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Features Ford Thunderbolts Photos Wanted

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Troublemaker427, Oct 11, 2006.

  1. Kentuckian
    Joined: Nov 26, 2008
    Posts: 863

    Kentuckian
    Member

    As some of you Thunderbolt fans know, I am a techman for NHRA. When ever I see pictures of the Gas Ronda Thunderbolt, I remember the '70s and 80's when the car raced in the midwest. Harold Stout raced the car a few times at tracks in Kentucky where I worked. At the time I did not know the car was the former Gas Ronda Thunderbolt. I learned that fact after I made my first trip to tech at Pomona.

    Although I had already traveled with NHRA for several years, my first trip to the west coast did not come until 1985. After the Pomona event, I spent several days at the NHRA Tech Department in Glendora. While searching through the NHRA tech files, I found good information on the '64 Thunderbolts. Information that I would find useful as a techman.

    The next time I saw the Thunderbolt was at the first Dallas National event in 1986 at the Texas Motorplex. By then the car was owned by Willie and Lyle Smith. Since we had a full crew of techmen and plenty time, we were instructed to inspect each car thoroughly. When I saw the Thunderbolt come through my tech line I was excited to put to use my new found information. The first thing I did was look at the serial number. You can just imagine my shock when I discovered that this was the Gas Ronda Thunderbolt.

    As I proceded to inspect the car I soon discovered that it had led a rough life as a racecar. Even though I had seen the car before, I never had time to closely inspect it's every aspect. Close scrutiny of the rollcage in the A-post area revealed some questionable welding. Through negotiations between the owner and my superiors the car was allowed to run the event. Since it was late in the 1986 racing season, the understanding was that the car would not be allowed to compete at another NHRA event until the rollcage was redone.

    My understanding is that this was the last time the car was seriously raced. Maybe I had apart in preserving a piece of Thunderbolt racing history.
     
  2. J. Fitzhugh
    Joined: Nov 7, 2004
    Posts: 296

    J. Fitzhugh
    Member

    Does anybody have a photo of the one that was raced out of Ferndale, Maryland? I remember in the late 1970's going over to hear it start up at a friends house. It changed hands several times and was last seen in the Glen Burnie, Maryland area in the early 1980s.
     
  3. I'm not sure which car you refer to, possibly the car that was known as the "Blackjack" car after 1964?

    Contrary to the recent Muscle Machines magazine article, there were three new Thunderbolts based in Maryland in 1964.

    1. Archway Ford, Alan A. & Don Martin, Baltimore
    2. King Ford, Bud Shellenberger, Essex
    3. Hill & Sanders Ford, Matt Fenton, Wheaton

    Do you remember any details about the Ferndale car ? Possibly a name on the car ?
     
  4. Kentuckian
    Joined: Nov 26, 2008
    Posts: 863

    Kentuckian
    Member

    Here is a list of Thunderbolts that have not had a photo shown as of yet on this thread.

    Jim Sanders Ford, Houston TX

    Luther Ford Sales, Homer City PA

    Winkler Motor Co, Boone NC

    Hippodrome Ford, Nashville TN

    Paradise Ford, Scottsdale AZ

    Wake Forest Motors, Wake Forest NC
     
  5. Tom S. in Tn.
    Joined: Jan 16, 2011
    Posts: 1,108

    Tom S. in Tn.
    Member

    How about any old Ford file photo's about the project, like cloverleaf hoods, construction, etc. Tom S.
     
  6. 6t5frlane
    Joined: Dec 8, 2004
    Posts: 2,399

    6t5frlane
    Member
    from New York

    I thought I would share a little story for the T-Bolt lovers. Last night Darrel Droke called me. I'm sure most of you know who he is. We talked about a few things and I mentioned I had seen a poster on the Internet showing him recing Bobby Woods I tyhink in Biloxi Miss. in 1966. He started talking about some of those southern tracks and remembered a reace he ran against Arnie " The Farmer " Bestwick. He said the track only had a street light hanging down form a wire. So he looks at the set up and realizes that the wire comes down goes over to a guy with the switch. It wasn't long till he figured that rather then look at the light he just looked at the guy with the switch. He treed Arnie every time. Of course he never let on and everybody just thought he was just a great starter !
     
  7. Race Artist
    Joined: Feb 9, 2008
    Posts: 954

    Race Artist
    Member

    Not sure if this one has been posted before ...
    Joel
     

    Attached Files:

  8. Race Artist
    Joined: Feb 9, 2008
    Posts: 954

    Race Artist
    Member

    Not sure if this one has been posted before either ...
    Joel
     

    Attached Files:

  9. tommyd
    Joined: Dec 10, 2010
    Posts: 11,946

    tommyd
    Member
    from South Indy

    Nice additions. Has the "Twister" car been posted already? I don't remember it?
     
  10. Algon
    Joined: Mar 12, 2007
    Posts: 1,129

    Algon
    Member

    This may warrant a separate thread but I'm looking for any more shots of the Zimmy 1 car other than those already posted as well as any other similar 63s such as the Doug Nash car.

