Supercharged Trivia

[Lindy]

Wondering if anyone knows the story behind the "supercharged" badge emblazoned upon a select few 1957's? I mean, did the "F" series get this label instead of the famous "Thunderbird" script?

[5bird7]

Re: Supercharged Trivia

Lindy, I sure missed seeing your question several months ago.

No, they were never rebadged like that from the factory. Looked just like any other Tbird coming off the line. You had to look under the hood to know if it had a supercharger ( or hear it whine as it passed you!) However, other makes of cars used the word "Supercharged" on their supercharged models and the emblems you find on some of the early tbirds were off of those cars - found at junk yards or swap meets. Also, McCullaugh (sp?) may have had a script made for those who bought supercharger kits from them.

Your attached picture looks like someone had that one manufactured.

[5bird7]

Re: Supercharged Trivia

I do have copies of a couple of photos from the 50s. One with Clark Gable in a black 55 picking up his bird after he had had a supercharger put on it. The installation was done by McCulloch and they had added a supercharger script above the Thunderbird script on the rear. In the 2nd photo, it showed the nose of another 55 and the Supercharger script was placed below the crossed flags on the nose. Clark is sitting behind the steering wheel of a white 56 in that photo. I think both photos were taken at the McCulloch shop.

[Lindy]

Re: Supercharged Trivia

Hey Dot, that is a facinating bit of trivia about Clark Gable and his uprgraded (supercharged) T-Bird. Do you suppose his T-Bird is yet extant in the hands of a collector or museum?

[5bird7]

Re: Supercharged Trivia

That I don't know. The known celebrity owned tbirds of that era were 56s and 57s that TARTC has the factory invoices for as it was noted on some of the invoices at the time if a celebrity had ordered one. The only other ones would be those celebrities that had kept their car and sold much later in life.

From the few photos I've come across of Clark Gable in a Thunderbird, he may have owned several. I've found a picture of him in a white 55, too. There was an article done up on one of his tbirds back in 1956 when he had the supercharger put in. I don't recall the name of the magazine and I don't think I have a copy of it. There is talk of him putting a supercharger in a '56, too. Would have to find the magazine and look at the pictures.
What I've found on the latest internet searches do not speak of his 55 with the supercharger but I did note that the authors didn't know the difference between the years.

[rpatton3]

Re: Supercharged Trivia

Years ago on a TV car show, the late Mel Blanc (Bugs Bunny's voice) was talking about his '56 Thunderbird beating his son's 55 Thunderbird at a stoplight drag race.

Junior went to a speed shop and got his 292 smokin' hot. Later, Dad did the same treatment to his 312. Dad's car still beat Junior's.

There's no substitute for cubic inches.

[Ol'Dave]

Re: Supercharged Trivia

Speaking of "F" Codes. Mecum - Kansas City. Dec 4-6.... A Raven Black 57 F Code will cross the blocks (1 of only 212).