Century Thunderbolt

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITYNOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY

Being offered only through November 10th

A Chance to Own one of the Rarest and Most Historic of Vintage Wooden Racing Runaboats

Much Copied - Rarely Found - One of only 6 Century Thunderbolts Produced from 1930 to 1937 - of which only 4 Had the Coveted Aluminum Race Engine, the Universal Blue Jacket, a modified version with an advertised 57HP.

Produced from 1930 to 1937, the lowest production boats to come out of Century Boats, and all but impossible to find today, yet the most coveted by collectors today. After sifting through bad copies and the fakes, the best of our professional observations is that only 3 of the original 6 Thunderbolts survived through to today. This is a once in a lifetime opportunityto own one of the best of those three.

Conceived in 1930 and "Officially" Introduced at the New York Boat Show in 1931, this 14 foot sleek and streamlined,all-business utilitarian racer could reach speeds over 42mph. The first 4 of the original 6 Thunderbolts sold for $1,274.00 at a time when the average wage in America was $1,368 per year, and the average workingpeoplemade between 25 and 35 cents per hour. The last two of the six were sold at fire-saleprices in 1934, the peak of the Depressionhardship for just $500.00 to two un-named dealers, the final retail price of these last two Thunderbolts is not recorded, nor is the engine identification, but the last two are believed to be fitted out with the stock production engine, the Gray Marine Fireball, meaning only 4 Thunderbolts were ever produced sporting the Light Aluminum race engine, the Universal Blue Jacket. These Engines were originally rated at 40 HP, but for this boat were modified to the "Blue Streak" design to produce an advertised 57 HP. This is a chance to own one of those coveted 4.

With uniqueaestheticfeatures designed in, such as the exposed brass deck fasteners sanded perfectly flush with the African MahoganyDeck and finished into the varnish work to a finish described by Century as "A Piano Finish". The exposed shiny brass fasteners left a patten of gold speckles contrasting the shiny dark wood finish. It's "all business" racer design, including the absence of a windscreen (you wore goggles), this beautiful and speedy 2 liter class racing step-hull hydroplane with its outboard rudder set speed and endurance records all over the country. The Thunderbolt was the "pace boat" leading the fleet of outboard hydroplanes the full course of the 1930, 132 mile Albany to New York race where another Century (The Outboard Century Hurricane) set a world outboard speed record of 50.93 mph. The Thunderbolt, not participating in the race, but running as the pace boat averaged 41.76 mph.

We know of no other boat with this style and finish. This125 cu inch class thrill inboard, designedfor pleasure and racing at Speeds of over 45 mph was a truly one-of-a-kind piece of racing and boating history.The Modified 57 HP Universal Blue jacket drove a shaft, propeller and rudder all extended beyond the transom of the boat, said to develop more speed and to change the balance in order to keep the bow down and reduce drag,was stated by Century to be meant to "startle the small inboard race field" and it did so in spades.

In 1938, Century tried a more economical, more practical version of the Thunderbolt, with a higher deck and a "v" windscreen, and a seat, said to be designed for "both pleasure and racing" but it was a failed compromise in comparison to the original Thunderbolt race boats of 1930 to 1937. If you desire to own the very best - this is your chance, and this chance may never come again.

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We are a restoration shop with full woodworking capability and would be happy to do any work for you to finish this restoration. Not much more is needed. The engine has been rebuilt from the ground up, including Brand New Pistons and Valves, bearing etc. The engine restoration is older, but the engine has zero hours since rebuild. If you pull out a spark plug and look in the cylinder it still shines bright. The hardware has already been re-chromed and polished with only the few exceptions, being the cutwater and the rudder and the steering wheel bracket.

The rudder has a new bronze face welded into place, but needs to be cut to shape and chromed; The cutwater is ready to be chromed; The bracketthat holds the steering wheel needs to be repaired; and the steering wheel itself could be restored, but that's about it. The woodwork is exceptionally well preserved and will require little work and almost no new wood before the hull is ready for its final finish and the installation of the engine and hardware. The Engine Hatch Cover is unfortunately missing and will need to be fabricated. It may be one of the easiest restorations of a wooden runabout ever, perfectly suited for your favorite restoration shop or even for a home shop....

or...let us finish it for you - that's what we do.

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