    Thanks, Dan
     
  11. The new "Elapsed Times" has an article about "the first T-bolt", '62 Fairlanes with 406's including both the Tasca car and a car built by Art Carr and Bill VonVilet from the west coast. Never have seen the Art Carr car before. I haven't read the article yet but it looks interesting.
     
  12. Kentuckian
    Joined: Nov 26, 2008
    Posts: 863

    Kentuckian
    Member

    Has it ever been established which dealership the Virginia Twister Thunderbolt originally came through?
     
  13. I talked to Kenny Warren about his T-bolt awhile back. It has "Sandra" painted on the hood. His wife was there while we were talking, she said "yeah that's me".... They hadn't been married yet in '64 and were still dating.

    This has always been one of my favorite T-bolts.
     
  14. I believe Kenny Warren told me Mooresville Ford in NC. but I could be wrong.
     
  15. Race Artist
    Joined: Feb 9, 2008
    Posts: 954

    Race Artist
    Member

    Thanks Jody,
    Is the feature any good ... anything new? I'm a little tired of buying magazines for features on stuff that are just a fluffy rehash of a lot of general information. I went looking for the ET magazine today but couldn't find it.
    Joel
     
  16. It's not as detailed as you or I would like but not bad. There are some decent shots from the Petersen Archives. The shop where I got mine usually gets them a little earlier than anyone else. Check later this week and it should be out.

    Are you going to Carl's in a couple of weeks?
     
  17. Race Artist
    Joined: Feb 9, 2008
    Posts: 954

    Race Artist
    Member

    Anyone ID the T-Bolt in the other lane against Dyno's wagon? Early '64 LIONS Drag strip, CA.
    Joel
     

    Attached Files:

  18. LennyFreebern
    Joined: Jul 12, 2011
    Posts: 118

    LennyFreebern
    Member

    Not much to go on Joel. Is it possible that this might be the Bill Rhodes-Regent Cafe car? Might actually be a pic of the car when it had "Bill Rhodes" lettering on the car. I wasn't aware that it ever did but one never knows. It was a mid-Dec63 delivery car so the car would have been racing by the time of the pic. Any more particulars on the car? Also, where did the pic come from?

    Len
     
  19. spiertb
    Joined: Mar 30, 2009
    Posts: 247

    spiertb
    Member

    I have to agree with Len; it looks like the beginning of--"The Re--gent cafe?? on the door. That car was also entered at the 64 Winternationals, and thats the only Ford Dealers name that comes close to the lettering on the quarter!! Maybe? Syl
     
  20. cobrajet2
    Joined: Jan 14, 2009
    Posts: 120

    cobrajet2
    Member

    Anybody have a clue on this T-bolt?

    [​IMG]

    Mike
     
  21. A bigger photo would help.
     
  22. Dennis K.
    Joined: Dec 28, 2006
    Posts: 479

    Dennis K.
    Member
    from Detroit MI

    Cuthert Motors owned and driven by Emmett Austin.

    While I am on here the picture posted by Race Artist is the Bill Rhodes Ford Thunderbolt. Look at the C pillar, it has Jack Bayer on it. The car was yellow when it was in CA during the 64 Wnats, changed to red shortly after getting back home.

    Regards,
    Dennis

     
  23. gasbag
    Joined: Jan 17, 2013
    Posts: 16

    gasbag
    Member

    Have some photos from '64 Winternationals/Pomona
    with Gas Ronda/Bob Ford (Dearborn)/Les Richey - go to
    quartermileclassics.wordpress.com
     
  24. 64-TBOLT
    Joined: Jan 20, 2013
    Posts: 16

    64-TBOLT
    Member

    anyone have a list of the dealers that recived the 64 T-Bolts?? and maybe the number. like car #35 was pulliman motors
     
  25. spiertb
    Joined: Mar 30, 2009
    Posts: 247

    spiertb
    Member

    Were any T-Bolts auctioned at Barret Jackson or elsewhere this month? Syl
     
  26. ford_george
    Joined: Oct 21, 2006
    Posts: 7

    ford_george
    Member

    I bought one in the 70's in Selma Al. that was blue with a blue top. Fixed it, raced it and sold it to a fireman in Huston Tx. It now resides up north, maybe in Mass.:(:(:(





























    t
     
  27. ford_george
    Joined: Oct 21, 2006
    Posts: 7

    ford_george
    Member

    I bought one in the 70's in Selma Al. that was blue with a gold top. Fixed it, raced it and sold it to a fireman in Huston Tx. It now resides up north, maybe in Mass.:(:(:(





























    t
     
  28. ford_george
    Joined: Oct 21, 2006
    Posts: 7

    ford_george
    Member

    That is correct. I bought Pat Gray's tbolt and the Country Boy. I took the fiberglass door off the Whuppet and put them on the Country Boy. I fixed the car, raced it then sold it to a fireman in Houston.:(:(:(
     
  29. Ray Gross
    Joined: Jan 22, 2013
    Posts: 3

    Ray Gross
    Member

    Im not sure if this is what your looking for or not,But here it is anyway..Picture was taken in 1965 at the Edge Water Park Raceway in Cleves,Ohio.
     

    Attached Files:

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