Speed Week 2010’s 200mph 1964 Fairlane
Bonneville Salt Flats Race Car
Sometimes it’s easy to pick a feature car. The reasons why I dig the 1964 Ford Fairlane were spelled out in the feature I did about the Ring Brothers 64 Fairlane. Beyond the family tie and the legend of the Thunderbolt, this Fairlane just looks BAD!
I searched for this car at Speed Week last year, but never did find it. I wanted to get a t-shirt for pops too… For Speed Week 2010, I caught up with Brian and Celia Dean and their AA/CGC Fairlane known as “Thundersalt”. The CGC stands for Classic Unblown Gas Coupe. (I guess the U is silent?)
The AA in the class title for this thump’n Fairlane stands for greater than 500 cubic inches. Thundersalt runs a 557 inch big block Ford. (thank goodness it ain’t a Chevy! It would have broken my pop’s heart!) Based on a bored and stroked 429 Cobra Jet block, the CJ is then topped with Trick Flow A460 heads. Brian estimates about 925 horsepower on racing gas flowing through the Holley 1650 Dominator carb. Brian explained, “We build shit to go fast!”
The interior, as you can imagine is all business. Not much remains of the original (Fairlane restoration lovers, stop reading now) Sports Coupe model Fairlane that simply fell into Brian’s lap when he was looking to make a Bonneville race car. It already had part of the roll cage and some wheel tubs since it was a drag race car, but no motor or transmission. I guess you could say that Brian had pretty much a clean slate to start with. Did I say clean? Brian told me starting out, “The car was ugly!” Not anymore!
I asked Brian about the color and he and Celia both groaned about how long it took to pick this orange. Its Lamborghini Murcielago orange that when they finally saw it, they knew, that’s the right color to “Contrast with the salt” as the rule book says for racing at Bonneville.
And race they did! At Speed Week 2010, I watched Thundersalt pull off the line on the long course with Celia at the wheel. It didn’t go as planned when she spun somewhere on the course. Oops! It happens when you’re pushing towards setting a record at Bonneville.
Back in 2003, Brian held the record for about 5 days, but couldn’t leave Speed Week holding the record. Currently in the AA/CGC class, the record stands at 240.778 mph held by Griffith Racing in what I think is a much more air-slippery 1979 Camaro. I’d argue about the “classic-ness” of the ’79 Camaro, but that’s the rules. I’d also argue if “air-slippery” is really part of the English language…
Record or not, Brian and Celia are having a great time with their Fairlane (unless they sell it for something faster) and certainly contrasting well with the stark, blinding white of the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Let us know if this was one of your favorites too in a comment below.
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Cool story, rad Fairlane and man, that’s a beefy front airdam. :)
I have a soft spot for ’64 Fairlanes, as I owned a hardtop when I was 19. This orange salt-version really stands out, especially that monster diamond plate air dam! Thanks for this report and I hope they achieve their goal… James
Thanks for the “killer” coverage on our Fairlane, sadly i spun after mile 4 going 206 mph but i acheived the goal i was after which was my “A” license. Thank you for all that you do for us racers!
Right on Celia! Let us know how you end up this week. What made you spin?
I love the Diamond Plate…all those little vortex generators, could very well help the “air-slippery-ness” and Celia, YOU GO GIRL !!!
Ya Buddy! A Ford in a Ford!
salt conditions at the 4 contributed to the spin. I hit a loose spot in the salt plus was taching 7100rpm in 5th gear with lots of wheel spin. it just happens.
Wow, spinning at over 200 and not rolling the vehicle must show that you indeed desrve an “A” licence. I’m impressed…beyond the beyond! , Jameswaterwolf
The Thunderbolts were beasts in their day.. Love my Fords and these were one of my faves… Thundersalt is awesome and Ford all the way.. Hate the Chevies… RAWK on guys !!!!!
I love it!
What a cool Ford. Great looking piece of machinery.
And fast, too!!!
Ford is the only way to go. You did it right by not rolling it over at 200+ with the back spinning. Way to go Ford all the way!!!!
One BAD ride…..One BAD girl hahaaa Gotta LOVE it.
I have known Brian since he was in high school. And he has been racing & having fun with horse power for years. Good Luck with the wolrd record. This Ford is “Bad ASS”
That’s no doubt Dave! Since 64 Fairlane’s are in my family, I got a t-shirt for my pops. There’s nothing like that eye searing orange on the stark white salt!