With the success of the Falcon in the early 1960s, Ford determined there was now a void in their line-up for a car that was bigger than the Falcon but smaller than the Galaxie. So, a mid-size automobile was created, and Ford branded it the Fairlane (and Fairlane 500 for a higher level of trim). The seller bought this car about five years ago because it was an unmolested survivor. But life and the bills that go with it have taken their toll and the seller has put the Ford on the market for $21,700 OBO. It’s located in Avon, Colorado, and available here on craigslist. Thanks to Mark_K for this vintage tip!
The first generation of the Fairlane as an intermediate would run from 1962 through 1965. Multiple body styles were offered, and for those desiring a sportier package, they could get a 2-door hardtop as the Fairlane 500 or the Fairlane Sports Coupe (the seller lists his as a 500). Earlier 1964 models used a 260 cubic inch V8 when one was specified, but the 289 would be offered as the model year wore on. That’s the engine the seller says is in his car but doesn’t mention whether a 2 or 4-barrel carburetor is involved. A “K-code” 289 was available that could produce 271 hp.
According to the seller, he/she looked long and hard to find this Fairlane 500, one of 42,733 2-door hardtops (bench seat) and 21,431 with buckets (the seller doesn’t tell us, and the photographs are lacking in detail). The vehicle is numbers-matching, and the electrical system uses a generator, which was replaced in 1965 by an alternator. This includes the Cruise-O-Matic 3-speed automatic transmission which succeeded the 2-speed Ford-O-Matic.
The owner suggests that the 28,000 miles on the odometer are real, like so much of the rest of the car. Some changes/updates have been made by the seller during his ownership, such as installing a new interior and adding a Flowmaster dual exhaust system. The car came with factory A/C, for which the hardware is not currently installed. We’re told the automobile runs well and very little is needed to finish it off. And yet the seller relies on captive photos inside a garage that don’t do the car justice. If you’re into the patina look, that’s the direction the seller has gone. He/she had the body shop clear coat the sheet metal with a high-quality semi-gloss finish. The seller is willing to deliver the car personally as long as you’re within 100 miles of his location.
A 1964 Fairlane 500 was one of our family cars, four door 260 automatic, yellow with a white painted roof– an odd combination. It was a good car. This one is (I think) much cooler, unfortunately from the meager and poor quality pics we can’t really tell. One thing we can see: In my opinion the clear coated patina doesn’t fit the car and doesn’t do it justice.
Thanks Russ.
Patina just looks strange to me when it’s all shiny, but I suppose everyone has different tastes.
I think the price is a stretch maybe if it was a factory four-speed it might bring that. When I was 16 years-old, I owned an identical ’64 Fairlane with dual Thrush mufflers and it sounded awesome, way more powerful than it was.
Love the car,but hate that they clear coated the patina.
To me,it just doesn’t look right.
Just the hood and top of the front fenders? Just paint it, looks dumb at least as far as I am concerned. Photos don’t show a whole lot.
Good luck matching it so it doesn’t look “dumb” in a different way
They got computer color match, even Lowe’s has that. Come on paint it!
My dad bought a 289 4 door back in about 64 in Australia. He traded a 403 Peugeot for it and it was the first automatic car that he had driven. Towed a caravan across Australia back when most of the roads were just dirt.
I had a ’64 Fairlane 500 4-door for a short time, a mostly original car with 28,000 original documented miles. It was a very nice car and fairly peppy with a C-Code 289 V8 hooked to a 3-speed auto trans. Had to let it go when I lost storage for it. Probably should have tried to keep it as I really liked it but what’s done is done. I detest “patina” and this very nice Fairlane is a case in point to just suck it up and paint the car or at least the roof and hood. As is, the car looks awful, and I don’t think preserving rust or worn-out paint does any car justice. I know some guys like the patina look, and that’s OK by me. To each his own. I have to agree with Roughdiamond, the price is a little steep for a bench seat auto.
Why can’t people take pictures of a car showing the whole car and the engine???
I was shocked to see a padded dash? I had a black on red, loved the chrome, it was way cool and fun to drive.
I had a 62 260 2-door that ran like a train. I bought it in February, 1972, in Ontario, and when spring came, the passenger side front floor fell out. The seller had soaked sheets of cardboard and frozen them over the gaping hole. I had to give him credit for ingenuity.
My first car was a 65 Fairlane 500 2 door with a,289 and gulp the 2 speed automatic. Fun cool car. But the 64 is much better. Paint this one.
Who ever clear coated the faded paint did no favors for a future owner! Looks bad and a lot of work to remove. Great car!
Cannot emphasize enough, how spot on are Bill West’s comments.
For heavens sake, stop clear coating rust and faded paint. Clear coat will not stop the corrosion underneath and as mentioned removing sloppy, inexpensive spray can clear coats will be a daunting task for the new owner. If this person sprayed the cowl vents, too…forget it. Did he clean the surface with a de greaser first? Did he sand with the correct grit? Or did he just start spraying? Watch this start peeling.
Paints CAN be matched by a professional, if need be, but white is not a color that one has much to worry about. I’d take an off color match before this clear coat.
I would pass on any car goofed up like this as it’s not worth the added expense to try and undo such a mess, especially at almost $22,000.
When taking my rock solid CA born and bred 68 Cougar xr7 (which has several large suface rust spots on the top surfaces only, presumably during improper 20+ years in storage) to local shows, many offfered their opinions that I should just clear the “patina” spots, as “they are only original once”!
Patina! Yuk…. Cars didn’t come of the assembly line with a “patina”. Someone along the way liked that look and made a big deal of it.. If you want to patina your own car, by all means, do it.. But, IMHO, don’t make it such a big selling point so that buyers will think it’s a rarity and put a price on the car that is out of reality… Just sayin
Clearcoat over the original paint and primer makes the car look like a Chinese knock off. Will someone please tell these idiots the paint has made it 50+ years, it will make plenty more. Just keep the car out of the weather when you’re not driving it, it’s just that simple…….