Hello, new to the forum here. I was watching Thunder Road the other night, noticed the triple carbs on Robert Mitchum's Ford. Looked like triple single barrels, which would be a really cool set up, in my opinion. Anyone here seen this move, know what I'm talking about? Can these sorts of set-ups still be had?
Yeah you can still get them but it's best to find 'em used at swap meets...so the UPS man doesn't tip-off Johnny Law to what you're up to.
Be assured it was triple 2bbl carbs. You'll only see triple 1bbl carbs on inline six-cylinder manifolds. The 36 in the moonshiner headquarters garage has a blown flattie under the hood if I remember right.
Here is a picture of the actual 50 Ford engine........triple stromberg 2bbls.(might be Holleys now that I look at them) Don
Wrong....I freeze framed the movie one time when they showed the underhood scene, and the Y block picture is what they showed in the film. Probably not even the same car.
Those are Holley 94... 2 barrels. no one runs 1 barrels on v8's. You can buy almost any 3 duece intake brand new
That is one of the best shots of an old movie showing 3 deuces I love that movie. If they cheated us it is a nice touch. Still a cool pic of an old setup.
from the IMBd movie site All of the "moonrunner" cars in the film had actually been used by moonshiners in the Asheville, North Carolina, area, where the film was shot. The moonshiners sold the cars to the film company in order to buy newer and faster cars. Share this The 1950 Ford that Robert Mitchum drives in the beginning is actually a 1951 Ford with a 1950 grille, and the chrome windsplits removed. The give-away: the V-8 emblems, the "Ford Custom" emblems on the front fenders, the dashboard, and steering wheel. And the continuity guys probably screwed up and showed the 3 X 2 engine that was in the later 57 ford, as bing the egine in the earlier car.
Its the movies, oh well, just like in california kid when the show the graffiti coupe motor as the cali kids motor! Thunder Road is one of my favorite movies, i just love it!
Thanks for the info. They just don't look like my everyday two barrel, I'm not too familiar with the real old stuff. But that's why I came here, to learn a little.
Nope, I knew the old guy in Cali that built Mitchums Ford for the movie, he built cars and was the first guy to make aftermarket stuff for Bronco's. It wasn't an old shine car. Mitchum liked it so much he made the studio buy it for him and he kept it.
That engine picture I posted was one of the movies stills, so it looks like Hollywood was playing Hollywood even back then, showing an engine from one car that was supposed to be in another car. Here are a couple more from the movie. Don
I don't care if Hollywood got it right or not. This is one of Mitchum's best works. Timeless for car guys new and old. "I'm gonna powder yer face!"
The 50 had a 1957 312 with three-twos. I know a guy that's good friends with Robert's son Jim who was his brother in the movie. He's got an exact replica of the 50. It's exact down to the moonshine tank in the trunk to the real rifle in the car, to the oil sprayers on the bumper. It's an awesome car!!!
Ever since I posted that first picture of the engine in his car the carbs have been bugging me. I knew that they weren't like any Stromberg I have had because of this bump on the side. So I did a little research and found out that Holley made a carb that was very much like the Strombergs and was used on some circa 1955 Fords.......in fact I had a 292 in my 56 with one of these on it, and a buddy had a 54 with 3 of them on it. They are Holley 94, model 2100 carbs. Here are a couple of pictures I found on line. Don
BALLAD OF THUNDER ROAD Let me tell the story, I can tell it all About the mountain boy who ran illegal alcohol His daddy made the whiskey, son, he drove the load When his engine roared, they called the highway Thunder Road. Sometimes into Ashville, sometimes Memphis town The revenoors chased him but they couldnt run him down Each time they thought they had him, his engine would explode He'd go by like they were standin still on Thunder Road. (CHORUS) And there was thunder, thunder over Thunder Road Thunder was his engine, and white lightning was his load There was moonshine, moonshine to quench the Devils thirst The law they swore they'd get him, but the Devil got him first. On the first of April, nineteen fifty-four A Federal man sent word hed better make his run no more He said two hundred agents were coverin the state Whichever road he tried to take, theyd get him sure as fate. Son, his Daddy told him, make this run your last The tank is filled with hundred-proof, youre all tuned up and gassed Now, dont take any chances, if you cant get through Id rather have you back again than all that mountain dew. (CHORUS) Roarin out of Harlan, revvin up his mill He shot the gap at Cumberland, and screamed by Maynordsville With T-men on his taillights, roadblocks up ahead The mountain boy took roads that even Angels feared to tred. Blazing right through Knoxville, out on Kingston Pike, Then right outside of Bearden, they made the fatal strike. He left the road at 90; thats all there is to say. The devil got the moonshine and the mountain boy that day.
Thanks man. Just sold my import, thing was just too damn slow. Looking to get into a V8, old stuff is getting pricey for a kid like me. But I figure if I can built a pushrod 4, I can do the same with an 8 with just twice the work. haha.
I just heard from some hot rod buds that the white '35/'36 three window in the movie garage scene is one town over from me here in Florida. Lived here 28 years and I've never laid eyes on it. Lee
I thought I spoke to guys in CA out on the I10 a few years back who claimed to own this car, but sounds like it may have been BS then.
this is a pic of a shoebox engine compartment not a 57 ford i know , i have both you can see the vent for the heaterbox in the upper left for the shoebox the 57 doesnt have a vent system like this
Thats so cool Mitchum kept the car. Great actor loved his movies My dad had a 50 Ford till mom hit a hay wagon with it. Thanks for the info on Mitchum and the ford
I personally like the scene when Mitchum was laying low in that motel cabin enjoying a cold Pabst Blue Ribbon. Can you say product placement?
Story from previous owner..."THE CAR USED IN THE MOVIE IT WAS A 1951 2 DOOR MADE TO LOOK LIKE A 1950.IT HAD A 1957 THUNDERBIRD MOTOR WITH TRI'POWER AND 4 SPEED."
Great thread, And as usual, the power of the HAMB knowledge shines once again.... Gotta love this forum! Cheers.........