Ford's Rare 427 MONSTER That Dodge Was Scared To Race - The 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt

In this Rare Cars documentary, we are going over the history of one of the most iconic Ford's ever produced, the mythical 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt.
This factory built racer was the fastest thing around when it hit the strip, s much so that it was dominating the competition and laying down extremely low quarter mile times for the year.
Learn all there is to know about the 1964Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt in episode 31 of our documentary series on the world's most fascinating cars.
👉 Join our email list for special perks when we launch our website: rarecarsmedia.com/
*Note, we are not historians. If you see an error in our research then please mention it in the comments!
For business inquiries or other inquiries, reach out to: [e-mail]

[@rarecars3336]

EDIT: I totally didn’t even realize I said “4 speed automatic transmission”, it is in fact a 3 speed so my apologies there ❤

[@kramnull8962]

There was an overdrive back in the early 60's behind a 390FE, I think the Starliners was most common. Another Love hate relationships back then though. You may have heard that transmission combo mentioned and got it in this vid....

[@charliechristie2949]

I think we all knew what you meant ! By the way, it wasn't too hard to tell which manufacturers' cars you like. Great video ! ! Thank you !

[@paulpasternak2026]

Mercury meteor 1962+1963 406 6bbl too dog of 5 available engines small 6 big six 221 or 260 small block v8s and the 406-406hp. Very rare and years earlier than the gto

[@waynecronan4160]

Do you understand that I ran a 409 63 Impala that in1965 ran 11.18 et and 118 mph in a quarter mile. My name is Wayne Cronan

[@charliechristie2949]

@@waynecronan4160 SWEET !

[@RicherPickle]

I had National Record in A/S in 1966 for 2 weeks with my 1963 1/2 Galaxy 500 XL at Island Dragway. I turned 11.9 & 123 mph. I drove for Michael Ford Drag team, Whitehouse, N.J. The XL was 14 pounds heavier than the bench seat so it made it into A/S by a 'hair'. I weighed 123 pounds. A light 17-year old driver. We blew a 9" rear every weekend, but FoMoCo paid the bills! Those were the days! I'm 74 now and ride fast bikes!

[@rarecars3336]

Wow sounds like you sir have lived life to the fullest!

[@rctopfueler2841]

my dad had a 63.5 with the R code in bright red what a beast ,it got traded away in gas embargo for a sp311 roadster .. duhh dad nice job

[@CelebznbodysuitNeckMaskz]

Nice my dad didnt have a record ..but same track in a 69 RR 383 , a marine head two 650 double pumpers An the usuals the head man headers , mild cam, air ride an mickeys all around an more im sure ! he passed away . He an his pals built it in my grampas drive way in 2 wks ..was a 69 383 auto ..he blew the motor a put a 68 383 in it and a 4 speed tranny in 72 ,car was a beauty ..Torque monster, lift front tires off .a couple pics of that lol ..all i have left is pics ..ran 11.9 .. 1/4 his best run

[@michaelraddish7898]

Was 11 84 in 68 Robert pond,California 427 single 4brl. 410 hp Fairlane

[@user-bj3zz4ul7z]

Cool

[@richardlively1666]

Guys the power is something to behold, but the styling in the 50's , 60's, and 70's was a work of art. Everything, almost, today is a cookie cutter version of something else. IM glad and blessed to be a part of that generation!!

[@71rcode72]

As a true Ford guy and former Year One employee 30 years ago surrounded by GM and Mopar lovers, I believe every manufacturer was amazing in their own way and I admire them all. Designs performance Etc

[@brandonbms1843]

As a Mopar guy I enjoyed this video. This is one Ford can be proud of for sure. I will tell you though us mopar guys aren't afraid of anything. Especially not competition. We will race it even if we know odds are against us because typically they are.

[@babydriver8134]

I was a 16 year old who knew nothing about cars. I was tasked to drive a Malibu SS 396 from downtown LA to Thousand Oaks. I stopped for gas at our regular station and the gas jocky challenged me, saying 'I have a 383 over there says it's just as good. I couldn´t doubt him.

[@Jdub6580]

I'm so glad you've covered the Fairlane thunderbolt bro. This is probably one of my top five favorite cars of all time. Who doesn't love fake headlights designed to conceal huge air intakes?

[@user-ce1pm6yr9q]

A '65 Mercury Caliente also struck fear in the hearts of many competitors at the Track with this motor under the hood.

[@angelaprater2679]

And they looked GOOD.

[@anarchistdan]

Today dodge took notes

[@kellynestegard5208]

One windshield wiper, one sun visor, no heater or radio, plexiglass windows; all business.

[@jakobquick6875]

Great beautiful car, but almost 13:1 compression on lead 64 gas… Hmmm wonder why they ran great or total shit….my pops was in Indy and Pomona and many other tracks and he says “ they ran like a bat outta hell or they backfired and pooped at the line🎉 Just like the early hemi cars no jokes

[@customkey]

Top stock eliminator at the 1964 NHRA Nationals was won by Roger Lindamood in a SS/A Dodge, he beat Jim Thornton's Ramchargers SS/A Dodge 426 hemi in the final. The last Thunderbolt running was Butch Leal's 4 speed, and he was gone long before the trophy run. I was there in '64 and the Dodge drivers were kicking butt with the new Race Hemi. Look it up, the runoffs are right here on YT.

[@clintwalker6389]

You’re right you can look up anything quick nowadays.

[@vincentrachelsdad-yr1kr]

Tell the truth bro

[@clintwalker6389]

@@vincentrachelsdad-yr1kr look it up bro

[@bradhardy2629]

​the truth seems to hurt you Ford girls. Everybody knows the hemi engine ruled and still rules the 1/4 mile. Boo hoo

[@raymunchieftain4170]

Thunderbolt !!!! One of the most beautiful and fierce iconic vehicles ever made !!!!!!!!

