GEAR
1964 FORD THUNDERBOLT HEMI HUNTER
ACME TRADING COMPANY • 888-209-2263 WWW.ACMEDIECAST.COM • $119.95
One of the most legendary products to emerge from Ford’s “Total Performance” program was the Fairlane-based Thunderbolt. This NHRA World Championship-clinching homologation special was unique in its fiberglass-intensive lightweight body construction, as well as its dual Holley four-barrel-topped 427-cu.in. V-8. Of the livery. Round 2 has modeled that car in 1:18 scale (item A1801108), and the level of detail is spectacular: prop up the hood, whose underside is textured like fiberglass, and inspect the high-rise intake; open the driver’s door and see the tiny laser-cut key hanging from the ignition, along with the dash-top tach and opening glovebox; pop the trunk to inspect the battery; and turn it over to take in the headers and accurate-looking undercarriage with a driveshaft that turns with the drag slick-equipped wheels. The only hiccups in an otherwise spot-on presentation were inside, where the model sported a gold interior and a flock-carpeted floor, compared to the 1:1 Thunderbolt’s beige-toned interior and rubber mats. Considering the genuine article recently brought $170,000 at auction, we think this scale Ford is a real bargain.
