1964 Ford Thunderbolt

As the muscle car market took shape, Ford introduced a Fairlane for drag strip racing for 1964, heavily modified to incorporate a 427 CID (7.0 L) V8 with two four-barrel carburetors on a high-riser manifold, ram-air through the openings left by deleting the inboard headlights, equal-length headers, trunk-mounted battery, fiberglass hood, doors, fenders and front bumper, acrylic glass windows, and other lightweight options including deleted rear door window winders, carpeting, radio, sealant, sun visors, armrests, jack, lug wrench, heater, soundproofing, and passenger side windshield wiper. This special model, of which 111 to 127 total were made depending on who you ask, delivered 500 hp (373 kW) at 7,000 rpm and was known as the Thunderbolt.

Interior of 1964 Ford Thunderbolt

A stock Thunderbolt could run a quarter-mile (402 m) at a drag strip in 11.76 seconds at 122.7 mph (197.5 km/h), and Gas Ronda dominated the NHRA World Championship with a best time of 11.6 seconds at 124 mph (200 km/h).[7] The Thunderbolt included competition-specification 427 cu in (7 L) engine and special exhausts (though technically legal for street use, the car was too raucous for the public roads—"not suitable", according to a Hot Rod magazine quote, "for driving to and from the strip, let alone on the street in everyday use"; also massive traction bars, asymmetrical rear springs, and a trunk-mounted 95-pound (43 kg) bus battery to maximize traction from what was realistically 500 bhp (373 kW). Sun visors, exterior mirror, sound-deadener, armrests, jack, and lug wrench were omitted to save weight. The car was given lightweight Plexiglass windows, and early versions had fiberglass front body panels and bumpers, later changed to aluminum to meet NHRA regulations.

Engine of 1964 Ford Thunderbolt

Specifications

Engines: ohv V-8, 427 cid (4.23 × 3.78), 425+ bhp
Transmissions: 4-speed manual or 3-speed automatic
Suspension, front: shortened upper A-arms, coil springs
Suspension, rear: live axle, leaf springs, traction bars
Brakes: front/rear drums
Wheelbase (in.): 115.5
Weight (lbs.): 3,225
Top speed (mph): 120-126 (at end of quarter-mile); 0-60 mph (sec): 4.5 (est)

(Source : Wikipedia; How Stuff Works)
(Pic sources : Photo Bucket, Mustang and Fords)

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Ford Mustang Cobra II 1975

Since the car was never meant to have a V8, it became a scramble to re-engineer the car to reinstate the 302 cu in (4.9 L) V8 option in time for the 1975 model year, but only with a two-barrel carburetor and "net" 140 hp (104 kW). To make the V8 option fit, changes were made to the front fenders, engine bay, and header panel. Since Ford of Mexico never lost the V8, they assisted in the modifications. Although tepid by today's standards, the car's stock 302 performed quite well by 1970s standards. The Mustang II's 302 cu in engine became Ford's first officially designated metric V8 Mustang; it was called the "5.0 L" even though its capacity was 4.94 L. Other than the optional V8 engine, the car underwent minor changes in 1975. The Ghia received opera windows within its vinyl top. In mid-year, a "MPG" model was added to a 2.3 L base models that featured a catalytic converter and a 3.18:1 rear-axle ratio (standard was 3:40:1) to claim EPA-version economy estimates of 23 mpg-US (10 L/100 km/28 mpg-imp) in the city and 34 mpg-US (6.9 L/100 km/41 mpg-imp) on the highway. To underscore fuel efficiency, all base 2.3 L Mustang IIs were called MPG after 1975.

(Source : Wikipedia)

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