[@RickaramaTrama-lc1ys]

As a Ford Guy I always thought The Thunderbolt was the most impressive at the track. The sound alone would raise my blood pressure~! Great video and The Narration was excellent and added to the thrill~!

[@hornetbrown]

There is a guy here that owns a few Thunderbolts and BB Galaxies in his museum here. Got some BB 409 Chevys, Dodges (including a 'Sox and Martin' Cuda drag car) and a 'swiss cheese' 421 Catalina lightweight. I got chills walking around the place -so much history stuffed into one complex. Those Thunderbolts were the stuff of legends.

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

Address?

[@paulhenson4434]

Wow, Sox n Martin! I forgot all about them!

[@NobilityandLoyalty]

You pretty much covered all the bases of yesterlore. 😅great memories

[@aaronmartin4600]

Where is this museum I would love to see those magnificent cars

[@barrycuda3769]

And Mickey Thompson took his Thunderbolt to another level.

[@mtbodyfarm5174]

My first car was a 63 chevy with a 425hp 409. It broke all records including transmissions, clutches, drivelines, rearends and axles. Loved it!!

[@thomasauslander3757]

Compensation: At least you had a great Beach Boys song to listen to..

[@randycoursey7230]

The 409 was a truck engine. Not one of Chevy's better ideas unless you drove a truck.

[@toddjohnson1899]

You should have put you a 9in. Under it 😊 driver.

[@randycoursey7230]

@@toddjohnson1899 Yeah a FORD rear end.

[@phantomstratocaster]

my wife bought me a brand new 69 chevelle with one piece aluminium drive shaft,front scoop black with silver racing stripes and i've been chevelling the driveway every winter since.

[@donalddalton4866]

I had the pleasure of driving my 1964 Ford Galaxy 2 door fast back 427 dual quads 715 cfm each with a 4 speed for 4 years before selling it in 1972.

[@tonymickens8803]

I remember back in the 70's Dyno testing the 427, 428 and 429's in Dearborn when I was in High School, they made WELL Over 500 and 600hp ATC, Man to Be One of those 100 Customers!

[@jerryjustice8803]

The 427 Ford engine was bad ass and very powerful.

[@Adam-ub9nu]

Basically a detuned version of what went into the GT40.

[@RicherPickle]

It was 'over-square'. A 4.387 bore with a 3.78 stroke = 427 cubic inches. Similar proportions of a 327 Chevy, but BIGGER & Fast to rev!

[@jimdodge5766]

The Fairlane and galaxy were good looking cars. I would love to have a new thunderbolt.

[@nathanadrian7797]

I am a Mopar nut, but last summer I saw a baby blue 63/64 Galaxie 500 in Creston B.C., what a beautiful car!

[@ccrider77]

Dodge was never "scared" to race Fords on the dragstrip, or on the ovals. That's hyperbole... However the lightweight Fairlane was definitely a formidable competitor, and pushed the limits of what was taking place in the early 60's. By 1965, only one year later, the 426 Hemi's and AFX cars raised the bar, putting an end to this chapter.

[@petergiannaros9037]

What Chapter?IFord were not allowed to run The Sohc in Nacscar so it went drag racing.Seems to me Danny Ongais in Mickey Thompsons Mach 1 kicked ass ,correct me if i'm wrong.

[@ccrider77]

Ford was allowed to run cammers in 1966. The Chrysler Hemi was banned in 1965, but also came back for 1966, so they did run head-to-head at NASCAR after 1964, but the Plymouths still prevailed, despite being a simpler pushrod engine. The problem with the SOHC motor was the enormous cam chain, which would stretch so much that cam timing would typically vary from 4-8 degrees between cylinder banks. It was basically an iron FE block with aluminum OHC heads bolted on as an afterthought. The engineering was rushed through in only 90 days, and that shows. SOHC motors did make a valiant effort in NHRA drag racing too, but some of the same problems surfaced there. When the early AFX and Top Fuel classes evolved into what they are today, the cammer was left out of the picture, because of it's inherent design problems. @@petergiannaros9037

[@CoyoteFTW]

@@ccrider77no it wasn’t stop making stuff up … the 427 Cammer was faster and no 426 chryker powered anything beating it. Ford made a/fx legal mustangs with the Cammer for nhra Chrysler knew Ford was building these cars so they built some ugly things and they moved the wheels forward .. so they became illegal to run in nhra.. so that meant Ford and Chrysler had to duke it out in match races and the Fords stomped the chryker cars … running way quicker. One example STOCK FUEL MATCH - Don Nicholson 427 Cammer Ford went up against Ronnie Sox Chrysler best guy at Richmond for a best of five affair, "anything goes," especially in the fuel tank. Surprise Sox blew his engine on the first run and the remaining races were run with Sox' gas car, Nicholson Ford 427 Cammer taking the win. Nhra isn’t the end all be all in drag racing… they certainly helped chryker allot they banned allot of Ford cars for example when Dodge showed up with acid dipped bodies that would dent if you leaned on them that was ok. But Ford showed up with their lightweight fairlanes they cried foul because fiberglass hood…

[@ccrider77]

@@CoyoteFTW I never said you were making anything up. However unlike the 426 Hemi, the 427 SOHC motor was a race engine, not a modified street engine, like the 426 Hemi. This is why it wasn't allowed to race in NASCAR and in several drag classes. Like I said, the injected Hemi's in 1965 and beyond ruled the drag strip. The SOHC engine was used for a short time in altered and even TF classes, but ultimately couldn't compete with the Chrysler Hemi. Today in funny car and top fuel, every car is powered by an engine derived from the Chrysler Hemi, and that's for good reason. None are powered by cammers...

