Jack Thorton competed in both the UDRA and NASCAR circuits with Southern Style Dodge Funny Car during the 1967 season,
The long nose Southern Style Dodge Charger on the return road at Detroit Dragway.
Another tough Dodge funny car at Detroit Dragway’s Midwest Championships was Jack Thorton’s Southern Style Dodge Charger.
Thorton was running in the gas funny car ranks that Sunday. I snapped this photo on the return road after Thorton lost to eventual winner Dick Smith’s Firebrewed Coronet in the first round.
I’m not exactly sure what the term “Southern Style” match racing come from. I know it is supposed to be summed up by no-holds barred, “run what you brung” racing, but that mode of competition isn’t exclusive to the South. After all, the altered wheelbase match racer was basically invented in Michigan, and many of the top match-bash racers hailed from California, the Midwest and the East Coast. Nothing against Southern racers, but I’m not sure what makes this Dodge Charger all that different from the other funny cars at Detroit Dragway that day.
I don’t know that much about the car, other than it features an extended nose, the rear wheels have been moved forward significantly and the engine appears to have been set back to further increase weight transfer. I can’t say what sort of chassis the car used, although I can see a husky roll cage inside, and it looks like the car has a straight axle. I found another photo that indicates the rear suspension used leaf springs, which is a tip-off that the car may have retained a modified Charger frame. Most of the tubular funny car chassis of the era used coil over shocks for suspension, front and rear.
Whatever the specifications, I really like the looks of the Southern Style Dodge Charger. I can’t say how much longer the nose is, but would guess it is at least 18 inches, possibly longer than a stock Charger. While some lengthened funny cars looked ungainly, the long front clip actually helps this car’s appearance, giving off the impression “I’m mean, don’t mess with me.”
Painted on the rear fender is the word NASCAR, followed by the competition number 89. From this we can deduce that Thorton ran the NASCAR funny car series in 1967. Since most of the cars running Detroit Dragway that day were part of the UDRA circuit, I assume Thorton also ran other UDRA meets.
I failed to find any more information about Jack Thorton, other than the car was sponsored by Thorton Auto Parts, which suggests he or someone in his family owned an auto parts store. As to where that auto parts store was located (and presumably the car was from the same location) I have no clue.
Anyone know where Jack Thorton and his Charger were from? Let us know in the comments.
4 thoughts on “Jack Thorton and the Southern Style Dodge Funny Car”
That’s Roger Lindemood’s charger. Jack was a relative of Jim Thornton of the Ramchargers. I think his Auto Parts store and salvage yard was in the Downriver area. Brownstown Twp ,Mi or close to the area.
I’m an old drag racer from the detroit area and I remember Thorton auto (junk yard) in Belleville, Mi. In the early 60s they raced light weight Fords in AA/S both auto and stick. I think Thortons was the dumping yard for Ford experimental parts and vehicles I’m not sure if Thorton owned the cars or sponsored them and they ran out of Expressway Gulf also in Belleville. These were full size Fords not thunderbolts or comets,and I think they were1963 or 64s. AA/SA record in ’64 was held by 2 Ford at 12.58 at 113.99 mph. Hope this helps
his name was jack pierson he own thornton auto parts in canton mich.my dad terry downs’ own downs sinclair gas station and was the driver for all of jack drag cars. starting with 1964 ford galaxie 427 high riser one of ten set up by ford AA stock class. next jack bought 65 427 galaxie mid year jack bought Dick Housley 1965 Hemi plymouth .end of 65 my dad talk Jack into having a 66 dodge charger built using the hemi from the plymouth adding hilborn injector I dont know the name of the guy that built it but he was working on doug nash bronco at the same time .the front was ext 14 in an was stri ght axle the rear was leaf spring and also move up 14 in. the engine was set back 12 in. jack was a good guy but not a driver.I have no picture of any of jack cars .but love to find some. . Iknow paul hatton did all paint and letters on jack cars
Jack Thornton’s real name is Jack Pierson. Because he owned Thornton Auto Parts on Martinsville Road in Belleville most people thought that Thornton was his last name. If you look closely at some of his race cars he used Jack Pierson ( His customers referred to him as Crazy Jack ). His junkyard was a drag racers heaven.
That’s Roger Lindemood’s charger. Jack was a relative of Jim Thornton of the Ramchargers. I think his Auto Parts store and salvage yard was in the Downriver area. Brownstown Twp ,Mi or close to the area.
I’m an old drag racer from the detroit area and I remember Thorton auto (junk yard) in Belleville, Mi. In the early 60s they raced light weight Fords in AA/S both auto and stick. I think Thortons was the dumping yard for Ford experimental parts and vehicles I’m not sure if Thorton owned the cars or sponsored them and they ran out of Expressway Gulf also in Belleville. These were full size Fords not thunderbolts or comets,and I think they were1963 or 64s. AA/SA record in ’64 was held by 2 Ford at 12.58 at 113.99 mph. Hope this helps
his name was jack pierson he own thornton auto parts in canton mich.my dad terry downs’ own downs sinclair gas station and was the driver for all of jack drag cars. starting with 1964 ford galaxie 427 high riser one of ten set up by ford AA stock class. next jack bought 65 427 galaxie mid year jack bought Dick Housley 1965 Hemi plymouth .end of 65 my dad talk Jack into having a 66 dodge charger built using the hemi from the plymouth adding hilborn injector I dont know the name of the guy that built it but he was working on doug nash bronco at the same time .the front was ext 14 in an was stri ght axle the rear was leaf spring and also move up 14 in. the engine was set back 12 in. jack was a good guy but not a driver.I have no picture of any of jack cars .but love to find some. . Iknow paul hatton did all paint and letters on jack cars
Jack Thornton’s real name is Jack Pierson. Because he owned Thornton Auto Parts on Martinsville Road in Belleville most people thought that Thornton was his last name.
If you look closely at some of his race cars he used Jack Pierson ( His customers referred to him as Crazy Jack ). His junkyard was a drag racers heaven.