Because of its relation to the Fairline model line, it could be said that the story of the Torino GT actually dates back to 1964. Drag racing was becoming increasingly popular at the time, and Ford wanted a factory offering which could hold its own on the strip.
The car they built was based on the two-door Fairlane and was known as the Fairlane Thunderbolt. This was built to comply with NHRA Super Stock regulations, and was one of the fastest and most successful factory drag cars at the time. The engine was Ford's 427cu-in V8, tuned to produce 657hp. The car was stripped down and lightweight fiberglass body components replaced heavier steel originals.
