1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427

Muscle car powered by Ford FE 427 High Riser V8.

White 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt race presentation photographed by Sicnag; exact-model context without a provenance claim

Program Ford factory drag program with Dearborn Steel Tubing conversion work

Engine 427 FE High Riser V8; 425 hp and 480 lb-ft Ford rating

Ford production record 100 cars: 49 four-speeds and 51 automatics

Historical conflict Other accounts report 127 cars and a 41/59 transmission split

Story

1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427

The Thunderbolt was Ford's factory-supported 1964 Super Stock program, built from Fairlane 500 two-door sedans with Dearborn Steel Tubing conversion work. Its 427 FE High Riser, dual four-barrels, headlamp-opening induction, tubular headers, lightweight front body, stripped interior, and race suspension made it a purpose-built drag car rather than a regular Fairlane option.

Ford Performance documents 100 cars, split 49 four-speeds and 51 automatics. A Hemmings historical table reports a different 41/59 split and preserves Dick Brannan's recollection that DST built 127. This page uses Ford's 100 and 49/51 figures as the primary public record while retaining the conflicting historical counts as unresolved evidence, not silently combining them.

The first 11 cars are reported as Vintage Burgundy and later cars as Wimbledon White. Early development cars also changed from fiberglass to aluminum front bumpers after NHRA review, so visible details can vary by build chronology. Exact paint, transmission, axle, team assignment, and race history require car-specific records.

An original Thunderbolt needs Ford/DST or registry provenance, not just a 427, teardrop hood, headlamp intakes, decals, or lightweight panels. Review the Fairlane sedan basis, conversion structure, disclaimer plate, engine and induction, transmission, axle, panel materials, interior deletes, dates, ownership history, and period race documentation together.

**Burgundy modified/restored Thunderbolt display photographed by Michel Curi; included as early-color and preservation context**Michel Curi via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Price history

Values

Nominal dollars from original price sheets, auction archives, and approved value references.

Original Price

A verified original price is not yet available for this car.

Market Observations

Auction sale $225,500

Jan 17, 2026 · Mecum Kissimmee 2026
Factory Thunderbolt no. 93, formerly driven by Carl Moyer, sold with its original 427 block and Lincoln automatic included · modified · unknown Sold observation for a car carrying a 500-cubic-inch Shelby aluminum V8, Powerglide, Wilwood brakes, and other modifications at auction; original major components accompanied the sale but were not installed.
1964 Ford Thunderbolt no. 93, Kissimmee 2026 lot S79
High bid $170,000

May 17, 2025 · Mecum Indy 2025
Factory Thunderbolt no. 56, the Nazy Crate race car restored in 2007 while retaining documented period race modifications · modified · unknown Mecum reports the high bid with Bid Goes On status. The Doug Nash transmission, 5.13 differential, repositioned frame rails, and other as-raced changes make this a modified provenance-specific observation.
1964 Ford Thunderbolt Nazy Crate, Indy 2025 lot S234
High bid $210,000

Mar 28, 2022 · Bring a Trailer
Factory Thunderbolt no. 17, refurbished in 2021 and converted from its factory automatic configuration to a replacement Toploader four-speed · modified · unknown Reserve-not-met high bid; factory identity is documented by the auction, but the replacement transmission and reproduction livery materially distinguish this car from an as-delivered example.
1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt no. 17 auction

Values move with paperwork, originality, options, condition, venue, and body style. High bids and guide values are labeled separately from completed sales.

Reference records

Options, Colors & Components

Source-backed details for trim, chassis, production, and authenticity.

