1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt Article - 427 V-8 Specs, History & Production
Reference · 1972-1976 RancheroAll 26 brochures & literature
Printed literature card describing the 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt with prose, photos and a specifications table.
Part of 1972-1976 Ford Ranchero Brochures & Literature
This document is a two-page magazine/book spread profiling the 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt, Ford's factory-built drag racing car. The article explains that the Thunderbolt was built only for one year and only about 100 were produced, most painted Wimbledon White, assembled by the Dearborn Steel Tubing Company near Ford headquarters. It details the car's construction: a 427-cid High Riser V-8 (officially rated 425+ bhp, likely more) with twin Holley four-barrel carbs, 12.7:1 compression, fiberglass hood, doors, and front fenders, Plexiglas side and rear windows, deleted mirrors, sun visors, armrests, jack, and lug wrench, and inner headlights replaced with air-intake screens. A specifications table lists the ohv V-8 427 cid (4.23 × 3.78 bore/stroke), 4-speed manual or 3-speed automatic transmissions, shortened upper A-arm front suspension, live axle rear with traction bars, front/rear drum brakes, 115.5-inch wheelbase, 3225-lb weight, 120-126 mph top speed at the end of the quarter-mile, 4.5-second estimated 0-60, and production of 100. Pricing was $3780 with Borg-Warner four-speed. Gas Ronda's 1964 NHRA Winternationals win (11.6 seconds at 124.38 mph) is cited. Front and rear three-quarter photos of a white Thunderbolt plus interior and detail photos illustrate the spread.
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Frequently asked questions
- How many 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolts were built?
- According to the article, only about a hundred Thunderbolts were built (production listed as 100), assembled in batches by the Dearborn Steel Tubing Company, most painted Wimbledon White.
- What engine did the 1964 Thunderbolt use?
- An ohv 427-cid High Riser V-8 (4.23 × 3.78) rated at 425+ bhp, breathing through twin Holley four-barrel carbs with equal-length headers and a 12.7:1 compression ratio; analysts estimated it actually made about a hundred more horsepower.
- How fast was the Thunderbolt in the quarter mile?
- It ran mid-11-second ETs at 120 mph or more; Gas Ronda won the 1964 NHRA Winternationals with an 11.6-second run at 124.38 mph. Top speed is listed as 120-126 mph at the end of the quarter-mile, with 0-60 in an estimated 4.5 seconds.
- What did a 1964 Thunderbolt cost new?
- $3780 with the Borg-Warner four-speed, or about a hundred dollars extra with the three-speed automatic adapted from Lincoln's transmission. Regular Fairlanes started at $2194, and some favored customers reportedly got a T-Bolt for a buck.
- What weight-saving measures did the Thunderbolt use?
- Fiberglass for the bubble-topped hood, doors, and front fenders (early cars had fiberglass front bumpers, later aluminum per NHRA ruling), Plexiglas rear and side windows, and deletion of mirrors, sun visors, armrests, jack, and lug wrench. Weight was 3225 lbs.
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