LOT 112

1963 Ford Fairlane 500 Hardtop, 'Bill Humphrey Thunderbolt' Recreation Chassis no. 3F43F290668

Estimate: CHF45,000 - CHF50,000

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Lot 112

1963 Ford Fairlane 500 Hardtop, 'Bill Humphrey Thunderbolt' Recreation

The Bonmont Sale|29 June 2025, 14:00 CEST|Chéserex, Switzerland

1963 Ford Fairlane 500 Hardtop, 'Bill Humphrey Thunderbolt' Recreation
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.

Footnotes

1963 Ford Fairlane 500 Hardtop
Recréation de la Thunderbolt de Bill Humphrey
Châssis n° 3F43F290668

• Recréation très précise du prototype de Thunderbolt
• Equipée d'un V8 bloc court Ford préparé
• Signée par Bill Humphrey, l'ex-pilote d'essai de Ford
• Parfaite pour les nostalgiques des courses de dragsters
• Droits suisses payés

Au milieu des années 1960, les constructeurs américains se livrèrent une bataille féroce sur les pistes de dragsters des Etats-Unis. Les catégories Super Stock et FX de la National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) obtinrent un grand succès tant auprès des amateurs que des constructeurs désireux d'apporter leur soutien. Les Ford Galaxie 500 allégées se battaient contre les voitures de MoPar, plus légères, ce qui fit prendre en 1963 une nouvelle approche à Tasca, le concessionnaire Ford de Rhode Island, qui greffa dans une Fairlane 500 modèle 1963, plus petite et plus légère, un moteur de Galaxie 427. Cette voiture connut immédiatement le succès entre les mains du pilote d'usine Bill Humphrey et Ford homologua la voiture sous le nom de Thunderbolt pour les courses de Super Stock ; cent voitures furent produites et commercialisées en 1964.

La voiture proposée rend hommage à la Thunderbolt prototype d'origine pilotée par Humphrey et disparue depuis longtemps. Basée sur une Fairlane 500 Hardtop de 1963 (les Thunderbolt de série ayant toutes été produites en 1964).

De couleur blanche et décorée de marquages Ford Tasca B/FX présentant l'aspect d'alors, elle repose sur quatre roues noires en acier et est pourvue de prise d'admission d'air dans la calandre ainsi que d'un capot de style Thunderbolt en fibre de verre. On compte, parmi les clins d'œil à cette grande époque, un tachymètre Moon Eyes, des cadrans secondaires Auto Gauge et des décalcomanies de vitres dans l'esprit de l'époque.

Le vendeur mentionne que siège sous le capot de Thunderbolt un moteur de 351 cubic-inches 351ci Windsor V8 (5,7 litres) construit par VanGordon Performance et équipé d'une admission dynamique, d'un carburateur Holley, de collecteurs d'échappement tubulaires en inox, d'un radiateur aluminium à quatre rangées et d'un allumage électronique MSD. Avec ses détails évocateurs et enthousiasmant à conduire, cet exemplaire unique de Fairlane 500 est idéal pour des courses de dragsters d'époque ou pour une balade au coin de la rue.

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1963 Ford Fairlane 500 Hardtop, 'Bill Humphrey Thunderbolt' Recreation

1963 Ford Fairlane 500 Hardtop, 'Bill Humphrey Thunderbolt' Recreation Chassis no. 3F43F290668

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1963 Ford Fairlane 500 Hardtop, 'Bill Humphrey Thunderbolt' Recreation
Chassis no. 3F43F290668

1965 Mercedez-Bezs 230 SL Pagoda
1965 Mercedez-Bezs 230 SL Pagoda

Formerly owned by Angus Douglas-Hamilton, 15th Duke of Hamilton and offered directly from the Hamilton Family
c.1899 GEC Light Electric Town Runabout

Offered from the 'Somerset Hoard', barn stored since circa 1939
c.1902 Progress 9hp Two-Seat Open Tourer

Offered from the 'Somerset Hoard', barn stored since circa 1939
c.1903 Baker Electric Two-Seat Runabout

Offered from the 'Somerset Hoard', barn stored since circa 1939
c.1903 Darracq 12hp Twin-Cylinder Four-Seat Rear-Entrance Tonneau

Offered from the 'Somerset Hoard', barn stored since circa 1939
c.1903 Swift 6hp Three-Seater