[@markhartung]

@@ccrider77 Damn sure is. The hemispherical combustion chamber, big valves big power. As well the 427 Ford SOHC actually used hemi combustion chambers as well.......

[@Alex_Miller1980]

Wow the peak of performance for me the ultimate muscle of that era 64 12:1 compression ratio, side oiler 427 ci beast

[@MrCanonballs]

An 11 second production Fairlane!!! SH1T A BRICK! We got compact Fairlanes down here in Australia... but their 1/4 mile times were closer to 11 months.

[@michaelcudby787]

Farr, mate crackup. & I am a Ford man, from across the pond.

[@barrycuda3769]

Strewth.

[@sparkywirenut]

It's not really a " production car " , it was a handmade race engine .

[@Loulovesspeed]

@@sparkywirenut- Not only the engine, but pretty much the entire car was built from a stock Fairlane which Ford sent to Detroit Steel Tubing Company for transformation into a Thunderbolt. Virtually a hand built racer built by D.S.T for Ford.

[@1951RKP]

In todays form Ray Paquet has ran mid to low 8 second with his Thunderbolt. He estimates about 900 horsepower and shifts the engine at 9,200 RPM.

[@mhenderson1000]

Ray's car is really nice. Saw this baby in 2021 at the US Nationals..Show quality and stupid fast.

[@graybeard2113]

And back mid-70s, I think it was Bob Glidden I saw at Blaney Drag Strip, running 9sec Pro-Stock times. And we thought that was fast.

[@donaldkgarman296]

THAT MUST BE WITH NITRO........IN THE 1964 RACES NITRO WAS ILLEGAL FOR FACTORY RACES .

[@mhenderson1000]

@donaldkgarman296 You must not watch or attend NHRA races..Just KZbin Ray's car and you will see how fast that Thunderbolt is..I've seen this car at many NHRA races because I'm a crew guy on NHRA Top Sportsman car.

[@Loulovesspeed]

@@graybeard2113- Bob was a solid Ford man and captured 10 NHRA Championships. RIP, Bob.

[@briankorner750]

Gotta love the sound of a BBF. ❤

[@rocketman63]

These are iconic race cars, and awesome. They did NOT scare Dodge, or Plymouth either.

[@Jerry-up8bk]

What DID scare Chrysler and Chevy was FORD 427 SOHC CAMMERS !!! 616HP 1 Forv Carb 657 HP duall QUADS !!! Had Chrysler and Chevy owners Shaking in their boots !!!

[@victordjinn632]

@rocketman63 You are correct.

[@Loulovesspeed]

Maybe they didn't scare them, but they sure as hell beat them on more than an occasion! 🏁

[@bluedart440]

I doubt it@@Jerry-up8bk

[@boblang409]

thanks, love reading all the replies and stories of back in the day!! thanks all . old muscle car guy here

[@txtamaman]

I bought a '64 500 hardtop when i was 15 and my dad and i restored it, i worked with him in his mechanic and paint and body shop till he passed in 92...it was a 260 v8 with a 2 speed.. hated that so i put a high po 289 and 3 speed auto in it... then put a 302 6 bolt and a 4 speed.... it was so beautiful

[@tillyvee8319]

What fun! Brought back memories of my first car, a '64 Ford Fairlane with the stock 289 in it, used to drag race that on weekend midnights on straight away county roads. Old Blue.

[@larrynorsworthy8582]

South Georgia or Florida? Straight roads.

[@jeffreyrubish347]

Love the sound of that big block.

[@rarecars3336]

Sounds fantastic!

[@davidbaumgardner8374]

At 5:54 you mentioned a 4 speed automatic wouldn't it be a 3 speed automatic ?

[@ciceroskip1]

I had the pleasure, with my older brother, in 1964 of visiting a local garage in Berwyn Illinois where they were building a Mercury Comet with a 427 for drag racing. I can never forget that day.

[@godsowndrunk1118]

I've got a set of Thunderbolt High Riser heads that were ported by Crane back in the day.... they're going on a 468 inch BBM short block I'm having built to replace the worn out 468 Low Riser that was in my 1965 Galaxie 500... Should be fun.

[@fasx56]

Thank you for such detailed and History covering the 1964 Thunderbolt and how they were developed and came to be such performers. Appreciate the research, video clips and clear Narration covering this race car, Dodge 426 and the Chevrolet drag cars. Depending on who's car and the driver behind the wheel Dodge and the Thunderbolts were winning at different race tracks in the 1960s. Later the 427 SOHC ENGINES became available and raised the bar with faster times then the 64 427s. Loved the Heyday of SS racing starting with injected 283 and 327 Chevrolets and later the 427s. Happy to read and watch the videos which prove there still is enough interest in drag racing to keep these famous cars going.

[@Airsally]

Had a buddy with a 406 galaxy...it could really tear up some tires. I had a 64 289 Fairlane with tear drop hood and at one time it had 3 × 2 barrel Holly's. And 4 speed . I also had a 64 cyclone comet 4 speed top loader. Fully built it only ran 13's with a C-4 and slicks. Funny my 94 mustang ran 12.85 on just bolt on stuff and slicks. Crazy those thunder bolts ran low 11's back in the day.

[@donaldkgarman296]

YEAH THOSE CYCLONES WERE SQUIRLEY , AND HARD ON TIRES

[@race8427]

I agree w/67marlin, the reality is Dodge was not scared but Chevy was.

[@moparbee1523]

Mopar or No Car !

[@fatboyhtownholitdown8932]

​@@moparbee1523 Mopar might as well have no car

[@AntiZOGZone]

​@@fatboyhtownholitdown8932Why? What factory Ford could hang with the 1968 Factory Race Hemi Darts and Barracuda's or the The Dodge Demon's Answer? NONE

[@Oscarphone]

It is important to remember that the Max Wedge cars were all over the place on the street and strip. Big Chevies were scarce and so was the Thunderbolts.

