Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

Bill Ireland (Portland,OR) got one of the original '64 T-Bolts. I remember seeing it run, got pictures.etc. Now a friend of mine is trying to find out what happened to that particular T-Bolt. Does anybody on here know what became of it after Ireland let it go? BC, maybe you'd know since you were into the Ford's back then. Appreciate any help. Thanks.
Ken

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

Try Rich LaMont at 422motorsports.com, he may be able to help. He is a Ford expert, and owns an original Thunderbolt.

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

I think a gentleman by the name of Mr. Ault (don’t know his first name) the owner of Ault electric in Tacoma has one in his collection.

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

I was aware of 2 "real" Thunderbolts that migrated into B.C. Canada in the mid 60`s, one was bought by Gary Wanless of Burnaby, the other was raced by the "Chilton & Dooley" team from Kelowna or Kamloops BC.I talked to Wanless several years ago, and he told me that he cut the car up when he was building a Cougar Funny Car in the late 60`s, and he had moved the Tbolts rear axle forerward about a foot before that. I had heard that one of the cars was origionally been Les Ritchys car, but I don`t know if the Wanless car was Bill Irelands or not. There was also a couple of Tbolts from Washington State, one was known as "Little Pete" and also had the wheelbase altered in the 60`s, as did the old "Shaker" Tbolt that was restored, and is owned by Jim Gonia from Washington. I recall one other Tbolt from the Vancouver Wa. /Portland area, but I believe that car had never been modified. It was supposedly sold a number of years ago.

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

Ken, Be prepared for what will be a shocker. When Dallas Kelly brings his Re done T-Bolt. Wrecking Crew out it will be AMAZING. Mike Pustelny did the chassis to current levels of Technology. Engine is being hand massaged by Dallas and All Painted and lettered. I hope it is out first of the year. I have seen pictures and it is worth the work and wait.... it is an original car.

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

Bill,,,the man at Ault Electric with the Ford Collection is Gary McKay, a very nice gentleman with some awesome cars. Its been a while since I saw them, but I remember hearing that the T-Bolt had moved on.
Danny Durham

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

Gary's collection is a site to behold for any Ford lover. I visited a few years ago with the local Shelby club and expected a few nice cars in an old warehouse. Boy, was I ever impressed. If anyone here ever get's a chance for a tour take it. Brian

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

I don't know if it was an original but I saw one crash at Hampton Raceway on Long Island in the summer of 74. It was a 120 MPH car so for that time it was no joke of a car. I was on the starting line on deck when it crashed. It landed upside down and the guy died laying in the hot sun waiting for an ambulance. He fell out of the car as it flipped end over end and his head landed on the guard rail. He had no helmet on. After that day the helmet rule was enforced, Paul.

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

Were the Thunderbolts available as automatics, or just as manual transmission cars?

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

Thanks for straightening me out on who I was talking about. A friend paid him a visit a couple of years ago to take a look at one of his cars and I recall him saying his car collection was incredibly nice stuff and also if I recall correctly he said he was not just a Ford collector that he had some rare Hemi cars also. And please correct me if I’m wrong about this; wasn’t it his collection that was featured on the cover of Art Morrison’s catalog a year or two ago?

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

Yes,you could get a Thunderbolt with either a 4 speed or automatic trans.

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

There is one in Clovis NM. Paul Teel ownes it... It had Humpin Henry painted in the side. Originally maroon in color, but was white when I saw it last in 98.

Maybe these guys can help? I was searching for info myself on Humping Henry, and came upon this site.

http://www.angelfire.com/hi/427fairl...mpinhenry.html

http://www.angelfire.com/hi/427fairlane/index.html

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

Interesting as the first TEN built were all Maroon and were the factory sponsored cars (Bill Lawton aka Tasca Ford, Butch Leal, Phil Bonner, Gas Ronda, etc.). The rest (90) were all white and the racers and/or dealers had to pay for them. I wonder whose car it was originally??

