Among the rarities of Ford’s high-performance era was the Fairlane Thunderbolt, built to win drag races and nothing else. Only 100 examples were built, largely as a solution to overcoming the weight of the full-sized Galaxie drag models that, despite being equipped with a 427 ci V8 engine and lightweight parts, were still too heavy to be truly competitive. The intermediate-sized Fairlane was the answer. Its big-block 427 made an impressive 425 hp, and 51 cars were equipped with 3-speed automatic transmissions to achieve the quickest straight-line acceleration. Weight was pared to just 3,200 lbs by using fiberglass for doors, front fenders, hood, and even the front bumper. The formula was a success, winning Ford the 1964 NHRA Super Stock championship.
From the article by Robert Ross, Bryan Hood, Erik Shilling