[@Loulovesspeed]

@Oscarphone - Ford had just 100 Thunderbolts made for them - 49 were 4 speeds and 51 were automatics. They, unlike the Max Wedge cars, were not production automobiles.

[@bradhardy2629]

How many lightweight max wedge cars do you think Chrysler made lol. All over the streets and strips my azz. Foolish comments

[@brinkee7674]

The fastest factory car in 66 was the one of one Shelby Dragonsnake 427 CSX3198 which was sold to Haar Ford in Worcester, MA. My dad used to tune it At the 1966 NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, it set the A/SP national records at 10.86 seconds and 127 mph results

[@tonykhouri7826]

was that a blue drag purpose built car i think i remember seeing at Norwood eigth mile at night!

[@bobbyearls1838]

Tasca Ford had two of them.

[@brinkee7674]

@@tonykhouri7826 It was red when at Haar but may have been blue after they sold it and was called Hanks Bank

[@brinkee7674]

@@bobbyearls1838 Tasca 100% did not have two 427 Dragonsnakes . Do you not know what one of one means. Haar had the only one Shelby ever built. Just google Shelby Dragonsnake 427 CSX 3198 and read Hemmings report on it or others. It resides at Sam Pack's Museum last I knew

[@Loulovesspeed]

While the 427 Dragonsnake was a true beast, the 289 version won more races and even a National Championship in B/SP!

[@barryrussell4106]

One of my favorite cars. Hughbert Platt made those cars the legend they are

[@JohnnyButtons]

Those early ‘60s Ford Fairlane and Galaxie models had such pretty body lines.

[@annettesurfer]

The video reminded me of another Ford, but I couldn’t find anything on it in the “Rare Cars” video offering so I’ll mention it here. I found an orange '67 fastback Mustang trade-in on a backlot of a Redford MI Ford dealer in the mid-70’s when I was a young teen. The entire trunk floor pan was gone, presumably to save weight, and all that remained was the rear-mounted starting battery. The engine bay was stuffed with a 390, tube headers, an aluminum high rise intake, a Holley double-pumper carb, a Mallory dual-point distributor, and someone said the engine lobe indicated a race cam but I can’t say for sure. It had a Hurst competition plus shifter and traction bars. Strangers always challenged me at the traffic lights and I just couldn’t resist. I won every race except one when the guy in a ‘67 Mustang coupe started pulling away shortly before a Dearborn cop caught me as I exited onto Michigan Ave. and another pulled the other over on southbound Telegraph. I saw the other guy later and discovered his ‘stang had all the goodies mine had except he only had a 289 but it was the Hi-Po version. Anyway, I nearly lost my license from so many speeding tickets. It didn’t matter if I followed the rules of the road or not, that orange ‘Stang was a cop magnet. So I sold it and bought a fun little roadster that was unassuming…a 1968 Triumph TR-250 convertible. The body of a TR4 with a 6 banger. The ‘69 model became the TR6 with a restyled body. The power to weight ratio made that car a little screamer with a footswitch to control the wipers without having to take my hands off the steering wheel. Good memories.

[@rarecars3336]

Thanks for sharing! Sounds like you had yourself a wicked street car

[@carlzalesski2975]

Those were brutal cars

[@audrybella6405]

Great video and exceptionally well scripted. Loved it!! Thanks for producing it for us.

[@brickwoodward]

The old Speedvision channel did an engine build show. They selected the most popular American made maximum horsepower engines. The three specific engines I remember were the GM LS-6 or 7, 454 rated at 450 hp by GM. Next was the Ford 427 sideoiler engine with 2 4bbl carburetors. Number 3 was the 426 Chrysler Hemi with the optional magnesium 2-4 intake. All engines were rebuilt to NHRA rules. At that time in the mid-late 60’s, cam companies were taking the stock factory cam specs and modifying the ramps but staying strictly within the factory specifications. The results were; the hemi made 836 hp, the Ford made 786 hp and the GM made a little over 700. I wish I could find and get a copy of that program!! It needs to be shown everywhere!!!!!!

[@vernonslone8627]

Our 1965 Superstock Hemi powered Dodge Coronet was never afraid of any Ford....

[@CoyoteFTW]

Dodge sure was afraid back in 60’s they cried about every little thing Ford did …

[@vernonslone8627]

@@CoyoteFTW We didn't cry we just beat up on them...

[@michaelholt8590]

I seen one of these at the biannual car show at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1995. It looked badass and when it started it shook the ground.

[@whyis45stillalive]

I knew a guy who has one of these. He had 2 Ford GTs, (sold one to the Fast and Furious franchise), numerous ‘vettes, a bunch of other muscle cars, but his all original white Thunderbolt was his favorite. It still had all the NHRA racing regalia. One of the most beautiful cars I’ve ever seen.

[@rarecars3336]

Wow that is a great lineup!

[@whyis45stillalive]

@@rarecars3336 He got a *very* lucrative military contract. However, he maintained his humility. He just likes cars. Now he can afford *a* *lot* of the best.

