Ford let the Monogram folks under the tent when they knew SVO was really back, and Thunderbirds were go.

After study, they realized: T-Bird's wheelbase was too short to fit the NASCAR minimum. So, Bob Johnson and Clark sat down at a table with the pics of the Bird, and started laying out the kit body.

In fact, it looked pretty good. Ford had not sorted the wheelbase in their planning, being pre-occupied with securing engine blocks from OZ and lining up teams. But after seeing Monogram's proposal, they were well pleased, and shortly rang the Powers That Be at the World Center of Racing (TM) who said, "Yeah, sure...looks good. We'd pass that." (No doubt, having an ace like T-Bird to help deal with GM potentially swallowing the sport whole figured into their calculations.)

Likewise, there is an urban legend that the late Fran Hernandez (directing the racing efforts of Mercury Division) pitched the idea of the Comet funny car in 1/25 scale, using a Comet promo body over a Revell dragster chassis. No doubt inspired by Jim Lytle and "Big Al" but still - it changed drag racing overnight.