WEBSTER FORD Thunderbolt

[frank-j-majauskasParticipant]

Hey Guys, Fred Harrison (2nd owner of the Little Giant) was lucky enough to check out this
guy’s car collection in Odessa, Texas. One of the cars in the collection was a Thunderbolt
originally raced by Webster Ford of Schenectady, NY. We’re wondering if anyone remembers this car.
It must have ran at Lebanon Valley and maybe at Dover. Both tracks are not far from Schenectady.
This Thunderbolt is the real deal….Would be nice to hear some stories or maybe see pictures of
this car back in the day. Thanks guys ❗

Frank… 😎

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[kmanParticipant]

Hey Frank … talked to Fred at length about this car…seems like no original pics of this car exist… i can’t believe this so the search goes on…. the hemi hunter lettering had to be guessed at… but… WHAT A RACE CAR !!!! …

[kmanParticipant]

Engine
427/425 HP
Trans
4-Speed
Color
White
Interior
Tan

Highlights

Very rare 1964 Thunderbolt
#68 of 100 factory built lightweights
Bought new by Elwood Banker
Restored by performance restorations
All original sheet metal
Low miles
Raced as the Hemi Hunter for Webster Ford
Restored to perfection

Ford Vice President Lee Iacocca’s “Total Performance” program reached around the world into international motorsports, but one of its biggest impacts was felt on the drag strips of America with the sensational Thunderbolts. Built by contractor Dearborn Steel Tubing, the Thunderbolts were stripped and lightened Fairlane Tudor sedans, each one modified to accept Ford’s sensational 427 CI Galaxie V-8. The 1964 Thunderbolt presented here is number 68 in the Thunderbolt production sequence of 100 cars. It was originally purchased through Webster Ford in Schenectady, New York by racer Elwood Banker, who raced the car as the “Hemi Hunter.” described the car as “unbeatable.”

“I picked the car up at Dearborn Steel Tubing and then raced it locally,” recalls Banker. “It was unbeatable. The track at South Glen Falls guaranteed me money to race, and there was just no competition. The car beat the Hemi racers so bad that after a while they stopped showing up. Lebanon Valley only paid if you won, which I did all the time.”

“The only problem was that the automatic transmission kept breaking – I eventually concluded that the converter stall speed was too low, but that was much later, well after I installed the 4-speed.”

Shortly after making that one modification, Banker was asked to drive a gas dragster, and the Thunderbolt was retired, although not entirely – the car saw street duty for a period before Banker sold it virtually unchanged except for the 4-speed conversion.

Today the “Hemi Hunter” Thunderbolt is in spectacular condition after being restored by Performance Restorations. It has never been tubbed or fitted with a roll bar, and retains all its original sheet metal beneath the as-original Wimbledon White paint. Most importantly, it also still packs that “unbeatable” Ram Air-fed 427 Galaxie engine under its factory tear-drop hood.

[frank-j-majauskasParticipant]

Thanks K-Man…It’s still early so maybe someone will remember seeing
this car race at an area track. There was a small amount of these factory race cars made,
so you would think someone would remember seeing it? Especially the Ford guys. Well we’ll
see what happens….

Frank… 😎

[patinaParticipant]

Frank are you following the “Tom Blake school of posting” 2:03AM! Anyway maybe Bucksnort will chime in on this, he went to So. Glens Falls a lot. The only one I have a picture of is “Cambell Ford” Waterbury CT.

Pat

[vbobParticipant]

HEY

WHEN AT MECUM AUCTIONS

https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0112-121141/1964-ford-thunderbolt/

[vbobParticipant]

HEY

More info on the Webster Ford T-Bolt
‘V’

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/ford-thunderbolts-photos-wanted.136384/page-105

[babycakesParticipant]

Maybe check with ‘Mater’ Joe ( ’64’ white Fairlane) ? He may remember it, have photo’s perhaps also? I don’t remember seeing it run??? 🙄 Mr.Pete.

[vbobParticipant]

HEY
Im guessing that it is now Henderson Ford in Webster, N.Y.

‘V’

http://www.hendersonfamilyford.net/ford-dealer-profile.htm

[frank-j-majauskasParticipant]

Yeah Pat, There were times when Tom and I would chat back and forth
on our site at like 1:30 am ❗ 😆 Up early today for schedule oil change
and servicing on my truck. Probably hit the sack early tonight ❗ 😆 Pat,
isn’t it weird that nobody remembers this T-Bolt? I thought that they were a
hot item back in the mid 60’s….We’ll see what happens ❗

Frank… 😎

[patinaParticipant]

Maybe it”s not 1 of 100 like is being said. We all know about “fake news and rigged elections” Like it say’s on our money “In God We Trust”

Pat

[frank-j-majauskasParticipant]

Ah Pat, ya never know ❓ You may be right…Can you say clone ❗ 😮

Frank… 😎

[kmanParticipant]

I believe he is calling it number 68 out of 100 built…. i would assume that there is documentation… good documentation… better be GREAT documentation.. before i would drop the take home gelt…. one thing bothers me… no back in the day photos… these were … as you know… bad ass hot rods .. i researched the shit out of it and got nada…. doesn’t mean something isn’t out there tho…. hmmmm …. back to base one….

[Author]

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