[@HEMIPOWER604]

There Is no denying that is a cool engine and a weapon at that...!!!👍

[@etoineschrdlu9382]

While I admit that it is fun and interesting to hear about these rare old cars, I also note that these limited production homologation specials were nearly impossible to purchase from a dealership. Most of them only shipped to a dealership as a conduit to a known competitive race shop or if the dealership itself was a known competitive race shop. But the "Win on Sunday, Buy on Monday" mantra did work. I'm sure many went to their Ford dealership and bought a Fairlane with a 427 engine, it just wasn't one of those rare "Thunderbolts", but I'll bet it was pretty darn fast! When Plymouth started making Roadrunners, my Uncle went and bought one. Did he get the one with the 426 Hemi? Nope. He got the 383 version that was significantly less expensive. My aunt would have divorced him if he had spent her home redecorating budget on the Hemi. As it were, steam was coming out her ears when two years later he bought the 440 six-pack crate motor and replaced the 383. She HAD to buy all new draperies AND new living room furniture; HAD TO, she had NO CHOICE! And the really bad news was that Tech Inspection caught on that 1969 Roadrunners were never shipped with a 440 and uncle couldn't run in "Stock" class. But on the bright side, my uncle's '69 Roadrunner was consistently running the quarter in low 11's and high 10's!

[@vladtheimpala5532]

I’ve never driven an all out race car but the fastest one I ever drove was a Plum Purple 69 Roadrunner with a built 383. That was fast enough for me. It was everything I could do to hold the clutch in at a stoplight. I’m a Chevy guy but I did like that Plymouth.

[@rarecars3336]

Dang high 10's is MOVING, thanks for sharing that story!

[@etoineschrdlu9382]

@@rarecars3336 My uncle was very proud of that car. He had built it to the point where it was barely street drivable. My aunt hated it because that meant she had to ask his permission for her Pinto wagon while the 'runner was torn apart in the garage or race ready. He had it set up strictly for the strip. The suspension's sole purpose was weight transfer and getting hooked up. The transmission was full race. He'd had the compression upped, a full race cam, full race headers, straight pipe exhaust, and he had his precious box of jets that he would change and tune according to the weather forecast. I only went to the track with him once and on the way there he passed a car. It was definitely an OMG moment. It did finally reach a point where he decided (or my aunt 'convinced' him) that the time he was spending on prepping the car was hurting his marriage and he sold the car. Later, after the kids had left the nest and he'd become a successful banker, he joined a BMW club, started doing track days, and eventually became the club track driving instructor.

[@ramblerdave1339]

You couldn't get a Fairlane with a 427, from a dealer, that wasn't a Thunderbolt, until 1966, when it was available in the newly enlarged body. Also, 440s were a regular option in the 69 Road Runner, as well as in the GTX (standard equipment) from 67 on. Maybe his was a 68?

[@67marlins]

As a Ford guy, I doubt Dodge was scared.....but chevy was.

[@notwaiting]

Ding! Ding! Ding!

[@SealofPerfection]

Chevy wasn't worried. GM wasn't even in racing at that time, until about 71.

[@67marlins]

@Pacfanweb I guess if your 350 is always broken down over at your Grandmother's house, then maybe not.

[@SealofPerfection]

@@67marlinslol, that doesn't even make sense. The only reason Ford and Mopar had their "happy time" in the mid-to-late 60's was due to GM's corporate ban on racing. Some individuals still back-doored some stuff, but there was no corporate GM racing at all during that time. So Ford/Mopar were free to do whatever, and they surely came up with some cool stuff that was good for those times.

[@67marlins]

@Pacfanweb Ah, I see another point sailed over your head. Again. Bye.

[@user-xx5bf5if5j]

I love ALL the muscle cars of the 70’s when I was racing. All the little tricks & tips we shared. We had a blast and I learned a lot from older guys. It was my favorite years of my life. I think about how lucky I was to experience that time. Sure miss the cruise through’s at Frishes. Great times!

[@fuse8052]

Amazing video and thank you for this. I've never heard of this before and this was great to see and hear

[@chawenhalo0089]

Never mind how much power these were making, if they had enough torque to lift the front, you're laughing all the way!

[@Scottocaster6668]

9:56 That Thunderbolt is Gorgeous. Thanks for the ride along footage. That was great 8:33.

[@dustymojave]

In the 1960 y older brother andhis partner bought a 64 Max Wedge Pymouth from Blairs Speed Shop in Pasadena. Early 64 model built in late 63 with a wedge engine. Late 64s built in early 64 got Hemis. In 1968 they had just replaced all the bushings, ball joints and tie rods. That Friday night they took the car to Lyons Drag Strip. My brother drove. Ran brackets. The last run of the night was against a new Camaro with a 427 swapped in it. My brother got down the strip to the lights and the new left tie rod popped off. Hard left turn from the right lane backing into the guard rail, bouncing off. Then the Camaro centerpunched him in the right door. They tumbled down the shutoff lanes. Both cars totally destroyed. My brother was DQ'd for crossing the line. He DID get a time slip that he showed me later and I remember to this day. 127mph @ 11.27 secs. Not bad for a factory stock automobile hitting a guard rail and tumbling the last several yards.

[@rctopfueler2841]

it was. sweet seeing my hometown favorite in all its glory. RIP marv tonkin ford

[@jimmymccormick142]

Awesome car Ford powered forever baby keep on pulling the knot out of them boties and the horns off them mopars l love it

[@bradhardy2629]

Keep living your pipe dream. In denial. Hemi smoked um all 68 Hurst hemi Darts and Barracudas ruled the strip boo hoo

[@CoyoteFTW]

@@bradhardy2629ss/a and ss/b record holders are both 427 thunderbolts …

[@patrickmontie9583]

There was a retired ford engineer that always drove his mid 60’s fairlane to the St Ignace Michigan car show. He special ordered it when he retired with a DOHC 427 and manual transmission. I wonder where that car is now. 😊

[@mcfast52]

SOHC 427

[@wctyre49]

In my home town we had a friend Bill Hilton who owned theBeanBandit , a 64 Ford Fairlane 427.

[@srt8rocketship241]

Badass Machine. Scared is a stretch. Love racing.

[@rhpicayune]

Lightweight 1968 hemi darts were probably around 2800-2900 pounds, probably way underrated at 425, realistically making probably 550 hp. These monsters would run nine second quarters from the factory.

