On-board 1964 Ford Fairlane 500 Road Race Thunderbolt | Holman Moody 1 of 4 in the World
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- Опубликовано: 30 июн 2024
- Welcome everyone to Racecars Universe! Today I bring you something extraordinary and historically relevant, it's this 1964 Ford Fairlane 500 Road Race Thunderbolt Racecar built under license by Holman Moody.
Imagine my surprise spotting this unmistakable car being swung around thinking it's a replica, only to find out that it's in fact only 1 of 4 in the world that were ever built. In case you're wondering we're not in US but rather in New Zealand, at Pukekohe Park, South of Auckland. What an absolute privilege being face to face with such a '60s racing icon.
As far as the story goes, in 1964 Holman Moody was commissioned by Ford USA to build a 1964 Fairlane 500 as an experimental prototype unibody car for Nascar. That car debuted at the Continental Sports Car Race in Daytona finishing in 2nd place.
Then in 2003, the FIA gave Holman Moody permission to build 4 more cars, while only 3 actually saw the light. Until we get to 2017 when Chris contacted Lee Holman to get his '64 Fairlane Sport Coupe and turn it in to the 4th car, with the premise of being proudly built here in NZ but under official approval and with authentic parts. Lee firstly sent schematics and plans and right after that 2 big crates of parts made their way here to NZ, where it was built by Ken Hopper.
This car is powered by the legendary Ford FE 427 engine super toploader, with aluminium heads, twin 4 barrel 650 carbs and MSD ignition. the engine has been recessed by 4" into the firewall and that explains the rocker cover cutout for the brake cylinder. And then a dedicated fuel pressure regulator, aluminium radiator with huge fan, power steering kit, 4 speed manual and limited slip differential.
Most interesting technical detail is probably the dual shock absorber setup on each corner, making it 8 shocks in total! That's some pretty radical and experimental stuff from the 60s isn't it?
In the boot there's a dedicated fuel cell with a pickup pump and main pump, and then the rollcage tubular structure that extend into it from the main cockpit.
Interiors are proper racecar material with a period correct 3 spokes steering wheel and Stewart Warner analogue gauges, and the bucket seats with 5 point harness makes it a total package. Also worth notice that all the window frames have been replaced with solid riveted sheet metal.
You're looking at the only 1 of 2 '64 Fairlane 500 Road Race Thunderbolt still being driven and raced up to this very day in the whole world.
Let's jump on track to see and hear this glorious piece of American Racing History!
Huge thanks goes to Chris for allowing me to film this magnificent car and to the HVRA for organizing such an amazing event, please go give them a follow on their official Fb page here: / 195635129234866
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Video Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:06 History & Walk-around
04:17 The Sound
05:22 Track access & Warm up Lap
08:04 Race Starts!
17:50 Last Lap
19:17 Bonus Lap
21:07 Cool Down Lap
22:48 SUBSCRIBE ! 
Авто/Мото
Makes a Chevy man cry how cool that car is
I never heard of anyone buying a car from Holman Moody that wasn't totally satisfied with their product .
that's guaranteed!
The racing enthusiasts went home with the roar of full throttle 427 cubic inch FE power still rattling in their chests! 👀👍🙀
Thanks for watching and glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Huge thanks to Andy and Chris. What a car, what mind blowing sound, what an amazing experience 👍
Thanks John, glad to know you enjoyed it!
Wonderful that these historic race cars still exist.
1:05 Great road racer! What a stance with the rear wheel openings enlarged.
1:35
Surely an eye catcher
I lived through all this in the 1960s and 1970s on America's West coat tracks because my uncle, Dick Anderson, was a BMC mechanic and always worked on someone's race car.
If you are an old car guy, this is extremely emotional for us. Thanks to all. These Holman-Moody 427s were 515 hp. On an open track, with long straights, this car would be a terror.
Sadly, this car did not come with disc brakes so they had to run drum brakes to be original.
Thanks William for sharing your story with us here. I can possibly speak for everyone in saying that these cars will outlive most of us, and the fond memories will continue to be cherished in perpetuity as long as there's someone telling the story. Which is my ultimate goal with this platform.
Fantastic car, being driven at 75% of it's capability (understandably). Get that bloody steering wheel on straight ! Still, what an absolute treat to see and hear, on a track (that's just 1/2 an hour up the road from me) !!
This is what a real racing car looks like.
You know he was taking it easy. Don't want to wreck that one. Imagine this car racing for all the beans back in its time. Still a competitor and awesome.
Man that was a Sunday drive for that car. Being so rare a car, I'd want to keep from doing anything stupid too.
Nice Car !! I like their 427 racing Mustang !! their shop was/ is Top Notch 🔥
thanks for letting ride with and i love your and Holman Moody I ran a lot of their stuff back in the early 70s
Not my car but thanks for your comment, I really appreciate it when I'm able to bring back cool memories with my videos 🙏
I always loved the H/M stuff, and nothing sounds like a 427FE.
