Ford
Fairlane Thunderbolt

Why it matters

The Thunderbolt was a batch of 100 lightweight Fairlanes with a 427 engine, built for Ford by Dearborn Steel Tubing for leading drag racers. It won the 1964 NHRA Super Stock title for Ford and is among the most valuable factory drag cars.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

Lee Iacocca had Dearborn Steel Tubing build the cars, painted Wimbledon White apart from an initial Vintage Burgundy batch of eleven. They were built in three batches between October 1963 and May 1964 and sold to selected racers as "Dollar Cars" for one dollar with factory support.

In drag racing they took on Super Stock Plymouths and Dodges with 426 Wedge engines, running mid-11-second quarter miles at about 120 mph. 41 had Borg-Warner four-speeds and 59 automatics per SCM, while AutoHunter says 49 had manual gearboxes.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Genuine cars used a special 427 centre-oiler with High Riser C3AE-K heads and dual Holley carburettors fed through a cold-air box from the inboard headlamp openings, a fibreglass hood with teardrop dome and fibreglass front fenders, an aluminium front bumper, Plexiglas windows, battery in the trunk and lightweight seats. The automatic was a modified Lincoln unit in a special case, not a C4. A glovebox placard disclaims fit and finish. SCM warns of rebodied cars and automatic cars converted to four-speed, so a known chassis on Ford's master list matters.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   Blue Oval Icons: Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt Level B FordMuscle

   • the 100 examples built
   • Bore x Stroke: 4.23x3.78 inches
   • Horsepower: 425 at 6,000 rpm
   • Torque: 480 lb-ft at 3,700 rpm

   Accessed 2026-11-12
2. 2
   1964 Ford Thunderbolt 2-dr sedan Level B Sports Car Market · 2012-02-01

   • One of 100 factory built; 41 four-speed, 59 automatic
   • 427-ci center-oiler engine with High Riser C3AE-K heads
   • 427 cubic inches of Galaxie V8
   • dual Holley four-barrel carbs... special cold air box
   • 4.41:1 or 4.58:1 geared Detroit Locker filled nine-inch rear axle

   Accessed 2026-11-12
3. 3
   Sports Car Market – 1964 Ford Thunderbolt / Galaxie Lightweight profile Level C

   • 100 1964 Fairlane Thunderbolts built (most authorities; some estimates up to 127)

   Accessed 2026-11-12
4. 4
   1964 Ford Thunderbolt Level A Conceptcarz

   • Bore 4.2 in | 107 mm
   • Stroke 3.8 in | 96 mm
   • Compression: 11.5:1
   • 425 BHP @ 6000 RPM
   • Transmission: 4 Manual, Automatic
   • Drive Type: Rear Wheel
   • Wheelbase: 115.5 in | 2934 mm
   • Weight: 3225 lbs

   Accessed 2026-11-12
5. 5
   AutoHunter listing Level C AutoHunter

   • conservatively rated at 425 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque
   • 425 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque
   • heavy-duty automatic sourced from Lincoln or a Borg-Warner T-10 four-speed
   • heavy-duty traction bars along with asymmetrical leaf springs
   • manual drums on all four corners
   • replacing the steel hood and front fenders with fiberglass pieces

   Accessed 2026-11-12