[@dudeman9582]

I don't believe that they "came from the factory" with the hemi . I think that all the race-ready" didn't they come standard with the slant six ?????

[@JimVaught-qm6gf]

3020 lbs. the ones still running the class tend to be in the 3200-3300 range now, if not a little heavier.

[@johntotten4872]

@@dudeman9582 In 68 they built 500 Darts and 500 Barracudas with the 426 Hemi. Hurst (The shifter company) took them and did the mods. They came with no warranty and were race cars you could order. I am sure if you check YT you can find a video talking about their history. I used to have a pic I found on the net showing the Cudas and Darts outside the Hurst place waiting to get converted.

[@michaeldeakin4287]

@@JimVaught-qm6gf The Hemi is probably around 100# heavier than the 440, I would imagine, the 427 would be similar weight to the 440 but the Fairlane looks smaller than a 68 Dart.

[@JimVaught-qm6gf]

Yeah roughly 100 lbs depending what intake and exhaust manifolds/headers. Bare heads roughly 48 vs 70 each between the wedge and Hemi. According to my scales. Ditch the factory iron Hemi exhaust and that’s a load of weight. 2x4 aluminum manifold vs iron single 4 on a stock wedge motor.. good boat anchors 😂

[@Mr.Guild1971]

No specs on their actual win times and gaps in that racing year? AWESOME to finally see this monster covered.Will never afford one for real but dream of a ride in this car so bad. I do have a rare Hotwheels thunderbolt in classic white though...HAHA Along with all my Shelby cars

[@michaelraddish7898]

Wimbledon white

[@davidvogel6359]

still cool to have the model

[@timrayburn2461]

Great video...and job! Thank you.

[@timmypilkerton2835]

I have a 67 Fairlane but my heart is with the 64

[@Bongofurry]

Perfect Ford powerhouse.

[@user-qh9xe6bh1g]

I Love the thunderbolt God Bless Yall

[@robertginther9248]

Ray Paquet has the best of the best: Factory #001 & has been rumored to have refused quarter million for it. Always wins class @ Indy & still has manual shift. Ray is a genius.

[@JP-xx8zd]

he holds the ss/a record with 8.4 in his real thunderbolt FORD POWER RULES

[@martinfromseacity2010]

Great story, reminds me of my youth, Best car I was around was a 64 GTO, it was fast. Thanks

[@fasx56]

Thank you for such a detailed History of how the Ford Thunderbolt became one of the big stars of the 1960s Drag Strip winners in the very popular Super Stock Class. I wish the factory sponsored drag cars would have lasted longer. I saw Gas Rhonda in a 406 Galaxy race against Hayden Profit in a 409 Belair in Seattle, 1962, the 409 won. Two years later it was Gas Rhonda's turn with his 427 Thunderbolt which you covered so well, my what memories.

[@raygomez6212]

The big three automakers routinely under-reported horsepower ratings for their muscle car engines to keep insurance companies from gouging their owners on rates. So who knows how many ponies the Ford and Chevy 427s and the Chrylser Hemis were actually cranking out.

[@user-zd3zi6lk2x]

THUNDERBOLT ! Hell yeah ! I want one ! !

[@rarecars3336]

Who doesn't!

[@patriciagoffe9173]

OH MY GOSH !!!! had a model as a kid this is one of my favourite ever cars ..I'm in New Zealand so will never seen one ..awesome upload

[@baronoflivonia.3512]

My maternal Grandfather worked at Ford Engineering from my birth until 1975 when he retired0. First he was at Mercury when they were on Livernois in Detroit, then in 1050's he moved to new Engineering facility on Michigan Ave. in Dearborn. That is where they held their little shows for employee's on a special Sunday. I remember when the GT's came home, and were unloaded from a trailer in the finish order. He retired as head of Dyno Lab in 75. He contributed to the 65 Indy motor and got a plaque with plastic model of engine, brownish block with chrome intake and exhaust, intake was injection on side that was usually exhaust and exhaust was in between cylinders. He also contributed to Cleveland Head Design. My 1st car that I bought with money I earned was a dark blue 1972 Gran Torino Sport, and I have been looking for that car since 1978. I met a lot of Ford NASCAR drivers in late 60's early 70's, and that is sport wich held his interest until he passed in 2001.

[@CsaW4rri0r]

Nice video. Pretty sure it would've been the Chevy 409 competing in that era.

[@429supercj]

409 was only for a short while in 63 by 64 Chevy was using a 427

[@jamesblair9614]

It was a race only 427 version of the 348-409 W engine family, nothing to do with the Mk IV 427 or the 427 Mystery Motor, different animals.

[@mrbcam2]

The Thunderbolt kicked ass

[@flee4357]

Saw one race at Edmonton speedway alberta against all dodges available. Never lost a race. Hard to take as a dodge man

[@frankjohnson6342]

It was a nice “story“ but the 1964 Race Hemi would have no trouble covering a smaller and lighter Thunderbolt and in 1968 when Mopar showed up with Race Hemi’s in Dart’s and Barracuda’s it was really no competition.

[@earlrichardson385]

…..everybody lies about horsepower😉.

[@davidrobins4025]

Great video. Thanks

[@paulabes4220]

In 1979 my best friend had a mint 64 Farlane. At that time a working man with a loan from the bank could afford one. My best friend had tracked one down in Washinton state. This was done pre internet so you can imagine tracking cars down in those days it was painful. Sadly, he was in the negotiation stage when he was killed in a car crash. We lost him and his beautiful car that night.

[@jamesbranner4029]

It was not a hemi killer Nascar outlawed the hemi in 1965 because they were damn near unbeatable!

[@philsocks3386]

Not true, Nascar ban 427 ford cammer engine.