I agree with that. Such a cool sound on track
It's a shame that the brakes didn't match the power of that amazing 427 engine! Can you imagine?
Well he was driving it conservatively too. Only 4 ever built, I'd want to keep it in good shape and all in once piece
Sounds like my beer can rolling round in back of it
Haha
Our part here as viewers is to subscribe to help it all keep going.
Yes definitely on point there again William, it really help us going and bring you more cool stories and vehicles to see ad hear.
Man you always have great videos of killer cars!
Thank you
That Driver needs more practice. Watching him drive, I saw him babying this car a few times. Understandable of course. A bit sluggish through the corners. Just my 2 cents. BUT, I do appreciate this video VERY MUCH. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank-You!
I agree with you to a certain extent. This is no Goodwood Revival, he's driving his own car and there's literally just 4 that ever existed. I'd go easy on it too tbh
Nice video, well done
Thank you 🙏
Im going to show this to my 16 year old niece that is exactly how to road race a manual car she loves manuals
that's awesome, thanks for sharing it!
He was out on a Sunday drive?? Fast car being driven slowly!
Understandable of you consider how rare it is
Bad Ass Ford!
I approve this comment
Those dang little Cortina’s (orange coupe that past him)were fast …
There's a few of those Cortinas racing in the Pre-65 Series and they're faster than the other V8s, even the ones with big blocks. Unreal.
H/M will still build you one today. I saw one running at Road America in the US.
Wait Detroit locker diff? I thought for a track you’d want limited slip differential for cornering right? Please anyone who knows about track racing inform me about how this works. Great video still and man that 427 sounds amazing.
Never knew about them. Thought all were drag cars. Thanks.
Cool, I appreciate the fact this video is educational as well as entertaining!
cool!
FORD THUNDERBOLT..
THE GREATEST CAR FORD MADE BAR NONE.
IT HAS THAT GANGSTER LOOK.THE INSANE POWER,AND THE COOL OF A BYGONE ERA. AND STREET CRED THATS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND IN SOME LATTERDAY SHOE. BOX
That my friends is a 427 ford!!!!!
Sounded like a bucket of bolts.
I'm as FORD as you can get, and have been since 1962. On top of that, my whole life has been spent on FE powerplants, both in drag racing and truck pulling. That having been said I'm blown away ( embarrassed really) that I never knew FORD made 4 T-BOLTS for road racing. Am I in the minority on this issue. I'm going to pop quiz my buddies to get some sense of how stupid I really am. Feel free to let me know in this comment section as well, but be nice 😳😘
Bob, in all due honesty I'm far less knowledgeable about Fords than you are. Trust me when I say that seeing this car at the track, being raced here in New Zealand was absolutely incredible. Just as hard to fathom as when I was told the full story. Quiz your mates and tell us the outcome please! 🙏
News to me also.
Actually they only built one in period. It was raced by Alan Mann in '65.
I wonder if that thing had 4 wheel drum brakes or if they had front disc brakes for racing back then.
@fredflintstone505, no disc brakes in 1964 Ford Fairlanes.
The yellow Cortina? Seems faster
Those mad Cortinas are crazy fast
Those cars were built for drag racing, NOT road racing.
I strongly disagree with your comment. What would you have to say about the NASCAR programme then?
@@racecars.universe actually the previous comment was correct. the thunderbolt was specifically built by ford (including the suspension) for drag racing in the super stock class. i do not think this car is a real thunderbolt for that very reason. no one in their right mind would EVER blasphemize a real thunderbolt like that. also take note of the missing hood bulge and a few other details. might not wanna argue with americans about american cars, just sayin
Only one was built for road racing in 1964. It was raced by Alan Mann. This is a "continuation" car....but in fact a legit "H/M Thunderbolt".
@@racecars.universe No 1964Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt ever raced in NASCAR. 1964 NASCAR were full-sized cars, PUTZ.
@@BEERDRINKING101 Even the video description states that the car was built in NZ with parts imported from Holman Moody. Originally built by the Ford factory as a 1964 Ford Fairlane 289 Sport Coupe. NOT a legit 1964 Ford Fairlane 427 Thunderbolt car.
I don;t know man I think push that big block a little harder !! Gotta stay in that gas pedal !! If you aren't sliding a little you're to slow !!
she's a rare girl though, be a shame if something happened to it
Too bad they couldn't find a driver to equal the car...
Why is everyone so upset with the way Chris drives? He's sitting in a museum relic, would you have taken all the apexes like there's no tomorrow? I don't think so.
That's not a real thunderbolt
Yes it is, I've seen the papers. Holman Moody even sent the creates down here to New Zealand and approved the build. Furthermore, this car participates in the HVRA Racing Series here in NZ (Historic & Vintage Racing Association), where only authentic cars with historic proven racing pedigree can be admitted. More and more proof this one's the real deal.
That steering wheel placement would bug the piss out of me........
Why's that