Quote:
Originally Posted by rawhide
I have always read that more Thunderbolts had automatics than four speeds. Most of them were switched over to four speeds pretty fast I would guess. Jody will wander in here and set it right soon I guess.
Roland
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That's right, IIRC MORE than half of the 1964 Thunderbolts came with the HX Lincoln auto trans, but many or most were swapped back to a 4speed. About half of the 63-64 Lightweight Galaxies (LWG, 427 LoRiser in 63, 427 HiRiser in 64) came with the Lincoln HX auto trans. Some of these were kept and did well in AA/SA.
So for 63-64, the Thunderbolt and LWG came with autos so NHRA accepts it. But there were less than 400 of those cars if you count them all. Not really "production" and I don't think you could order and get one unless you knew somebody and were a racer. But in spite of that, NHRA lets ANY 427 Galaxie run an auto trans, even though they didn't come that way in regular production cars (ie steel Galaxies) in 64-64.
We just had a big debate about this on fordfe.com and the consensus is that these cars (Thunderbolts and 63-64 LWG) were the ONLY time the solid-lifter 427 came with an auto trans.
As far as 65-up cars, and the 66-67 Fairlane/Comets:
The consensus though is that Ford did build 2 prototype 67 Fairlane 427 auto cars. But more importantly, Ford apparently LISTED the auto trans but never built any that way, and that maybe why NHRA accepts it.
http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182...+%28UPDATED%29
http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182...8/427+Fairlane
I don't think the Boss 302 or Boss 351 were ever even LISTED with the auto-trans (maybe because smog standards had begun?) so NHRA would not accept them.
That's the key I think - what did the manufacturer LIST in the paperwork they gave to NHRA? It doesn't mean they had to make or sell any of them. Usually. It confuses me too.
As far as the 396/L78, NHRA lists it as legal with auto trans for the 68 Nova, but not the 68 Chevelle or 68 Camaro. Go figure.
I would be surprised if the 327/275 was a manual only combo, that sounds strange but I will look, NHRA has all that stuff on line you know.
Dwight, Greg at al, sorry I was typing too late at night, and my photographic memory (NOT) remembered 325 and 275 as the same thing, DUH.