In keeping with the long-standing craigslist tradition of not having the best photos, this 1979 Ford Fairmont Futura is sorely lacking in a photo of the entire car. I’m not sure how a car gets cut off so often in these listings but we’ve come to expect it. Nonetheless, what photos are shown of this example, it looks like a gem. They have it listed here on craigslist in Fontana, California and they’re asking $8,000. Thanks to Pat L. for sending in this tip!
This photo of the grille is the only exterior photo out of the three that are provided (I know, I know…) that isn’t cut off and that’s always unfortunate. The two-door coupe Futura model is so unique that it really deserves better photos. Most of us know that the Fairmont was based on Ford’s Fox platform which was used for several cars including the Mustang.
The Fairmont was produced from late-1977 for the 1978 model year until the 1983 model year and the Futura is unquestionable the most stylish of the body styles, which also included a two-door sedan, a four-door sedan, and a four-door wagon. One car that had a very limited production was a joint venture between Ford and National Coach Corp. in 1981: the Durango. We’ve seen a few examples here on Barn Finds. Of course, those of us who love unusual vehicles are interested in Fairmont EV conversions both four-door sedan and wagon versions, again, seen here on Barn Finds.
As if this car didn’t look nice enough from what limited exterior photos that we have available, the interior looks just as nice if not nicer. And, this car has a factory 4-speed manual transmission! It’s not exactly a highly-designed manual shifter, looking like it came out of a JC Whitney catalog, but hey, a manual is a manual and I think it’s great and very unusual.
As expected, there are no engine photos but the seller tells us that it’s a 302 cubic-inch V8, an even nicer surprise! This one would have had only 140 horsepower, but it’s relatively easy to upgrade the power without messing with the librarian-like exterior. A perfect-looking Ford Fairmont Futura with plaid seats, a 302 V8, and a factory 4-speed? Yes, please! I’d leave the exterior exactly as it is with the tiny, skinny whitewall tires and wire wheel covers – no mags for me, this is a sleeper just the way it is. I can see where the seller is coming from with the $8k asking price, anything less and this one would be long gone. Any thoughts on this Futura? Good buy or good-bye?
Scotty, I’m right with you on this one. Stylish for its day, period-correct colors, period-correct upholstery, well-equipped (a/c, full instrumentation, 8-track), preferred drivetrain. I even like the fake wire wheel covers. Whoever spec’d this car back in the day knew exactly what they had in mind. This is a now-rarely-seen Fox Body of a different flavor, and assuming the mechanicals are solid, would make for a fun and low-stress cruiser for not much money.
Let’s go half-and-half on it, Bob! I’ll take it from May through October and you can have it from November through April since you have a much nicer climate in TN than we do in MN.
Ha! Collector Car Time Share, a business venture hiding somewhere therein I guess.
Yup, fully spec’d for its day. Nice FWIW. You’d never imagine a full 140 HP from a strangled V8… NTL, here it is, having avoiding the crusher. Oh, wake up Beel! You hated them damned Squaremonts. FF multiple decades: my wife and I bought our beloved (and also fully loaded) 2004 Mustang GT on that same awful Fox chassis. It lived as a cream puff, never seeing rain: a fair weather fun car. As Mom said to me after riding in the Mustang, “everyone should have a convertible once in their life.”
I should add that was the last year for that chassis on the Mustang. My reasoning was that they had applied all the fixes and refinements, so it was probably pretty good at that point. We actually got a good price, the car had 13 miles when we bought it and all the little factory stick-ums still on it. We sold it to a dear friend who (still) loves it as his child. (Selling a car to a friend is against policy, as you all would agree.)
Bought the station wagon version new in 1979 for $6800. Had it for 8 years and 130k miles. Never had a problem with it. It was our first new car.
A buddy of mine had a yellow 1980 wagon he bought for 50 bucks and drove it about 3 years. It finally croaked with about 180,000 on the clock. He certainly got his money’s worth.
I don’t think that you could get a V8 with a manual transmission
from the factory.
These were actually decent driving cars built on the same platform
as the Mustang,so you can get parts to modify it fairly easily.
The makings of a perfect sleeper.
Actually you could, but only in 1978-79.
