Pretty sure that the reason for the Ford Thunderbolt, and the A990 MoPars, as possibly some others, came to be legal in NHRA Stock Eliminator, was due to NHRA opening up new classes, (AA/S- AA/SA, and for a bit, AAAS-AAASA) to make room for the new no VIN purpose built drag cars, like the late model COPO,Drag Pack, and Cobra Jet cars. Previously, the Thunderbolt and A990 were classified at less than 8.00, which was the highest pound per C. I. rating in Stock. When NHRA implemented the new, higher weight breaks, that opened the door for the older cars that also came it at less than 8.0 pounds per cube.