If you were building a Top 10 list of collectible automobiles, would the Ford Fairmont make that list? No, I didn’t think so. Built from 1978 to 1983, it was the successor to the popular Maverick and sold well enough but was largely a disposal car. Yet, since 1980, this Futura has survived with just 12,000 miles, which is said to be on the odometer. Located in Rochester, Minnesota, and probably in storage for a time, this vintage Ford is available here on eBay where just two bids of $10,499 have been cast.
The Fairmont was the first Ford car built on the new Fox Body platform, along with the similar Mercury Zephyr. The Mustang would follow in 1979 and use that infrastructure into the 1990s. The Futura was the sporty model, borrowing the name that had adorned some Falcons back in the 1960s (plus a concept car in the 1950s). It was not a performance automobile and many of them were built with a 200 cubic inch inline-6 like this Fairmont, which also has an automatic transmission.
We’re told this Ford is original in all important areas, such as the drivetrain, body, paint, and interior. There’s no rust to be found, thanks in part to its Ziebart undercoating. Other than the headliner, the plaid interior may be in fine shape after nearly 45 years. The car has likely been sitting for some time (of course it has, if the mileage is to be believed) and has had a fair amount of work done to it. That includes a new battery, tires, starter, fuel pump, exhaust, brakes, and more. The gas tank has been flushed and the carburetor rebuilt, too.
So, at the current bid, the seller is recouping the recent repair costs plus some extra. Nearly 52,000 Futura coupes were built in 1980, yet when was the last time you saw one? Most were not purchased because they might become collectible one day. They were bought to be driven and then replaced with another car of the 1980s – the Malaise Era rides again!
Another iteration of the very successful Fox platform. A basic, disposable car; nice to see one which survived. And it’s even brown. Love the plaid bucket seats.
My in-laws had a Futura. It was a straight six automatic, which was (as Russ notes) a common powertrain. The only significant problem they had was that it was silver, and after only a few years the silver paint was gone. It didn’t help that it lived outside, but that was a common problem with certain color paints of the day. They had it repainted in a non-metallic light gray which held up fine.
Boy did Ford ever get their money’s worth on the Fox.. and Panther platforms.
This is really some time capsule. My mind wanders wondering just how this once bread and butter everyday car you’d see at the local Stop N Shop got preserved so well. Im glad it did. Bob, I remember silver, and certain shades of blue and other failing not just on Fords, but GM and Chrysler too. I always thought, and I may be in the minority here, that the roof line by the windows remind me of the 55 and 56 Crown Vic ( my Dad had a pink and white 55). But again, maybe its just me. Nice barn find and hope it gets preserved. And enjoyed too.
I’m a Ford man, and this is ugly as!.
Sorry.
Over here the Futura, ranked below the Fairmont.
Forte, then Futura, then Fairmont, then Fairmont Ghia, then Fairlane, then Fairlane Ghia, then LTD. And then towards the end of Ford Australia, they did away with the normal nameing convention’s, and the Fairlane and LTD.
As Bob and Driveinstile said, very well preserved. Though as equivalent to driving as store bought tapioca pudding is to dessert, it served its purpose well for its time. Younger generations might marvel at something that had less available power than a 25 year old Hyundai Accent but we older folk have an edge as we subconsciously know how to roll up the windows without having to first find an instructional vid on YouTube…
To reply to Nevada Half Track….,”but we older folk have an edge as we subconsciously know how to roll up the windows without having to first find an instructional vid on YouTube…”
That comment made my day!!! Thanks for the laugh…. Sad thing is….. You’re right. Not for all that generation, but definitely for some.
You may want too add that guys like us also know how to set the presets on the radio too!!!
yup, and those roll up windows. Litter bags were the standard item in everyone’s car during the 60s n 70s. The place to put em was on the right front door window winder. The electric window became standard and the demise of the automobile litter bag, hence just throw it out the window our roadways need the decorations.
Took a road trip in one in 84. No FAIR a M0NT of money would ever make me repeat. 😕 Noisy, cramped interior, found my butt frequently hitting the floor due to lack of seat padding, total POS. But later the FOX platform served FORD well with Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis, and TOWN CARS!
Crown Vic, Grand Marquis, and Town Car were Panther platform, not Fox.
Think Mustang. Not the full frame cars.
I think a two door standard Fairmont was better looking.
I agree. I was never a fan of the “basket handle” look… on this or the Thunderbirds of the era.
Conversation back in the day;
Hey, why don’t you drive that thing? What are you saving it for?
Owner’s reply: I am saving it, for the “Futura” . .
Go ahead and laugh, but the late, unbelievably great Bob Glidden , and crew chief wife, Etta, had a lot of success with a Fairmont. It was just a tad different than this.