[@Loulovesspeed]

They both were banned guys! Do some reading on the subject.

[@67marlins]

I think Mercury had a version too, but it was based off of the next restyle ( the much better looking 1966 and 1967 ). I think the Fairlane was called an "A/FX" if a 427 racer....and the Mercury Comet was called a "B/FX" with that 427....I think.

[@steveford6373]

A/FX & B/FX were different classes A/FX generally had the big block and the B/FX would have then hi-po 289.

[@67marlins]

@@steveford6373 OK, thanks. That makes sense.

[@HI-RISER]

I'm not aware of any 64s in AFX, not sure. I think any AfX cars were 63 hard tops with 406s.

[@daleflinchum3244]

Sox & Martin won the 1964 Winternationals in a A/FX Mercury Comet.

[@phanrangsam]

In 1964 a Salesman from Nicholson Ford in Hartselle, Alabama picked up his Thunderbolt with a Farm Trailer He was Jim "Country Boy" Cochran was from here. I was 17 at the time and in a small town most of the young guys were Ford all the Way! We went with Jim to Drag Strips all over Alabama to watch him run, He was a Big Man and Really nice to all of us. I got to Meet Pat Grey with his Thunderbolt, also Don "Big Daddy" Garlits (?) driving his "Swamp Fox" watched he and Jim Throwing Silver Dollars at a Line for Big Money to us! Jim and the "Country Boy" raced at Courtland, Air Base (closed down) all Cement. He Raced at Decatur, Drag Strip, and Jakes, at Moulton, Ala. just to name a few around! I ended up buying a 390 GT Hi Po from him when I came Home from Korea in 68 and a 1969 Cobra Jet just before I left for Vietnam (left it with my Wife of 32 days) I still have a 1970 428 Cobra Jet Mach 1 and a 69 Mach 1 with 351 Cleveland. I'm getting too Old to Hot Rod any More! But had a Ball in the 60's watching the Big Blocks Run, Kids now days Don't what Good Cars Sound Like!!

[@Loulovesspeed]

You're absolutely right about kids today being clueless as to what strong engine cars sound like. They think a Subaru WRX with a coffe can exhaust sounds good. I personally think they sound like flatulent snowmobiles! LOL We may be old, but we have seen and heard the best ever!!

[@johnpatmos1722]

1964 Ford Fairlane was my first car, (circa 1985).

[@CJColvin]

Could you imagine in the 64 Ford Thunderbolt had the almighty 427 SOHC 2V Cammer V8?

[@oldskolacura9798]

Yes that's the one I was thinking nascar had banned

[@barrycuda3769]

Actually they dont have the sohc 427 engine , it's the 427 FE push rod engine.

[@feydespiel.]

​@barrycuda3769 he said..can you imagine that engine fitted..he never said it was fitted to the thunderbolt...

[@barrycuda3769]

@@feydespiel. Oh, it's just that he said "in" instead of " if" , must have been a typo . I agree , an sohc in a Thunderbolt would be awesome, and it's been done with Fairlane gassers .

[@paulhenson4434]

​@@barrycuda3769What excatly was a 'gasser'? If ya could explain?

[@daryllect6659]

The Dodges and Plymouths weren't "scared" (afraid) to race Thunderbolts in the automatic classes. The Mopar Super Stockers annihilated the automatic Thunderbolts, and the Chryslers would all run lower ETs.

[@anthonytomaro8278]

Ford C6 transmissions consume the most power to operate compared to everything else. Not surprised with the outcome.

[@HI-RISER]

Ford used the Lincoln automatics. They were terrible off the line. A lot of racers replaced them with Toploaders or Super T-10s. @@anthonytomaro8278

[@daryllect6659]

@@anthonytomaro8278 "Ford C6 transmissions consume the most power to operate compared to everything else." Sounds like a poorly designed transmission...

[@M4A3]

​@anthonytomaro8278 don't forget the FMX. Similar design with a cast iron case lol

[@robertbihn3005]

I was going to NHRA Great Meadows, NJ almost every Sunday 1962 /'66 , truth is these are Factory Experimental gems They didn't have any competition, mostly ran something in hot gas classes. Not Landy through. Those were the good old days. We would stand 25' behind the line and get pieces of rubber spat out at us. Almost stand next to the cars on the line. Till an official would chase us away. They didn't have restricted areas then, considered everyone had common sense ! These BOLTS were more like a Falcon, beautiful showroom bad ass classics ! A/FX. ~ 1964 same track & year Garlits gets 200 MPH

[@rarecars3336]

What a time to be alive - great story thank you for sharing!

[@cptkirkp]

This was actually a pivotal moment (although shortly lived) in auto design.

[@NobilityandLoyalty]

The Thunderbolt ran well during the first half of the 1964 season in its lightened state. Chrysler rolled out the Race Hemi at the U. S. Nationals and trounced the T -Bolts running .5 quicker and 3 miles per hour faster. This result continued and Ford introduced the 427 Cammer engine in 1965. Unfortunately, Ford never offered the 427 SOHC in a vehicle. Please review the results.

[@randycoursey7230]

Thunderbolts won the championship that year, so No.

[@NobilityandLoyalty]

They're dominance lasted a whopping 6 months

[@randycoursey7230]

@@NobilityandLoyalty They did very well, I was actually there.

[@bobleenko512]

Uhhh incorrect

[@NobilityandLoyalty]

Check the record book post US FINALS

[@chuckselvage3157]

Phil Featherstones T Bolt ran a world record 9.2 secs quarter mile on modern drag slicks. Not sure about the horsepower but at the very least @500.

[@anthonysiler4938]

I saw that vid, they said it was "modernized" but with all stock components with modern tires. It just seems a little far to say modernized with just tires .

