I wonder if this started out as a Thunderbolt

[AlanCasida]

if so...ouch. Oh well, I bet they were saying "it's just a race car".

[cammerfe]

There was a T-bolt that ran often at Milan back in the early '70s. It had some nice touches, such as a backlite made of red Lexan with a Thunderbird emblem cut out in the middle. It also was running a relatively mild 440 mopar engine. After seeing it several times, I finally made a point of asking the driver why he'd put that engine in.

His answer, "It's all I had." I just walked away.

Another experience---I had what had originally been Dave Lyall's AF/X Comet offered to me as a gift---minus the engine and trans. I had no immediate use for it and no place to store it so I turned it down.

KS

[thatdarncat]

if so...ouch. Oh well, I bet they were saying "it's just a race car".

I'm pretty sure that yes, that was an original Thunderbolt. A few of the cars over just a few years got cut up into practically nothing. Drag racing and the classes were changing so fast at that time. There is a long running thread about Thunderbolts going on the H.A.M.B., started I believe by our member Jody A. that has lots of good info and pictures. One original Thunderbolt was cut up a few times, eventually ended up as a short track circle track car. There's also a good Thunderbolt Facebook page.

[jayb]

From the looks of the injectors that car is equipped with an SOHC.  I have to say I think its pretty cool, despite being all cut up...

[machoneman]

I had to blow up the pic but Jay you have a good eye and I think you're right on the Cammer.

Just think of all the great drag cars that also got cut up for altered wheelbases, went from stock bodies to shelled-out bodies over mainly tube or tube type chassis. That and crashes. Others that were beat so badly they literally ended up in a junkyard and were scrapped. Well, at least they put on a great show before heading to that junkyard in the sky!     

From the looks of the injectors that car is equipped with an SOHC.  I have to say I think its pretty cool, despite being all cut up...

[AlanCasida]

Just think of all the great drag cars that also got cut up for altered wheelbases, went from stock bodies to shelled-out bodies over mainly tube or tube type chassis. That and crashes. Others that were beat so badly they literally ended up in a junkyard and were scrapped. Well, at least they put on a great show before heading to that junkyard in the sky!     

Agreed. I was not passing any judgment on the owner who did this. That was just how it was back then. A guy I used to work with ran HotRod pulling tractors from the late 60s thru the 80s and he used to go to the insurance salvage pools and buy wrecked Hemi cars. He would pull the drivetrains, keep the Hemis, sell the trans & rearend then scrap the bodies. He said by today's standards they were all repairable but back they were just wrecked cars and you could go get a new one at the dealership. He did mention something about "What was I thinking!" 20-20 hindsight.

[TomP]

By 1965 it was just an old race car to some. When they had heads up weight classes, 2400lb, 2600lb and 2800lb would have required weight removal from a Tbolt. I would guess that roadster may be in 2400lb class.
 Is that the one John Donilson was killed in?

[57 lima bean]

It may not be Tom   http://dragstripdeaths.webs.com/196569.htm

[TomP]

I thought Donilsons had the roof cut off too. They updated that site, last time I read that entry it didn't have the details like being rear ended by another car and being thrown back into the trunk.
 Explains where that braced seat and crossbar rule comes from...written in blood as they say.

[thatdarncat]

Beautiful color picture today from the Facebook Thunderbolt page ( Not my picture ). Not only the rear axle location altered, but the front axle too. 

[cjshaker]

I'm assuming they must have used coils instead of leafs on that one. Sure doesn't look like there's ANY room for leaf springs on that front end.

[machoneman]

Wow, that car has about the furthest front axle relocation I've ever seen on an altered wheelbase door slammer, Hemi-powered Chrysler racers as well. 

[Heo]

I'm assuming they must have used coils instead of leafs on that one. Sure doesn't look like there's ANY room for leaf springs on that front end.

Maybe cross spring  (buggy suspension)

[thatdarncat]

Picture of the Donilson T-Bolt as the "Dixie Stripper", notice at this point the side window "Posts" had been removed. ( Not my picture, from the H.A.M.B. thread )

[AlanCasida]

By 1965 it was just an old race car to some. When they had heads up weight classes, 2400lb, 2600lb and 2800lb would have required weight removal from a Tbolt. I would guess that roadster may be in 2400lb class.
 Is that the one John Donilson was killed in?

I posted this picture on facebook and a guy knew the car and said someone named Sydney(not sure first or last name) bought the car used and modified it to that configuration.