Greg Zyla's Car Collector Corner

Q: Greg, I am currently stationed in Jacksonville, N.C. with the Marines and just received your article in the Times of Wayne County (New York) newspaper. While reading your Car Collector Corner on the 1964 Fairlane station wagon, I noticed a couple of things. When you said rare, did you mean by station wagon standards?

I have a 1963 Ford Fairlane 500 2-door post that they made less than 9,000. Who knows how many of these are left, especially since the (race only) Fairlane Thunderbolts became popular in 1964. I'm sure it was cheaper back then to buy the previous model year car to replicate one. They only made 127 of the 427 Thunderbolts using the 2-door post body style of 1964.

Also, I would like to name these companies that specialize in Ford Fairlanes, namely Dearborn Classics, MACS Antique Auto Parts, and Autokrafters. Perhaps you can pass this information on to James P. in Rocky Mount who owns the Station Wagon.

Personally, I have two Fairlane 500's and tons of parts. I've always loved the really nice Tasca Ford Thunderbolts, and Tasca was the first to actually build one in 1963. I like the '64s, but the '63 Fairlane is that last American production car with fins.

There probably aren't many Thunderbolts left from the drag racing days. Another thing you can let your Fairlane-loving readers know is about the Fairlane Club of America, and Woody's Fairlane site at www.woodyg.com/fairlane. There is a lot of useful information on these sites.

I enjoy your column very much in the newspaper. Thanks for the articles and keep up the good work. John Mcfaul, Jacksonville, N.C.

A: John, it's letters like yours that keep me going! Yes, I did mean rare in the sense of station wagon produced vehicles in the previous column. Also, thanks for all the info, as I know the readers will appreciate it.

As for the 1963-1965 Thunderbolts, it was indeed a specialty drag car, and anyone could have ordered one in 1964 if you knew what to do.

Specifically, in 1964, any consumer with the necessary $3,780 could order a 427 Fairlane Thunderbolt from their hometown Ford dealer. However, as you know, only one experimental Tasca Ford Thunderbolt was built in 1963, followed a Ford backed effort of the other 100 or so you mention in 1964. In 1965, only two were delivered.

Similar to the marketing of the 1965 426 Hemi Plymouths and Dodges with aluminum front ends, the Z-11 1963 Chevys and '67 L88 Corvettes, the 1964 Ford Thunderbolts were purposely built for the quarter mile, put out 425 horses from the 427 V8 with two four-barrel carbs, and produced some 480 lb. ft. of torque. But again, you had to know what was going on to get one as Thunderbolts were not displayed on the showroom floor.

The initial '63 Thunderbolt was built with fiberglass front hood, fenders, rear trunk, and aluminum inner fender panels and bumpers, resulting in a weight of just 3,320 pounds. Also, the first '63 Tasca Thunderbolt ran in A/Factory Experimental (A/FX) competition and in 1964 Ford released a special order number for its now 427-inch powered prize possession.

Additionally, it wasn't until the 427 was legalized by NHRA in mid-1964 that the Tasca Ford Thunderbolt, became competitive and was allowed to run in Super Stock competition. The Thunderbolt would go on to run well into the 11.4-second zone and win many races with its fleet of Ford factory drag racers.

Today, I enjoy watching the nostalgia Thunderbolts on the dragways, although most of the Thunderbolts you see these days are clones, not original Thunderbolts. The original ones are priceless.

Thanks for you letter, the info and the kind words. Also, in ending, I hope you enjoy watching Bob Tasca III uphold the family Tasca Ford dealership racing heritage (located in Cranston, R.I.) as he races his Mustang Nitro Funny Car on the NHRA circuit. He's a winner, too, just as his grandfather, Bob Tasca Sr., was in developing the Thunderbolt in 1963, and the soon-to-come Ford Cobra Jet programs. Bob Sr. knew well if you won on Sunday, you sold on Monday.

May God bless you as you serve our country.

--

(Greg Zyla is a syndicated auto columnist who welcomes reader inquiries at 116 Main St., Towanda, PA 18848, or e-mail him at extramile_2000@yahoo.com.)

Sign up for Text Alerts

Sign up for e-mail newsletters