Beginning in 1962, the Fairlane series of Ford automobiles would be downsized to fill a new niche, the intermediate, sandwiched between the full-size and compact product offerings. The Fairlane would get reskinned in 1966, gaining stacked headlights like the larger Galaxie models. Located in Winlock, Washington, the seller has a Plain Jane Fairlane 500 4-door sedan that wears 56 years of patina development on the original paint. With a 289 V8, the car is available here on craigslist for $8,500. A nod goes to Eric B for this FOMOCO tip!
The 500 was the uptown edition of the Fairlane, with some additional goodies in the trim department. Yet this one was ordered new with practically no accessories. Manual steering, manual brakes, no radio, no clock, 3-on-the-tree manual transmission – but with a 289 cubic inch V8. So, it must have made for an interesting grocery getter. More than 68,000 copies of the V8 4-door Fairlane 500 sedans were built in 1966.
We’re told this Fairlane is like a “4-door Mustang”, probably because it has some zip and can burn some rubber off the rear tires. But these were bigger, less nimble cars, even basic models like this one that weren’t weighted down by A/C compressors and the like. The Ford has seen 96,000 miles (at least) over its lifetime and is said to run better than its looks (do we see tire smoke or engine smoke?).
There is no rust to speak of on this Fairlane unless you consider patina to be rust. There is a photo provided that looks like a hole somewhere in the body, but we can’t tell what or where that is. There is also a small crunch in the right front fender at the bumper. While it runs well, the auto is going to need new tires and brakes, so this is not a drive-it-home purchase. Adding to the seller’s Mustang reference is that the 500 wears dual exhaust and rear shocks. Some new upholstery will be needed and the headliner looks okay, but we don’t know about the carpeting.
If you were to get hold of this old Fairlane, what would you do with it? Drive it as-is (with needed repairs done) or give it a restoration? The seller offers a video to help you make the call.
Shout out to Bill Gannon.
My exact thoughts Rex. I can see Bill driving and Joe working the radio. I wonder if anyone has done a Dragnet tribute car, I think that would be cool, and this Fairlane would be a great starting point. Something about the three on the tree makes this one especially cool.
Wow, if it was a station wagon it would be identical to the Fairlane I had in college, down to the interior color. The only difference in equipment is my old wagon had a factory AM radio but it had the 289 V8 with three-on-the-tree, manual steering, manual drum brakes. Good times!
Sorry to burst bubbles but Dragnet Fairlane was 67.
I read that Jack Webb was a stickler for authenticity , so that little green Fairlane sedan had a 390 in it , as an undercover police car would. The police cars in Webb’s show Adam 12 were actually ordered with police packages , not base cars repainted black and white to look like , so those “401” badges on the Matadors weren’t lying as to what was under the hood !
Just the facts mam.
For the record, Sgt. Friday( Jack Webb) never said “just rhe facts, ma’am”. He said, “all we want are the facts, ma’am”, or “all we know are the facts, ma’am”, but never, “just the facts, ma’am”,
Youtube vid of this exact car -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd7MtWyCt4s
love the stacked hdlghts, grill, bench, and straight lines. The wildcat has some of that (too busy on the frnt end/grill tho – the “V” shape’s out 4 me). Here is another of the kinda ‘pre-muscle’ (’63 Thunderbolt) between the bulge-mobiles of the ’50s and late 60s ‘muscle’. ‘My Brand’ to so kinda prejudice. Like the down sized more (see caliente – same car in 1/2 – 3/4 size) but still w/the style & drivetrain. Always get that SCCA livery urge, esp if the ’60/3 chero version…
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Yeah, Bone, we know….
Build the motor to a Shelby like 270 or so horsepower and put a four speed in it, good brakes and it’s the perfect sleeper. A buddy of mine had a 64 Valiant four door with a 340 four speed, that thing was a terror as was a girls rear wheel drive Corolla with a 350 four speed four door.
I’m always surprised about these old cars that didn’t have a radio in them , especially by the 1960s. Not that they were sold that way, but in all the years the car has been around and nobody ever thought about installing one ? When I was a teen, I bought a tired 68 Belvedere (for $5 ) in 1981 , which up to that point had no radio. First thing I did was head to the junkyard, bought a factory radio , bezel and antenna for it .
I see a lot of that Washington State NW air running across every surface of this car. You can tell by the amount of surface rust not along horizontal areas of the fenders and inside the engine bay. This is top money for a car like this, but nice to have a tidy little 289 and three forward gears to grind through when you’re headed to Cars & Coffee.
Full synchro tranny, no grinding, lol. Much appreciate your positive comments.
I’ve built quite a few 66 Fairlanes since receiving my first from my pastor when I was in high school. With a 200hp c-code 289, and 2.70 rear gears, there was no tire-burning goin on. Not a Cobra, but my next fav.
Just freshen up the mechanicals and keep driving it!
The Dragnet made for TV pilot had a 1966 Fairlane. The series Dragnet 1967-1970 used the 67 Fairlane
Russ Dixon, thank you for another good write-up.