Looking to capitalize on the drag-racing craze of the day, Ford created the race-ready Fairlane Thunderbolt to turn heads at the strip!
The use of auto racing to help boost sales seems like a normal practice today. However, in the late fifties, the Automobile Manufacturer’s Association (AMA) adopted a new resolution for manufacturers to pull back from factory-sponsored racing. The idea was this new resolution would force American manufacturers to focus more on the safety and practicality of their cars, rather than selling the public on performance. This would also benefit the independent race teams, who were falling victim to manufacturers securing wins with their large budgets and endless resources. While the manufacturers initially adhered to the new resolution, it was obvious that racing still had a positive impact on sales, and some manufacturers began “assisting” independent teams.
Trying to navigate out of a sales slump, and seeing the opportunity that comes from factory-backed racing, Henry Ford II pulled out of the AMA in 1962, effectively lifting the ban on factory-sponsored racing programs. The gloves were off, and manufacturers were back at it on the track. Drag racing was immensely popular during the sixties, and Ford saw an opportunity to provide a turnkey, factory race car, that can be purchased at the local dealer. To this day, Ford still provides factory-built drag cars ready to be sold to the public with their Cobra Jet Mustang. In 1964, Ford started offering turn-key racers when it created one of the coolest and fastest drag cars of its day, the Fairlane Thunderbolt!
The Ford Fairlane started life as a full-size offering, replacing the outgoing Crestline model in 1955. Ford’s new Fairlane was offered as convertible, hardtop, or wagon in either two or four-door form. One of the more distinguishable features of the Fairlane was its chrome trim piece that ran from nose to tail along the side; this allowed Ford to feature beautiful two-tone paint jobs. Popularity grew with the Fairlane when the second generation came about in 1957. The new Fairlane was larger than its predecessor, and featured a more streamlined body with design elements popular at the time, including more pronounced tail fins. Similar body options were offered, but one of the more distinguishable options was featured on the top trim Fairlane 500 Skyliner, the new electric retractable hardtop. Ford’s Fairlane may have been pricey with all the options added, but it was gaining popularity with buyers and out-selling the competition.
What was once considered the ultimate full-size offering from the Blue Oval, the Fairlane was edged out by Galaxie when the third generation hit the showroom floor in 1960. The third generation Fairlane was less flashy than before, and looked more like the economical choice among the full-size offerings at Ford; probably why many ended up being used as government vehicles and taxis. When planning the release of the fourth generation Fairlane, Ford decided to reduce its overall size to go after the midsize market, where AMC’s Rambler Rebel was seeing success. Later generations of the Fairlane returned to the full-size market as an intermediate offering, this time featuring fastback designs that competed in the muscle car wars with their own performance trims, including the 340 hp Fairlane Cobra. The final generation of the Fairlane ended in 1970, where Ford then replaced the Fairlane name with “Torino” for their continued mid-level offering.
The world of drag racing saw significant changes in the sixties, and helped set the foundation to what the sport is today. Regulations greatly advanced in the sixties, and the “Christmas tree” first appeared, replacing the traditional flagman. Designs of drag cars also became more technically advanced, with builders realizing the optimum layout of the car was long and narrow, compared to the short and wide race cars from the decade prior. The biggest change to the sport during this time was the involvement of big time manufacturers, both in sponsoring teams and in developing their own factory race cars. In 1964, Ford released the Fairlane Thunderbolt, a turnkey race car that could be purchased by any local dealer. Ford knew that racing success under the Blue Oval would lead to a boost in sales, and the idea behind the Thunderbolt was to dominate the NHRA Super Stock class.
To ensure the Thunderbolt had a fighting chance against the competition, power was first to be addressed. Ford stuffed its 427 cubic inch V8 under the hood of the Fairlane with a compression ratio of 12:7.1, accompanied by 4.57:1 gearing (manual gearing was slightly different) the Thunderbolt could achieve quarter mile times in under 12 seconds. Power output from the factory was rated at 425 hp, but some were rumored to have been tuned upwards towards 500 hp! The Thunderbolt’s performance was not all attributed to the 427; Ford stripped down the Fairlane extensively by stripping out the interior to next to nothing, plexiglass windows, and aluminum bumpers. The combination of power and lightness made the Thunderbolt a winning success, and it would pave the way for future factory-offered race cars.
The Fairlane Thunderbolt isn’t your average classic car; with roughly 100 units produced, and its rich racing history, Ford’s factory demands exotic-level prices. At the 2018 Mecum Classic Car Auctions, a Fairlane Thunderbolt was auctioned off for over $300,000! That’s a steep price for a piece of automotive and racing history that will most likely be displayed rather than driven. However, prices have been slipping over the last several years; two Thunderbolts were auctioned off in 2020, reaching prices on the lower end of the $200k-range. The last known Thunderbolt to go under the hammer was featured on Bring A Trailer in March 2022, with a high bid of $210,000, but the reserve was not met.
The reason for the steep decline? It’s quite possible that the people who grew up and appreciated cars of that era, simply aren’t avid buyers today. Much like the shift the market is seeing with cars and trucks of the nineties, that are now reaching crazy high prices; case and point, last year an Integra Type R sold for $73,000. With that said, quite a few Thunderbolt recreations appear on the market, featuring many of the components, and performance, that made the Fairlane Thunderbolt famous in its heyday. These tribute cars fetch a far lower price than the originals, and can range from as low as $30,000 to six figures, depending on quality and accuracy of components compared to the original.
Chase Platon fell head first into the automotive industry in 2019, starting with managing social media posts for a small classic car company. Within a short time, Chase quickly progressed to interviewing some of the biggest names in the industry. Having been an auto enthusiast from a young age, Chase finds any type of car from any period wildly interesting, and this shows in his eclectic ownership history.