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Robert Mitchum's Thunder Road Ford

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Allah, Oct 2, 2011.

  1. Allah
    Joined: Sep 14, 2011
    Posts: 5

    Allah
    Member

    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?
     
  2. Mike Rotch
    Joined: Jul 15, 2010
    Posts: 166

    Mike Rotch
    Member
    from Easley SC

    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.
     
    Cosmo49 likes this.
  3. pasadenahotrod
    Joined: Feb 13, 2007
    Posts: 11,775

    pasadenahotrod
    Member
    from Texas

    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.
     
    LOU WELLS likes this.
  4. Don's Hot Rods
    Joined: Oct 7, 2005
    Posts: 8,319

    Don's Hot Rods
    Member
    from florida

    Here is a picture of the actual 50 Ford engine........triple stromberg 2bbls.(might be Holleys now that I look at them)

    Don

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Oct 3, 2011

  5. chopper cliff
    Joined: Aug 19, 2011
    Posts: 265

    chopper cliff
    Member
    from lodi ca

    Mitchums 50 had a flathead w/3 carbs, posted pic Y-block
     
  6. HEATHEN
    Joined: Nov 22, 2005
    Posts: 8,552

    HEATHEN
    Member
    from SIDNEY, NY

    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.
     
    LOU WELLS likes this.
  7. S.F.
    Joined: Oct 19, 2006
    Posts: 2,895

    S.F.
    Member

    Those are Holley 94... 2 barrels. no one runs 1 barrels on v8's. You can buy almost any 3 duece intake brand new
     
  8. sixpac
    Joined: Dec 15, 2002
    Posts: 553

    sixpac
    Member
    from Courtenay

    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.
     
    Last edited: Oct 3, 2011
  9. Terrible Tom
    Joined: Feb 15, 2010
    Posts: 582

    Terrible Tom
    Member

    I agree. Bet it wasn't even the same car.
    Tom
     
  10. plym_46
    Joined: Sep 8, 2005
    Posts: 4,018

    plym_46
    Member
    from central NY

    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.
     
    55 Ford Gasser likes this.
  11. titus
    Joined: Dec 6, 2003
    Posts: 5,145

    titus
    Member

    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!
     
  12. Allah
    Joined: Sep 14, 2011
    Posts: 5

    Allah
    Member

    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.
     
  13. PRB
    Joined: Sep 15, 2011
    Posts: 147

    PRB
    Member
    from Az

    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.
     
    LOU WELLS likes this.
  14. CruZer
    Joined: Jan 24, 2003
    Posts: 1,934

    CruZer
    Member

    Stick around and you'll learn a lot. Welcome aboard !!!
     
  15. Don's Hot Rods
    Joined: Oct 7, 2005
    Posts: 8,319

    Don's Hot Rods
    Member
    from florida

    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. :D

    Here are a couple more from the movie.

    Don

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  16. tfeverfred
    Joined: Nov 11, 2006
    Posts: 15,791

    tfeverfred
    Member Emeritus

    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!"
     
  17. Hot Rod Elvis
    Joined: Jan 24, 2011
    Posts: 606

    Hot Rod Elvis
    Member

    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!!!
     
    LOU WELLS likes this.
  18. Don's Hot Rods
    Joined: Oct 7, 2005
    Posts: 8,319

    Don's Hot Rods
    Member
    from florida

    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.

    [​IMG]

    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

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  19. ScottV
    Joined: Jul 18, 2009
    Posts: 818

    ScottV
    Member

    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 couldn’t 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 Devil’s 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 he’d better make his run no more
    He said two hundred agents were coverin’ the state
    Whichever road he tried to take, they’d get him sure as fate.
    Son, his Daddy told him, make this run your last
    The tank is filled with hundred-proof, you’re all tuned up and gassed
    Now, don’t take any chances, if you can’t get through
    I’d 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; that’s all there is to say.
    The devil got the moonshine and the mountain boy that day.
     
    LOU WELLS likes this.
  20. Allah
    Joined: Sep 14, 2011
    Posts: 5

    Allah
    Member

    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.
     
  21. Grandadeo
    Joined: Dec 24, 2008
    Posts: 1,055

    Grandadeo
    Member

    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
     
  22. fiftyv8
    Joined: Mar 11, 2007
    Posts: 5,394

    fiftyv8
    Member
    from CO & WA

    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.
     
  23. damagedduck
    Joined: Jun 16, 2011
    Posts: 2,341

    damagedduck
    Member
    from Greeley Co

    jeez...i haven't seen that movie in a decade or so.......
     

  24. 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
     
  25. sixpac
    Joined: Dec 15, 2002
    Posts: 553

    sixpac
    Member
    from Courtenay

    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
     
  26. slysball
    Joined: Aug 29, 2006
    Posts: 71

    slysball
    Member

    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?
     

  27. 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."
     
  28. Hdonlybob
    Joined: Feb 1, 2005
    Posts: 4,115

    Hdonlybob
    Member

    Great thread,
    And as usual, the power of the HAMB knowledge shines once again....:)
    Gotta love this forum!
    Cheers.........
     
  29. chopper cliff
    Joined: Aug 19, 2011
    Posts: 265

    chopper cliff
    Member
    from lodi ca

    seen the moviemore times than I can count, I stand corrected
     

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