kind of heavy...they did make some lighter stuff later on...also possibly "re-call" (memory?) that front of car was damaged in towing/trailer accident...not terrible "damage"...hence bumper replacement though ..."our"(originally was Bill Rick Ford/Centraila,Illinois-pictured elsewhere on this thread under our Carmel Ford banner in mid/late 70's "form")) T-Bolt (original white) had aluminum front bumper being like # in the seventies (production wise of 111 produced)...NHRA does "accept" both...at least...now Last edited by DRAKE VISCOME; 12-30-2012 at 05:13 PM.

12-31-2012, 08:28 PM	#66
Hemi Moose VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 2,824 Likes: 0 Liked 11 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Survivor Thunderbolts

01-04-2013, 12:19 PM	#67
troublemaker427 Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hampstead, MD. Posts: 426 Likes: 287 Liked 65 Times in 23 Posts	Re: Survivor Thunderbolts The total number of 1964 Thunderbolts built was 100. I have the VIN list and a Thunderbolt has never been found that was outside of this 100 on the list. They were produced at DST as follows: Group 1 October 1963 Consisted of 11 cars, all vintage burgundy - 10 Four Speeds, 1 Automatic Group 2 December 1963 - Feb 1964 Consisted of 39 cars, all white - 9 Four Speeds, 30 Automatics Group 3 March - May 1964 Consisted of 50 cars, all white - 22 Four Speeds, 28 Automatics Yes there were more automatics built than 4-speeds. Many of the automatics were converted to 4-speeds as the Lincoln auto trans just wasn't fast. Dearborn Steel Tubing actually sold a conversion kit to install a 4-speed into an auto car. It is unknown an exact reason why there were a greater number of autos over 4-speeds. Possibly Ford wanted to compete with the Mopars but it just didn't work out with the Lincoln transmission. __________________ Jody Aberts Troublemaker2 1966 Fairlane 427 Last edited by troublemaker427; 01-04-2013 at 12:34 PM.

01-05-2013, 12:20 AM	#69
DRAKE VISCOME Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 276 Likes: 180 Liked 91 Times in 35 Posts	Re: Survivor Thunderbolts Hey...I'm sure...at least I think I'm "sure"...Jodi's numbers are correct...just squeezing the tomatoes...but I "guess" this...at least...I like the production numbers 1....and 100 (of 100 produced)...better for ownership (along with his other 3 Thunderbolts) of Don Snyder's "nice" collection ...I just have to be content for the couple years opportunity racing/driving the "then" SS/C Carmel Ford/VindicatorT-Bolt (original Bill Rick Ford car)...wasn't smart enough to hang on to it..am a very lucky/grateful guy...just not the "smartest" guy 'eh... Drake p.s. did make a few "laps" early on for ol' pal the late Nate"Nazy Crate" Cohen in his "then" SS/C T-Bolt as well...to get it to go from point a-b...under his watchful eye... Last edited by DRAKE VISCOME; 01-05-2013 at 07:10 AM.