Most pathetic muscle car design transformations

[Ripsnort]

.

was that street legal?

thunderbolt galaxy500, i think was 10.90's street legal

That Cuda was not street legal, at least those tires were not! 

Yep, everyone (mopar fans) like to forget the Thunderbolt Galaxy 500

Drag Racing Legend
1964 Ford Thunderbolt

Not Your Father's Ford
1964 was a banner year for Ford as they sold more than 4 million vehicles. The biggest news was the Mustang but Ford had also tired of reading about MOPAR's success on the drag strip. To compete, they had Dearborn Steel Tubing totally modify and reconstruct the Fairlane 500 to make it lighter and more aerodynamic. Then they somehow shoved the Galaxie's High Riser 427 cubic inch V-8 under the hood. Officially rated at 425hp. It actually produced over 500. Forced by NHRA rules to make it a production car, 54 were sold, mainly to serious drag racers. Success was immediate as it was Top Stock Eliminator and Ford won NHRA's Manufacturer's Cup. Unfortunately each Thunderbolt sold for $3900 but cost $5300 to make.

[ink]

they were street legal, at least i am under the impression they were.

although they came with no back seat, no radio,no sound deadners,  no insurance.

[Stampf]

.

was that street legal?

thunderbolt galaxy500, i think was 10.90's street legal

Yes it was, and for years and years it held the fastest quarter mile production car title.   

[DiabloTX]

I might just do that, have nothing planned this week and the car has been taking a break.

Sweet!  Hope to see you there!  I get there a bit early as the parking lot fills up pretty fast.  I'm usually there between 5:30 and 6:00.

[CAP1]

they were street legal, at least i am under the impression they were.

although they came with no back seat, no radio,no sound deadners,  no insurance.

ya know....i love my smallblock fuelinjected engines.........


but i miss seeing the tracks lined up with big block fords, dodges, and chevys..............

[whiteman]

ya know....i love my smallblock fuelinjected engines.........


but i miss seeing the tracks lined up with big block fords, dodges, and chevys..............

still see plenty here.

[DiabloTX]

Mike, what was it your ran in the quarter in stock configuration?

[Mark Luper]

That Cuda was not street legal, at least those tires were not! 

Yep, everyone (mopar fans) like to forget the Thunderbolt Galaxy 500

(Image removed from quote.)

Rip, that is a 64 Fairlane 500, not the big Galaxie.

Mark

[Ripsnort]

Rip, that is a 64 Fairlane 500, not the big Galaxie.

Mark

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the the Thunderbolt Galaxy 500 on a Fairlane chassis with a 427 shoved in it?  If I am wrong, I trust your judgement as I was only 4 years old then.

[Mark Luper]

Rip,

http://www.bcautos.com/musclecars/64galaxie.html

This is a 64 Galaxie, a much larger car. You wouldn't be able to place the body on the Fairlane chassis. I'm familiar with that 427 version of the Fairlane, one of the first funny cars I watched in that era was the 64 427 Fairlane with an altered wheelbase. It primary did wheel stands for a show but it could knock down some pretty impressive times.

I always wanted a 427 in the Galaxie like the one pictured. I always thought they were the shiznit

Mark

[DiabloTX]

Like a lot of the cars from the 60's, THAT has a lot of custom potential.   Wowzers!

[vorticon]

not exactly a muscle car but...

[Ripsnort]

Rip,

http://www.bcautos.com/musclecars/64galaxie.html

This is a 64 Galaxie, a much larger car. You wouldn't be able to place the body on the Fairlane chassis. I'm familiar with that 427 version of the Fairlane, one of the first funny cars I watched in that era was the 64 427 Fairlane with an altered wheelbase. It primary did wheel stands for a show but it could knock down some pretty impressive times.

I always wanted a 427 in the Galaxie like the one pictured. I always thought they were the shiznit

Mark

That's not a Thunderbolt though Mark.  This is what they looked like;



Only 53 sold.

Here is an article on them:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1964-ford-fairlane-thunderbolt.htm

I think we're talking two different cars. There is no way that the Galaxy 500 could do a 10 second 1/4 mile, too heavy.

[Mark Luper]

You are absolutely right Rip. The Galaxie was too big. The Thunderbolt had to have been the Fairlane. Look at the body on the one you show in your post and compare to the one I posted. The one I posted is the Galaxie, the big car, the one you posted, both the white one and the maroon one are Fairlane 500's. Key words here are Fairlane and Galaxie.

Now if Ford decided to call 53 of their Fairlanes Thunderbolt Galaxies then that certainly was their perogative but the Fairlane is the smaller chassis and the one raced in drag racing. They raced the Galaxie in NASCAR.

Mark

[Mark Luper]

Went to your link Rip and the title said this:

"1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt"

That is a cut and paste. We are talking the same car, you just called it a "1964 Ford Galaxie Thunderbolt".


Mark