Besides his collection of Australian Fords and the Cougar Eliminator that he rescued from a field, Chris Flocken has a friend in Willie D. Smith of Milton, Florida. Willie, for those of you who don’t know Thunderbolts inside and out (that is, most of us), owns the Russ Davis  Ford Thunderbolt, the car that Gas Ronda originally drove. Well, Chris convinced Willie to let him display the Thunderbolt at last weekend’s Mustang Club of America show in Pensacola, Florida, along side one of Chris’s Falcons, and Chris sent along some photos of the show.
Willie D Smith has owned it since like the late 70’s. Anyhow, he is getting older, just turned 76 young and I am so glad he is wanting (willing) to get the car out a little. This weekend will be only the second time in over 20 years since it has been on public display. W.D., as I call him, AND, I cannot believe he agreed, has allowed my to load up the Tbolt to take to the show. This is a very historic car. It is not just one of the 11 race prepped cars, it is the lowest serial or vin numbered Tbolts.
It all went awesome and had a ball behind the wheel of the Tbolt. The guy that drove my GT over for me said, now you know how I feel every time I get to drive your Falcons! Hmmm, I never understood what he meant, till now!
Willie D. is the fellow in the center. He has not stopped talking about the weekend. We both were shocked at the amount of folks that came by saying they had heard there was a genuine Tbolt there. Seriously! Then, they find out it is the Gas Ronda car, they really go nuts. I think the paint was worn off the car with the amount of pics taken!
One thing I was really taken aback with was the comments I overheard on the car, like about all the race participation decals on the C pillars. WOW, this is the real thing! Comments like that.
I have to tell you this, getting behind the wheel of the Tbolt was probably the most exciting and nerve wracking time I have ever spent piloting a car. Even Willie D’s grandson dropped by, “Mr Chris, you know my dad and you are the only one’s grand dad ever let take the Tbolt!” Ok, needed a little more pressure!
And, lest it be completely overshadowed by the Ronda Thunderbolt, Chris’s Falcon XB GT.
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