Features Ford Thunderbolts Photos Wanted

ex Bill Ireland T-bolt (Damerow Ford)
Car was purchased by Gary Wanless of North Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada in late 1965. Gary raced around the Pacific Northwest. Mainly at Mission Raceway in BC, but also San Cobble on Vancouver Island BC, Arlington in Washington State USA and Speedway Park in Edmonton Alberta.
I met up with Gary on April 11 2015. He lent me his photo album to scan and share his photos. Big Thanks to Gary! Lots of never seen stuff and news paper clippings from the day.
Round 1 - early to mid 1966 before being altered. Many more photos to come. Stay tuned! Enjoy

 

Great history from the source awesome.

 

Round 2 - Mid 1966 to early 1967
Gary Wanless alters the T-bolt. Rear axle is moved up 15". 65 Econoline straight axle installed 11" forward. Front fenders stretched.

 

Great pics!! Sylvanus

 

Round 3 - early 67 - late 67
Gary Wanless lightens up the T-bolt even more. Tube straight axle replaces the Econoline axle. Floors, firewall, dash, all inner structures and B pillars are removed. Not much left of the original body except the outer shell!

 

Round 4
late 67 - early 68
the end of a Thunderbolt! Gary removes the T-bolt shell and installs a hand made 68 Cougar fiberglass body. Only T-bolt parts remaining were the engine, transmission and rear axle assembly. What was left of the T-bolt shell (side skins and a roof) got sold off to some local guys, never to surface again. Gary raced the Cougar til mid 1970. Engine was sold off and later rolling car was sold to someone local, also never to surface again.

 

I sure am glad the man let you copy all that history, he was also thinking when he saved it all. Thanks for taking the time to post and share.......................Al

 

couple new ones of Rod Dooley's car ( former Les Ritchey) and others Rod took at Arlington WA back in the day.

 

I would love to find out any history and/or information about the #16 Jim "the bull" Durham car. Does anyone know if it's still around somewhere? This seems to be one of the few cars that they painted black (after being Wimbledon white of course). This car was from the town that I currently live in, Spokane WA. Wendle Ford is still the main Ford dealership here in town as well. I'd love to learn some more about it. Thanks in advance!

 

Don't remember if this has been covered here before. But anyway following up on another thread and found this about the Sunbeam tiger that was provisionally named THE THUNDERBOLT. Good thing it got a name change.

Look at the last sentence under heading "development" and in "Initial prototypes"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunbeam_Tiger

 

wool1962: The car does not have a tan interior. I put my heart in building this car, EVERYTHING is new in this car, it has a 514 Ford BB, C6, 9" non narrowed rearend from a 57 Ford fairlane donor car, mini tubs, rear drums, front discs, motor has 20 minutes cam time. Single 4 barrel (950 cfm), aluminum heads, long rod motor, 9.7 cr pump gas, has all new front suspension, new paint, new tires, fuel cell, bus battery, new tach and gauges, all new wiring, new seats, new belts, 4 core aluminum radiator, electric fan, tranny cooler, nice glass, has new wheels front/back, MSD box, car is not street legal as the wiper motor is missing along with the horns. It currently is licensed in Washington State. The only fiberglass on the car is the 5" hood and front and back bumpers. The car is NHRA legal to 6.40 in the eight mile, it has a 5 point roll bar. 5 point harness is cert till 6/17. It has not been on the track yet. This was a rust free Texas car, one owner till I got it. This car IS NOT CHEAP!! The car is lettered after a T-Bolt I saw in 1965 on Downey Fords used car lot for sale for $3K. They can be taken off by a good body shop. If u want more pics just ask and I will take pics of whatever u want. Tom Goddard My files are to large to attach so e-mail me at ([email protected])

 

Found this in the vintage shots of days gone by thread today posted by member swi66.

 

Bump to the top.

 

Have the Jess Tyree/Mickey Thompson Tbolt pics been posted? They were taken of the net years ago. I have about 40 detailed pics if they would be of interest.

 

From Facebook.

 

I had seen the post on the previous page about the Willis Ford Thunderbolt and sent the link to my brother in law who had gone to college in the Waterbury VT area in the 60's. I asked him if he knew of the dealership or the car. He sent me back this picture of the car sitting at the dealer ship by the show room window. Boy was I surprised! It is one he had taken as a young guy who lusted after one of these awesome cars.

 

Sorry here's the picture...

 

A bump from today's version of the vintage shots page. Couldn't resist.

 

New England Dragway Hot Rod Reunion yesterday. No info on the car.

 

It sure is a nice looking car!!...............Al

 

Looks like the one that runs at Lebanon Valley a lot.

 

Larsen Ford Thunderbolt was always a fan favorite.
I remember watching them run when I was around 16 years old but it took deep pockets to own one.

Jimbo

 

Cool shots of Dallas Kellys wrecking crew car...he still races it

 

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