[@davidgraham7325]

Yeah at least 600 if you ever see 👀 one do the quarter mile

[@edwardpasserini6138]

I was 15 in 64 and man every weekend meant going to the track, I think the only thing I didn't remember was the wiper arm bit, now that's cool. thanks for sharing ! Oh yeah, I was driving back then without a license

[@stevegabbert9626]

That maroon color was awesome! (Ok...ok...burgundy) Love that color, and yes, that 427 was ok too.😊

[@crazyoilfieldmechanic3195]

Obviously 426 Hemi cars were not available yet but to me the really glaring part missing from this rather poor video is ZERO mention of the difference between low, medium and high rise 427 Ford engines and the effect those differences had on the 427 Ford engine horsepower. Earlier 427 Fords were all low risers except some factory backed racers. A current day 427 Thunderbolt high riser with the benefit of a clutchless 4 speed and a ladder bar rear suspension and a bit more compression and a roller cam and 50 years of 427 Ford experience currently runs very low 8 second times. I think as manufactured with a bit of experienced tuning the 64 Thunderbolt engine would produce about 525 flywheel horsepower. NOT A STREET ENGINE but a made for racing special side oiler 427.

[@ciaranburke3243]

Very nice, I do love the galaxy and fairlane, reckon about 550 hp all day long 👍

[@ComfortRoller]

I grew up in the backseat of a 64 Fairlane sports coupe. It was a mild custom driver my dad had to compensate for being a dad. I really liked dropping the windows and cruising. Late 70s-80s. I always hoped someone got it and made a tribute.

[@rottman542]

My 2nd car was a 64 fairlane it was another guys project car 289 3spd which i had finished to get it on the road. It had dual points Mallory ignition and I loved it. Every chev had to race me from that point, I lost a few but I won a few too. It was a great time to be young, gas was cheap and a heavy foot to boot...

[@clintonsmith9931]

As I lived thru those years, the very fast Ford was very rare. The 426 hemi was rare except in a few places. I saw a hemi in west Texas , very few and the owners would get wild hairs and bend rod or stretch rods. There were 409 Chevys on every corner. There were 413 plymouths on every corner driving on the street . The common working stiff could afford a 409 or 413. Saw a few 406 Fords on the street but as you said too heavy, too slow. A light Plymouth with cross ram and a tuned 413 couldn’t be beat for the street.

[@moparbee1523]

Mopar or No Car !

[@JP-xx8zd]

funny because i remember the 409 chevy blowing up couldn't keep up with 427 Ford between the 406 Fordand 409 chevy lets just say the reason I'm a FORD man because that 409 chevy was turd. The 409s were leaving bell housings and other parts on the drag strips every Sunday. The 409 was NOT a good engine!

[@sparkywirenut]

409 was one of chevys' worst blunders .. superceded by their 348 ... @@JP-xx8zd

[@Loulovesspeed]

​@@JP-xx8zd- Oh, I don't know. It seemed to work OK in the trucks it was first built for! LOL

[@rayvonthornton]

Well I can say this growing up in a small town my dad and uncles ran ford's I have a 64 Fairlane 500 myself and other old hotrods but my uncle has a 66 Fairlane gta still 390 3 duces automatic and my dad swears that it was unbeatable back in the day he said it would eat the chevys and the hemi with little effort

[@BrandonLeeBrown]

The Fairlane chassis was based on the Falcon chassis, with a slightly larger car on it. The 1964 Thunderbolt 427 had high riser port heads and intake manifold. The Thunderbolt automatic transmission was based on the Lincoln Continental automatic transmission and not the standard Ford big block transmission.

[@daryllect6659]

And the Mopar 'matics would beat the Ford automatics in ALL the automatic classes.

[@jackbower8671]

Love these videos brother

[@rarecars3336]

Thanks man, glad you enjoy them!

[@Loulovesspeed]

Just to correct your statement that the Thunderbolt was a factory built racer. Ford was not set up to build this radical machine on their assembly lines, so sub contracted with Dearborn Steel Tubing Co. to build it and make the many modifications necessary to cut additional weight where at all possible.

[@waynegilchrist1596]

The 64 Fairlane was a fair car if you stayed in your lane! 😊😅😂 Actually a friend had one and he swore the ho was 580 hp! I don't know but it was one bad-ass Mo-Shin at the strip,!

[@merc6]

The mid 60s Fairlanes were dominating at the drag strips in the 70s. They are just cool as hell to see them in the road today. I own a 65 with a very gutless 289.

[@Loulovesspeed]

@merc6 - Be nice when talking the 289 block! The 4 Weber carbed 289 in the Cobra Daytona Coupe was good for 390hp and 197 mph on the Mulsanne Straight at Le Mans! Also, the Dragonsnake 289 Cobras set more records and won many more drag races than the 427 version did.

[@merc6]

@Loulovesspeed trust me... I know. I'd like my 289 to sound like a gt350. Just a high revving monster. It's at the shop at the moment being gone through top to bottom just in time for spring. Eventually I will rebuild it and hope to get around 350 hp with factory heads. It is a bone stock 289 with a 2barrel carb with only 190hp. That was in 1965. Probably has less now. It never had a rebuild. Still has good compression.

[@Loulovesspeed]

@@merc6- I had a used '66 Mustang 289, 2 bbl. Cruisomatic that got me back and forth to college for 4 years. Sold it with 143,000 mi. and it still ran fine, no oil burning that so many Chevy small blocks are known for!

[@paulstorm9933]

Loved it!!!!

[@justicews]

I saw these Thunderbolts race at the local drag strips. They ate the Plymouth and Dodge Hemis for lunch.

[@rarecars3336]

So awesome that you got to see these actually run!

[@mypronouniswtf5559]

Dodge/Plymouth were not scared of that car!

[@moparbee1523]

Mopar or No Car !