Actually you could and it was the standard transmission with the 302…check out this link to the brochure…http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Ford/1979_Ford/1979%20Ford%20Futura%20Brochure/b_1979%20Ford%20Futura-07.jpg
Impressive instrumentation. Better looking than the 1980 t-bird.
Too bad the roof wasn’t lower – same with the stang.
15″ wheels would look better.
Don’t know of an available manual with the 5.0. In 1980 they made a turbo 4 cylinder version of this too, but even that car was automatic only.
According to the ’79 brochure, the four speed was standard with both the four and eight cylinder.
But not the 6?
The 6 was a 3-speed.
4 gears, but its really a three speed with overdrive being 4th.
Takes me back to Drivers Training, remember that in high school?.. We had Fairmounts, the one we all scared each other driving in my group was a brown one with orange stripes. Looked nice but this one had a six in it, talk about a dog with fleas. With traffic barrelling down on me as I tried to go up the on ramp even the instructer lady got scared…
“Come on, step on it!” In a shaky voice,
“Step on it???…I Am on it!,”
Sounded like the kids screaming at Six Flags. Fun memories for sure.
Nothing like the slug of a car I had for driver training back in ’77 a puke green Datsun B210. Awful does not begin to describe it.
Fairmonts (and Zephyrs) were available with 302 V8s only in 1978 and 79. 78 was automatic only, but the 4 speed was an option with the 302 in 1979. For 80 & 81, the only V8 was the 255, and only with automatic. 82 & 83, no V8s, just the 2.3L 4 cylinder and 3.3L inline 6 cylinder. By far the most common powertrain was the 6 cylinder with automatic.
Can’t believe no one has posted this:
https://youtu.be/EF8GhC-T_Mo
You can make a Bob Glidden Pro Stock replica!
My college girlfriend had a 78 Futura, red with white vinyl top and interior. Straight 6 with automatic console. Very nice looking car.
If the passenger side windows were factory deleted you would have a mini Ranchero!
Nice looking car. Hated the seats that sat so low you felt like you were in a go cart and dragging your backside on the pavement. Especially hated the horn button …you had to push the turn signal stalk in towards the steering column to use it….not one of Fords better ideas
Hard to believe you would sit as low as in a 1st gen camaro. Ever sat in 1 of those? I seen 1 with block spacers between the bucket seat frames & floor to raise the seat up.
You could always pull the factory wire from the horn & use another wire to wire in a big forward pointing aftermarket horn button.
This was actually a feature in several cars in Europe in the 70s. I rented a Fiat 127 in 1973 in Sicily that had this feature. It made flashing your headlights and sounding your horn at blind intersections in Italian cities much easier.
I had one back in 1979. Four-speed, 2.3 four. Fourth gear was an overdrive. A dog in town but a great highway cruiser. It had the optional “handling suspension” which made a WORLD of difference. Was Chloraseptic green over white vinyl with buckets.
Long about 1987 I planned to buy one of these to put the 429 I had under the hood. But the life happened and everything went sour for the next few years.
God bless America
Dump the 4 speed and swap in a newer 5 speed manual, make engine and suspension upgrades, and you are good to go.
Very professional detailing. Car is complete and an every day driver for a close to reasonable price. Shipping costs need to be factored into art of the sale. Great graduation gift for grandson or grand daughter! Then again, I had myself in mind.
A great sleeper for sure. But these were not the most attractive cars.
A fine Ford Fairmont Future from Fontana…..LOL
I always think it’s cool how every so often a car company builds a car with cast-iron survivability. I bet right now there are at least half a dozen survivor Fairmonts in the city where I live, still putting around like they were brand new.
I haven’t seen one here on the East coast in years. The last one around was about 10 years ago. It was a baby blue wagon , and I always assumed some kid inherited it because it was near mint and there were no other Fairmonts or their 80s sisters , but as the months went by it looked worse everytime I saw it. The last time the whole front end was bashed in but still driving. It was likely junked soon after.
Should be more of these & regular fairmonts around today – at least as many as fox mustangs. I wonder why there aren’t.
I would think a brand new model late 70’s car would rust less than earlier cars.
No “FUTURA” nameplate on the LF fender, which usually indicates paint work of some type at a minimum. That said, looks nice and an interesting car for sure. I’ll say that steering wheel is as bland as I’ve ever seen one.