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

I remember the T-BOLT that MPR was working on, it was done the same time my car was done. What a bad mother of a T-BOLT and it was maroon...Luke Awdish

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

Bill,,,I'm not sure about the Morrison cover,,,guess I missed that one,,but I do know the gang from the TV show My Classic Car paid a visit a couple years ago, and Gary gave Dennis Gage a ride around 5 Mile Drive in Pt. Deffiance Park in his black 62 406 Tri-Powered 4spd. Galaxie. The show featured some of his 427 cars like his 66 Fairlane. I know he had a 66 Hemi Satellite, not sure if its still around, and at least one Chevy, a 55 Bel-Air sedan. In years past the annual Good Guys event included Gary's collection on its' Friday poker run. Some of Gary's cars have been shown at the Mild to Wild Tacoma Dome show and also the Seattle Roadster Show,, usually his street rods.
Danny Durham

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

In conjunction with the FCA National Meet:

Thunderbolt Owners Association
45th Anniversary Thunderbolt Reunion
Hyatt Regency - Dearborn, MI
June 26 - 27 2009


If you like these cars, spread the word!!!

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

As I understand it these great cars are now legal for stock eliminator.

Getting it to hook might be a problem.

I'm a Mopar guy but always loved these cars.

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

http://www.thunderboltowners.com/

the link i found on dearborn flashback

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...t=troublemaker

Here is a good T-bolt thread on another site.

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

[QUOTE=treessavoy;110026]As I understand it these great cars are now legal for stock eliminator.

Getting it to hook might be a problem.

The T-Bolt has been legal in AA/S and AA/SA for years at 7.00 lbs per HP and IHRA allows a 10.5 (non "W") tire so they should hook.

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

Don Snyder in Ohio has seven original Thunderbolts including the first and last ones built.

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

When I raced in NSS there were at least two real thunderbolts racing, so you might get in touch with them to see if any of them are still around....just google NSS.

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

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

Not class legal but still impressive. It still runs the same rear suspension installed by DST in 1964 (converted to a floater). Column shift and untubbed. It is a "real" T-bolt too!!!:eek:

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

That's an impressive car. I like the column shift. Cool!!!

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

Great post Jody. Thanks for the link!

Dale

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

There are some really cool photo threads on here. Anyone have and shots of Thunderbolts, both from the past and present?

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

Congrats to Paul Adams for his "Featured Flyer" article in the current ND!! He has the baddest class legal Thunderbolt in the land for sure!!

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

Since the ZL-1 and '68 SS/AH thread are going so well I thought I'd bring this back from the dead. Anyone have any Thunderbolt info they would like to share?

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

Ray Smith and Dallas Kelly raced this T-Bolt for 25 years and I am told Dallas still has it.

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

The ones I most remember "in the day" were Hayden Proffitt, Butch Leal, Gas Rhonda (from the West Coast), Hubert Platt (from the South) and Bill Lawton (from the NE).

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

Not only dose he still have it he has rebuilt it and had the chassis done and will race when complete.

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

I dont think Hayden Proffitt was ever in a T-Bolt. He went from 421 Pontiacs, to409 and Z-11 Chev , to Plymouths (max wedge and Hemi, then to a 65 SOHC Comet and on into topless Corvair funny cars. AMC funny (Grant Rebel) cars to but I dont ever remember a 64 T-Bolt. Anyone have a picture of it if he did ?

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

I did get a pic of Ray Paquet's motor at Indy last year, but he told me not to let it get on the net cause you guys might learn all his secrets. : )

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

Correct. Hayden ran Mopars in 1964 and never had a T-bolt.

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

Okay I'll bite...but the Ford experts here will have to talk about any other info, facts and details on these, where they where built and how many were built, etc, or any other history on these 1964 Fairlane Thunderbolts.

http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/43...600x600Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb30.webshots.com/37...600x600Q85.jpg

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

http://inlinethumb61.webshots.com/46...600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb23.webshots.com/49...600x600Q85.jpg

http://www.doublehdragstrip.com/ghos...easer-1964.jpg

Re: Thunderbolt whereabouts?
 

http://inlinethumb48.webshots.com/46...600x600Q85.jpg
http://mecum.com/auctions/FL0109/FL0...d=122308152806
http://mecum.com/auctions/FL0109/FL0...d=122308152806