Steering Column to Steering Rack

I have a low mileage '71 that I believe has never been tore apart. 

Over the weekend, I removed the steering rack.  The bolts came off fairly easily.  BUT the threads on the retaining bolt that connects the steering column to the rack were completely destroyed.  I thought I was going to snap the bolt.  It looked like it was badly cross threaded. I don't know if I will be able to find the correct replacement because there aren't many threads on it that are any good.

Is that normal wear in order to keep the bolt from coming unscrewed or was the bolt cross threaded?