LET THE NEW GUY TURN THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN

L78 ELCAMINO · #1 07-25-2006, 10:03 AM

What would be everyones reaction to find out the the top half of Fords Boss 429, was actually designed, blueprinted,fabricated, assembled and made operational by Mickey Thompson, who happened to be kind of in the employ of Chevrolet at that time. Then imagine Ford went ahead and used it with no credit to Mickey. I have the letter to prove it, but I think I will let you guys debate awhile before I paste some of it, which will be soon to be on ebay.
L78 ELCAMINO

**427TJ** · #2 07-25-2006, 10:10 AM

I read that Chrysler engineers went to Duntov's shop in the late '40s to examine his OHV hemispherical heads that he designed for flathead Ford V8 engines (ARDUN heads). Funny thing, the Chrysler Hemi V8 made its debut a few years later!

L78 ELCAMINO · #3 07-25-2006, 10:25 AM

Exactly! Nobody would have got away with anybody else's design in the late sixties, and Chevy didnt have a Hemi with the exception of a few Smokey Yunick 302's, and to make it a even grayer area, here is Mickey out in Cal doing his own thing yet tied to Chevrolet. I dont want to be the guy to tell a Boss 429 owner that he has a Chevy powerplant, or upper end anyway.

Hylton · #4 07-25-2006, 05:42 PM

Just ask Bill Gates or Steve Jobs about popping someone else's idea......happens all the time.

1970Bluel78 · #5 07-25-2006, 06:33 PM

In 1964 I beleive Mickey Thompson had a " hemi " headed Thunderbolt on a Ford 427 block. Thats 5 years before the 69 Boss cars. I also beleive that that T-Bolt was on E bay recently. Was Thompsom employed by Chevy in 64. I think he may have done work for several Detroit companys. At any rate I would think the " Hemi " head was a Thompson design not Chevy:

**firstgenaddict** · #6 07-25-2006, 06:39 PM

It may have been a Thompson design but if he worked for the general at the time of patent.... GM would most likely be the holder or co holder of the patent.

1970Bluel78 · #7 07-25-2006, 06:41 PM

I guess it depends on what Mickey was hired to do for Chevy. He was into a LOT of things during that time

L78 ELCAMINO · #8 07-25-2006, 07:08 PM

Mickey was asked by Ford to take on this project, at the same time he was making M/T valve covers for Chevrolet. Somebody call Judge Judy!

Canucklehead · #9 07-25-2006, 07:16 PM

That t-bolt that was on e-bay was a replica, but there is a real one out there.

**juliosz** · #10 07-25-2006, 07:21 PM

According to these encyclopedia folks, the Chrysler Hemi was born during WW2: web page