Engine Details

Ford published engine output rating 425 hp at 6,000 rpm · 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427 public Ford Performance record · engine assembly / specification
Ford published torque rating 480 lb-ft · 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427 public Ford Performance record · engine assembly / specification
FE block main-bearing construction cross-bolted main caps · Hot Rod quick-inspection record for documented Thunderbolt car no. 12 only · block / specification
engine bore 4.23-inch bore · Hot Rod quick-inspection record for documented Thunderbolt car no. 12 only · block / specification
crankshaft material and stroke forged steel, 3.78-inch stroke · Hot Rod quick-inspection record for documented Thunderbolt car no. 12 only · crankshaft / specification
connecting rod material and length forged steel, 6.488-inch length · Hot Rod quick-inspection record for documented Thunderbolt car no. 12 only · connecting rod / specification
piston material and compression ratio forged aluminum, 13:1 compression ratio · Hot Rod quick-inspection record for documented Thunderbolt car no. 12 only · piston / specification
camshaft material, lifter type, duration, and lift precision-molded iron solid-tappet camshaft, 324-degree duration, 0.524-inch lift · Hot Rod quick-inspection record for documented Thunderbolt car no. 12 only · camshaft / specification
cylinder-head type High Riser wedge-style cylinder heads · Hot Rod quick-inspection record for documented Thunderbolt car no. 12 only · cylinder head / specification
valve sizes and exhaust-valve construction 2.197-inch intake valves and 1.772-inch sodium-filled exhaust valves · Hot Rod quick-inspection record for documented Thunderbolt car no. 12 only · valve train / specification
intake manifold construction High Riser-style aluminum intake manifold · Hot Rod quick-inspection record for documented Thunderbolt car no. 12 only · intake manifold / specification
carburetor configuration and airflow rating two Holley 600-cfm carburetors · Hot Rod quick-inspection record for documented Thunderbolt car no. 12 only · carburetor / specification
forced-air induction path forced-air induction through the inboard/headlamp-area openings · 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt program-level equipment described by registry and Hemmings/DST references · air cleaner / specification
header construction factory-designed tubular headers; special fabricated individual tube runners into 4-inch collectors on the documented Hot Rod example · Thunderbolt program-level header type with Hot Rod car no. 12 collector detail · exhaust manifold / specification

Transmission

Factory transmission Four-speed manual
Factory transmission Automatic; exact unit and preparation require car-specific records
Factory transmission Borg-Warner T-10 four-speed manual
Factory transmission Lincoln three-speed automatic

Options

427 FE High Riser reference for the 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

Thunderbolt Ford/DST Thunderbolt factory drag package factory · performance · Factory-supported Super Stock conversion on the Fairlane 500 two-door sedan basis.
Lightweight Thunderbolt lightweight body and interior package factory · performance · Fiberglass, aluminum, Plexiglas, lightweight seating, and comfort-equipment deletes varied with build chronology.

Production

Transmission Records reference for the 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

Ford Performance documented public Thunderbolt production total · 100 · documented
4-speed manual by transmission · 49 · documented
automatic by transmission · 51 · documented
Vintage Burgundy early Ford/DST cars by color · 11 · documented
Wimbledon White later cars by color · 89 · documented

Authenticity

Ford 9-Inch Rear reference for the 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

Fairlane 500 two-door sedan basis 1964 Fairlane 500 two-door sedan / two-door post converted for Thunderbolt duty · body style, data plate/invoice, registry documentation · fraud detection
Lightweight conversion equipment fiberglass front fenders and hood, aluminum front bumper, Plexiglas side windows, deleted comfort equipment · body panels, glass, interior trim, Ford/DST provenance documents · trim correctness
Engine installation 427 High Riser FE with forced-air induction and tubular headers · engine bay, intake/air ducting, headers, provenance documents · numbers matching
Production-count caution 100-car Ford/public record with a preserved Brannan recollection of 127 DST-built cars · Ford Performance and Hemmings historical notes · other

Still Researching

engine The High Riser identity, Ford rated output, forced-air induction, tubular-header type, and Hot Rod car no. 12 component specifications are recorded, but complete production-wide casting numbers, carburetor list numbers, header part numbers, date rules, and car-specific original-engine verification remain incomplete.
transmission A Hot Rod archive feature identifies the factory four-speed as the Borg-Warner T-10 and describes the Lincoln automatic option as a three-speed automatic, but Ford's 49/51 manual/automatic split still conflicts with Hemmings' 41/59 account and individual car assignments, tags, and preparation details remain incomplete.
rear axle The Ford 9-inch basis is recorded, but production-wide ratios and individual tags are not.
brakes The 10.5-inch front-disc starting-point record is preserved, but complete race brake specifications are not.
suspension DST race-suspension context is recorded, but complete spring, shock, traction-bar, and structural specifications are not.
option packages The factory drag and lightweight packages are recorded, but build chronology and component substitutions varied.
production Ford's 100-car and 49/51 figures conflict with historical 127-car and 41/59 accounts.
paint colors Vintage Burgundy and Wimbledon White are recorded, but exact paint codes and individual-car chronology are incomplete.
trim and appearance Major lightweight and induction cues are recorded, but early hood, bumper, graphics, and race-team variations are incomplete.
interior Major lightweight deletes and race equipment are recorded, but exact seat, tachometer, mat, and delete chronology is incomplete.
authenticity markers Program provenance and major construction checks are recorded, but no complete serial-to-team registry is attached.