In the late 1950s, the Fairlane was Ford’s leading model. But it was soon upstaged by the Galaxie and later transformed into an intermediate for most of the 1960s. If you were looking for both style and performance in 1966, you might have opted for a Fairlane 500/XL GT like the seller’s car, which came with a 390 cubic inch V8 as standard equipment. The seller was working on this Ford until about a year ago and the motor still fires up and sounds great. But more effort and dollars are needed, so this project is for sale here on eBay where the no reserve auction has reached $13,985. For the time being, the car calls Mission, Kansas home.
The fifth generation of the Fairlane got a redesign in 1966 and went the same direction as the big Fords did in terms of styling. The headlights would be vertically stacked, just like the senior models. New for 1966 were the XL, GT, and GTA models, which were geared towards more amenities and – in most cases – an emphasis on performance (like Chevy did with the Chevelle Super Sport). Nearly 24,000 XLs were built that year as fastback coupes plus another 33,000 in GT/GTA form.
As a GT, this Fairlane would have been built with the 335-hp “Thunderbird Special” 390 V8. But that motor is gone, and the seller thinks a FE big-block has taken its place from a 1968 Ford product. The auto is equipped with a 4-speed manual that the seller says is original, but it’s going to need a clutch for mobility. When the seller acquired it a few years back, he had to install a new starter and battery and was able to get the dormant engine to come to life. It will still need a new exhaust system and a leak around the headers repaired. Also, there is an oil leak in the rear main seal.
Though finished now in black paint that has outlived its usefulness, the original color of the Fairlane was Silver Blue. There are a few small rust spots, but as the seller says, “nothing scary.” The black bucket seat interior is original and needs some TLC here and there. You may not have to spend a lot of time making the Ford roadworthy again, after which you could work on its appearance while still using it.
Love this model but T handle shifter has to go.
Really? Wow that’s a big deal breaker
My favorite and a stick to boot!!.
Well my wife would hit me with a frying pan just for the thought. lol
Hot-Diggity Damn!
Plenty to do but it seems to be a solid car. It may be a little top heavy but straight line burn the hides. Good luck and happy motoring!
Cheers
GPC
Looks like may have aluminum heads on there, as well as intake. Probably has a few other goodies if they went that far. Always liked these and the Comet as well. 390 was a ho hum engine, didn’t breathe particularly well, but heads would sure help. These were tight under the hood just like the Mustang as they shared a lot of parts. A lot of GTA’S not as many 4 speeds. Seems like a buy at least right now.
The seller states that the heads are not aluminum, they are just painted silver.
I’m probably in the minority here,but I don’t get the
“flooring it,in every gear,all the time” mentality.
It might be fun, once-in-a while,but I could never see
needlessly wasting all that gas (& tires).Seems like a huge
waste of money to me.
And you’re also spending a ton of money (in my opinion) on most of them to do that with.
That said I really like this car.
To do it right, you have to keep it floored during shifts as well, not just while you’re in each gear.
We used to call that “Power Shifts”. My neighbor had a 1968 AMX 390 4 speed. I can’t tell you how many motors he blew up in that car doing that. He must have had a friend at the AMC dealership, because every time he blew up the motor he got a new motor under warranty. First time I ever went (an indicated) 140 mph in a car. And I was 14 at the time
Yes Sir, I agree 100%. I have a red ’68 Fairlane 500 Convertible. Also, a black ’79 Ranchero Gt Brougham. I cringe every time I see. Someone power braking and smoking the tires. To me it’s abusing your vehicle. I enjoy flooring occasionally, and going through the gears. (Automatic trans) I have had my Fairlane since Feb. 1984. (2nd owner) There’s an old saying. If you love something, never destroy it. My old cars, are my Babies. I love them, and would never willingly abuse them. Gary in Virginia
Great looking in black, just like the Nomad above.
I think it could be a very cool car. The cosmetics could be a challenge and run the bill up. The concern is the 390, I have this exact engine in a 53 F-100, C-6 and 9 inch rear end. I love it and, it loves gas stations. With gas prices it is becoming an issue, if I love it as much as it loves gas.
Learned how to drive stick when I was 15 in one of these. Massive torque made driving it so easy…
Looks great, no reserve.
Love It! My daily driver is a 500XL hardtop, 289/C4. My summer fun car is a 500XL ragtop, 289/C4. Having owned nearly two dozen of these, one thing to watch for, since it’s a unibody car, they develop a crack in the body at the back of the rear side windows, which extends toward the front. ~Time to get the ragtop ready to play this summer.
I have a red ’66 XL auto black interior w/buckets and console. Engine swap before I got it to a 351 Windsor from a 289. Fantastic car and I love it but I wish it had A/C here in NC. It needed nothing when I bought it for 10K.
very nice! (for what I call a “big car”). As above I like the falcon/comet too (w/stacked hdlghts). Silver, white, (this black is so hot’n hard to ‘keep clean’) inside many choices. Wrked on so many trucks the 390/c6 seems “truckie”.
EDIT:
oh, wait- it seems to have the top loader, good (but still truck like). An AOD as NA or the 4r70w w/a spfi/small block