Bob Glidden’s Fairmont was undefeated. It looked very sharp too.
Only Ford fuglier than the Fairmont was the Grenada or Mercury Monarch. But this one is indeed a little time capsule. Would be a great daily driver or college kids car. Funny it’s got a 6 banger. Saw some car guys with a V8 version wanting to turn a Fairmont into a drift car.
Lovely looking car. I remember cars like this from when I was a boy. I had a neighbour who had a Ford Fairmont wagon. I also knew a teacher who drove a Fairmont Futura.
This would make a very nice pro street car..
Appreciation vs Appreciation. There will always be a difference when it comes to Generations.Especially when it between an old fuddy Duddy like me and my say my nephew.l can appreciate this lovely low mileage Fairmont but could my nephew value it the same?
To me this car is tasteful with brown paint and tan interior and plaid seats. I like the basket handle. At least compared to what else was on the road back then. If that makes me an old fart so be it. Since it’s fox body though it would be great to get a 5.0 and 5 speed out of a wreck and drop it then.
You could get a 302 C.I. motor at the time. I had the basic 200-6 in 1979, Futura. It was my very first car, brand new. Light blue metallic with the dark blue handle. Got it loaded. My Dad talked me outta the 8. Looking back, very curious as to how the 8 was power wise. The “crushed velour” interior was very comfortable. Loved it!
Correction! Lol Dark blue vinyl top!
Bought the wife a used79 Fairmont station wagon for a winter driver, Was white with a 6. Worst car ever. Noisy, rode like a wooden wagon, slow, ugly, and cheap interior. She never really forgave me for that one although it got her through the winter. Summer bought her a new 79 Plymouth Champ twin stick. That car she enjoyed. I enjoyed it on weekends, (autocross).
Working for Ford (factory rep) in the ’80’s I drove my share of these. In fact my very first company car was a 1979 Futura, dark green with white top, 2.3 FOUR cylinder with four-speed manual. I always preferred that combo to the six/automatic. With the four and 4-speed, it was almost fun to drive.
This color combo was very popular in the late 70’s – early 80’s. My parents had a ’79 Horizon in two-tone brown / tan (same color as the stripes on this car) with tan plastic interior.
So, given the period correct color and the condition, this would be the pone to buy if for some reason a Futura was on your shopping list.
These were the first foxes out of the gate finding their way into people’s hearts and driveways beginning in late ’77. Compared to everything that preceeded them the styling was a breath of fresh air. Both the two door sedan and Futura were crisp and modern. In a way following the GM downsizing trend that began a year earlier. They were every man’s (and woman’s) car and people lined up to buy them. At least as successful as the original Mustang and later Mustang II. I thought they were stylish and cool but being a bit too big for the car I had to contend with the dash knuckle created by the placement of the radio. Too bad as I’m sure I would have sought out one with a four cylinder and 4-speed. Digging the plaid upholstery.
I bought a new Futura in 1980. 200/6 and manual 4 speed OD. Vinyl top, pinstriping, PS, PB, 4 speaker stereo with tape player. $6150. (Couple hundred more than a Toyota Tercel rubber floormat special) Plenty of room, 28 mpg on the highway. Super dependable. One of my favorite cars.
My father in law was a Ford dealer. He got a Fairmont off the transporter truck that was striped and badged as a Fairmont on one side and a Zephyr on the other.
Lol hillarious Henry, how does that leave the factory 🏭 unnoticed 🥴
I had a 78 Fairmont Wagon 200 6cyl. three speed floor shift. I managed to get 50 thousand miles out of it, but I always felt the power was very inadequate. However, it was very dependable.
I think I’ve mentioned here a couple of times about my dad’s 78 Fairmont wagon that he had as a demonstrator. Drive shaft vibration between 55 and 60 led him to name it The Deeetroit Vibrator.
The nice thing about these cars is that if you want to wake them a sleeper, pretty much everything from 15 years worth of Fox body Mustangs can be either directly bolted in or used with minor modification. Great way to make a sleeper.
The ’78 Fairmont was Car and Driver’s Car of the Year. Let that sink in.
I wholeheartedly agree with the Pro Street comment.
last few posts know the vehicle.
Some call it the box top, this a desriable model (the funky back window. At any rate many are made into drag cars.
This Is Not the 1st fox as was the Granade-A (cougar too) came out 2 yrs earlier, no? Some claim it ran thru the SN-95 upto ’04 (and beyond). I have the ’83/6 ltd wagon. Take alookad nother ‘80s rig – Durango:
https://www.reddit.com/r/classiccars/comments/10sp9u8/1981_ford_durango_this_is_the_unknown_successor/
I don’t think I’m wrong: The Granada / Monarch were never on the Fox platform.