Description
This car is Lot 112 to be auctioned by Bonhams|Cars at The Bonmont Sale on 29 June, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Public Viewing:
Available Friday 27 June from 13:00 until 19:00, Saturday 28 June from 10:00 until 18:00 and Sunday 29 June from 10:00, at The Golf & Country Club de Bonmont.
Lot 112
1963 Ford Fairlane 500 Hardtop, 'Bill Humphrey Thunderbolt' Recreation
Registration no.
Chassis no. 3F43F290668
Highly detailed Thunderbolt prototype re-creation
Powered by a tuned small block Ford V8
Autographed by ex-Ford test driver Bill Humphrey
Ideal for nostalgic drags
Swiss Duty Paid
In the mid-1960s, US automakers engaged in a fierce battle on the drag strips of America. The National Hot Rod Association's (NHRA) Super Stock and FX classes attracted feverish fans and equally feverish manufacturer support. Ford's Galaxie 500 lightweights struggled against the lighter MoPar cars, so in 1963, dealer team Tasca Ford of Rhode Island took a new approach, pairing a smaller, lighter '63 Fairlane 500 with the Galaxie's 427 stuffed between the fenders. It was an instant success in the hands of factory driver Bill Humphrey, and Ford homologated the newly named "Thunderbolt" for Super Stock, producing 100 customer cars in 1964.
The car offered here is a tribute to that original Thunderbolt prototype raced by Bill Humphrey. Based correctly on a 1963 Fairlane 500 Hardtop (production Thunderbolts were all 1964) it is a fitting tribute to the long-lost original. Finished in white and adorned with period-style Tasca Ford B/ FX graphics, it sits purposefully on black steel wheels with ram-air intake screens in the grille and a fiberglass Thunderbolt-style hood. Great period touches include a Moon Eyes tachometer, Auto Gauge auxiliary dials, and period window decals. The vendor reports a 351ci Windsor V8 built by VanGordon Performance sits under the hood, featuring a ram-air intake, Holley carburetor, stainless tubular headers, 4-row alloy radiator, and MSD electronic ignition. Evocatively detailed and exciting to drive, this unique Fairlane 500 is the ideal pick for nostalgia drags or cruising your local boulevard.
All lots are sold 'as is/ where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding. Visit the Bonhams|Cars website for all pertinent auction information.
