DEARBORN, Mich. – It’s finally time to reveal the story – and photos – of a notable car that we spotted at a show last summer, but didn’t include in our coverage on FordPerformance.com. I had withheld posting it as it concerns a very special 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt that had just been meticulously restored in North Carolina. It was displayed for the first time in late June of 2024 at the Ford Fairlane Club of America’s National Meet & 60th Fairlane Thunderbolt Anniversary in Dearborn, but I kept it out of my report because I wanted to keep it low profile.

So why the delay? Well, the Thunderbolt in question originally belonged to Ed Martin Ford in Indianapolis, Indiana, and was campaigned in NHRA drag racing in 1964. My dad, while working for Ford, had recruited Ed and made him a Ford dealer in Indianapolis in 1960. We lived there until 1966. My dad and I spent a lot of Saturdays at the dealership, him talking business and 12-year-old me walking around the dealership among the cars. I got to hang gawk at and eventually sit in the Thunderbolt and other Ed Martin drag and Ford USAC stock cars. They left an impression on me. Our families became close. We moved north to Michigan in 1966.

Ed Martin’s Thunderbolt is #3 of the first 11 built by Ford/DST only for Ford Drag Team members and produced in Vintage Burgundy. The next 89 were done in Wimbledon White. Those first 11 Ford dealers were invoiced $1 for their cars. Detailed event reports were required by Ford immediately following every event. Ed was one of the original 1962 Ford Drag Team members that included Gas Ronda, Les Ritchey, Mickey Thompson, Phil Bonner, and Dick Brannan.

Ultimately, 100 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolts were built (49 of them 4-speeds with 51 automatics), enough to secure the 1964 NHRA Super Stock title for Ford. The FE 427 engine was rated conservatively at 425 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 480 pounds-feet of torque. Estimates placed the actual output closer to 600 hp. These cars, straight from Ford, were extremely fast back then (or for even today). The Thunderbolt, as tested with a four-speed transmission at Lions Drag Strip in November of 1963, ran a 1⁄4-mile of 11.61 seconds at 124.8 mph.

On Friday morning, June 29, 2024, Kathy Martin Harrison and Mark Harrison (owners of Ed Martin Automotive Group and great friends) sent me a picture of the Ed Martin Thunderbolt appearing almost ready to go to a show in Michigan. After about 10 minutes of digging, we determined it was likely making an appearance in Dearborn at the big Fairlane show. I left home almost immediately to see the car and find the owner. The Harrisons were very interested in locating it. Just over an hour later, I spotted it among the other Thunderbolts on display at the show and had a great discussion with the owner. I told him about the Harrisons and was able to arrange a phone call with them that afternoon. The Harrisons, with several experts, flew in the next morning from Indy to see it. Wife Mary Lynn and I met them. After spending several hours with the owner, inspecting the car and talking to other Thunderbolt experts, the Harrisons expressed their interest in purchasing it.

It still needed minor work done back in North Carolina and was waiting for the rare correct headers from Holman-Moody (who actually provided the originals). While the car was back at the shop, the Harrisons wanted me to limit the exposure on car until they were able to hopefully negotiate the purchase and take delivery. In mid-December, Kathy and Mark were finally reunited with their Thunderbolt in its original livery. I’m so very happy that I was able to help our friends to bring it home. We look forward to seeing it this spring on display in Indy while attending the Mecum auction.

Just for a bit of history, after only 1 year as an Indianapolis Ford dealer in 1961, Ed Martin (driving a 1961 Galaxie Starliner) attracted Ford’s attention when his car was crowned National Champion. Ed became a member of the Ford Drag Team in 1962 and started drag racing Ford factory supported Galaxies in 1962 and 1963. In October of 1963, they picked up their 1964 4-speed Thunderbolt in Dearborn. Bob Glidden got his start at Ed Martin Ford as a line mechanic. He also drove Ed Martin Ford drag cars starting in 1965. Bob’s racing success led him to leave his job at Ed Martin in the early 1970’s and go pro. He won his first major event in Indy in 1973. When he retired in 1997, he had 85 NHRA wins – and remains 3rd on the NHRA All-Time Win list. Today, the Ed Martin Automotive Group has 13 franchises in 11 locations around Indianapolis and Anderson, Indiana.

FORD PERFORMANCE PHOTOS / COURTESY BILL COOK