Survivor Thunderbolts

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.

Hemi Moose · 01-11-2013, 06:10 PM

Here's a link to the Don Snyder collection...

http://www.snyderspecialtycars.com/#!

.

DRAKE VISCOME · 01-26-2013, 12:38 PM

The black "T-Bolt" was raced for a short time by Barrie Poole (one fine racer/driver...'eh) for a short time (early-mid 80's)...Jack Roush did the motor...they felt it would be a "killer" right out of the box...it did run well...but not "killer"...which would require more time/effort/$$$...Brent Hajak of Oklahoma purchased car I believe...again raced for short time...these cars take a great deal of dedication/time/money to run as Super/Stocks...do think Ray Paquet,Dallas Kelly,Paul Adams can attest to that...

...Barry had great success with fellow Canadian Sandy Elliott...for quite awhile with 428 Cobra Jet Mustangs...won a bunch...including NHRA National event or two back in the day...last I knew the car was showing up at various auctions...looking for big $$$ bids...which as far as I "know"...never happened...it's shame...this "rascal" had lots of potential...back then...just needed the right "player" like the guys mentioned above...

Drake p.s. we had about the same "results" over a two season period with our Carmel Ford/Vindicator T-Bolt...very good McCandless chassis prep,Holbrook motor w/all the then time period "tricks"...we were just dis-tracted with our bookings/ Funny Car deal...didn't have time/dedication/interest...ran well...steady 10.30's in 1977/8...SS/C...reguarly...good...but hardly awesome

jackarnew · 01-30-2013, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRAKE VISCOME

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

If memory is correct. seems to me NHRA outlawed the fiberglass front bumper. So to run the class it was sawed off the front end and replaced with metal one. Watched Bud Schlenberger/ King Ford's TBolt saw his off.

Travis Miller · 02-18-2013, 11:02 PM

1964 Thunderbolts racing today in NHRA Stock and Super Stock are allowed an aluminum or steel front bumper but NOT fiberglass. The fiberglass front bumper that came on a few of the early production cars was only allowed in AFX. That ruling made by NHRA in 1964 is still in affect today.

Of the original 100 Thunderbolts produced, most had the front bumper mounted up against the grille. That was accomplished by tabs welded to the stock bumper brackets that raised the bumper.

12-30-2012, 03:37 PM	#1
DRAKE VISCOME Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 279 Likes: 208 Liked 93 Times in 37 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	#2
Hemi Moose VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 2,824 Likes: 0 Liked 12 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Survivor Thunderbolts

01-04-2013, 12:19 PM	#3
troublemaker427 Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hampstead, MD. Posts: 422 Likes: 282 Liked 64 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	#5
DRAKE VISCOME Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 279 Likes: 208 Liked 93 Times in 37 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.

01-11-2013, 06:10 PM	#7
Hemi Moose VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 2,824 Likes: 0 Liked 12 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Survivor Thunderbolts Here's a link to the Don Snyder collection... http://www.snyderspecialtycars.com/#! . Last edited by Hemi Moose; 01-11-2013 at 06:32 PM.

01-26-2013, 12:38 PM	#8
DRAKE VISCOME Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 279 Likes: 208 Liked 93 Times in 37 Posts	Re: Survivor Thunderbolts The black "T-Bolt" was raced for a short time by Barrie Poole (one fine racer/driver...'eh) for a short time (early-mid 80's)...Jack Roush did the motor...they felt it would be a "killer" right out of the box...it did run well...but not "killer"...which would require more time/effort/$$$...Brent Hajak of Oklahoma purchased car I believe...again raced for short time...these cars take a great deal of dedication/time/money to run as Super/Stocks...do think Ray Paquet,Dallas Kelly,Paul Adams can attest to that......Barry had great success with fellow Canadian Sandy Elliott...for quite awhile with 428 Cobra Jet Mustangs...won a bunch...including NHRA National event or two back in the day...last I knew the car was showing up at various auctions...looking for big $$$ bids...which as far as I "know"...never happened...it's shame...this "rascal" had lots of potential...back then...just needed the right "player" like the guys mentioned above... Drake p.s. we had about the same "results" over a two season period with our Carmel Ford/Vindicator T-Bolt...very good McCandless chassis prep,Holbrook motor w/all the then time period "tricks"...we were just dis-tracted with our bookings/ Funny Car deal...didn't have time/dedication/interest...ran well...steady 10.30's in 1977/8...SS/C...reguarly...good...but hardly awesome Last edited by DRAKE VISCOME; 01-26-2013 at 12:47 PM.

02-18-2013, 11:02 PM	#10
Travis Miller Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 478 Likes: 1 Liked 276 Times in 27 Posts	Re: Survivor Thunderbolts 1964 Thunderbolts racing today in NHRA Stock and Super Stock are allowed an aluminum or steel front bumper but NOT fiberglass. The fiberglass front bumper that came on a few of the early production cars was only allowed in AFX. That ruling made by NHRA in 1964 is still in affect today. Of the original 100 Thunderbolts produced, most had the front bumper mounted up against the grille. That was accomplished by tabs welded to the stock bumper brackets that raised the bumper.