Ford joined the mid-size muscle car craze in 1966 when it added the Fairlane GT/GTA to the mix (GT = 4-speed, GTA = automatic). With an all-new body featuring stacked headlights that resembled the senior Fords, the GT/GTA wasn’t a big seller compared to the Pontiac GTO or Chevelle SS. So that means there should be fewer of them left today, like this ’67 GTA that’s original in a lot of respects. Located in Willison, North Dakota, this Ford has a lot of potential with mostly body work needed. It’s available here on eBay where the bidding holds at $10,600 with an unmet reserve.
The Fairlane series had become an intermediate-sized car in 1962, filling a gap between the full-size Galaxie and the new compact Falcon. It led others to create similar offerings, like the Chevy Chevelle in 1964. The 390 cubic inch V8 was now the largest engine available to the Fairlane in 1966-67, although we understood a few 427s snuck out the door. This powerplant was standard in the new GT/GTA, so Ford meant serious business. The cars were little changed in 1967 and the GT/GTA sold half as many units as the year before (18,670), so perhaps the boxy look of the cars didn’t appeal to performance-minded buyers while the competition was having record years in this sector.
Other than an engine overhaul about 15 years ago, this ’67 GTA is mostly original. The red paint is as from the factory and looks great from 20 feet. But when you look closer, you’ll find some rust in the lower extremities and we’re told it goes a little deeper, but not by much. When you open the doors, you’ll find an original bucket seat interior that presents almost as nicely as it did in 1967, yet the car is said to have 75,000 miles.
The seller provides a solid report on this automobile’s apparent condition. The 390 V8 should produce 335 hp in top shape and comes with a fair amount of bling to make it nice and shiny. The car starts, drives, and stops as it should although both the transmission and power steering slave cylinder have leaks that should be addressed. The battery is new along with the cables and tray it resides in. The carburetor has been swapped but the original goes with the sale.
This car comes complete with documentation, such as a Marti Report which drills down to exactly how many of these GTAs left the factory with the same artillery. In a sea of GTOs and Road Runners, with some TLC this GTA could be a nice standout from an era that harks to our (wayward?) youth.
Nice, nice , NICE!! Too bad it’s a rust bucket. Normally, I don’t get that excited about many Fords, more of a Pontiac thing, but this was my all time favorite Ford. The stacked headlights never did anything for me, but the rest of the car more than makes up for it. Right size, BIG V8 power, a 390 was just fine, fact is, these days, a 6 popper would suit me , and nice styling, Ford knocked it out of the park with this one, I feel.
This car? Sigh, not cashed, but a lot more than meets the eye here. I suppose as a “50 footer”, it’s okay, but you know the people today, it has to be better than new, and almost embarrassing to show up with anything but.
Also, never heard of a P/S slave cylinder, probably meaning the steering box or pump leaks. This one will cost ya’ plenty to restore.
I believe this has the assist cylinder on the steering center link. Ford hung onto these for too long, thought they were gone by then but thinking back were used a couple more years. It’s got some rust but nothing too serious, although I don’t know the availability of the parts. Mustang wouldn’t be a problem, which these cars share a lot of parts. Typical rear spring sag. Always thought these were great cars, not as fast as most of the muscle cars of the era in stock form. But surely looks count for something.
Thanks, I see that now. Never knew about that before.
The C2 Corvettes had a similar steering setup.
Maverick and Granada hung on to the assist cylinder into the mid ‘70s. Rack and pinion was what finally got rid of it.
Interesting take – rust bucket. I equate that to a car that is a few clicks above a basket case. You know – a cat could get into the closed truck via quarter panel. Not quite a Flintstone-mobile, and definitely not as bad as the ‘Cola VW’.
Nonetheless, this is a teriffic driver. Maintain the body as is, or fix as you go, one panel at a time.
I spy another Fairlane in the driveway. Picture #19 may be of that car, with bronze interior and a console, aftermarket wrap on the steering wheel.
After all, two Fairlanes are better than one…
The biggest concern here is that it’s a unibody, and restorations can get quite involved. These motors had incredible torque and I’d check it over real close.
Yea Howard I’m sure there’s more rot in the usual places, especially in the trunk area. As you mentioned, as nice as this one presents itself, looking at the rust repair, plus a tranny and that hokey @$$ power steering “Assist” is trouble. Bought one of these in a junkyard in the 70’s for $20, and yep it was a 4 speed, stripped and junked the rest. Who Knew, man was this one rotten!
will be interesting to see what the reserve is. Good luck and happy motoring!
Cheers
GPC
Ford did indeed put 427’s in these Fairlanes. The neighbor down the street has one. Awesome car, and it wakes us up when he fires it up.
Outside of the wheels it looks just like the one I drove for all of ten minutes back in 1984, although that one had a transplanted high performance 428, had 427 emblems on the fenders, and no powersteering or brakes. At seventeen years old the 2300 dollar asking price would have drained me! The whole experience convinced me that yes….there was no replacement for displacement! Scary harsh acceleration under full throttle and that bang screech shift into second gear with the rear end jutting out to the left, well….probably a good thing I didnt buy it. Thanks for the memories!!
Had a shot at a blue one with the 390 many years ago was all factory gta had a purist argue with me comparison wise stating pontiac should never had built a GTA in the eighties ninetys well that was then this is now well wonder if the old gta could keep pace with a Lamborghini like the gto versus firarii of old mine did 87 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am GTA was clocked at 166 mph
Ford made 230 1967 Fairlanes with the 427 engine. Most were for racing but some found their way to dealership showrooms.
The interior looks great. $13,100 now and the reserve is still not met.
Understanding was a purist talking then to now then was 22 yrs different how many are left in both the ford gta compared to the Pontiac GTA now unmolested stock both have provenance
I had a 66 GT back in the early 70’s with close to 100k on it
I bought it for $400 from the original owner, with a ton of paperwork on maintainence. Same rot in the lower quarter back then. What impressed me was the quality of the car, even with the mileage, interior was fine, everything still worked, and I used it everyday back and forth to work 30 miles round-trip with no issues for a year. The 4 speed was fun, had a nice rumble to the exhaust, but as someone said not supercar material, just a nice car.
Someone offered me $600, so down the road it went. On to the next cool car
I bought a ’66 GTA new – great car! The GTA was a top-of-the market Fairlane with all the interior bells ‘n whistles, and I’m missing the full center console with the floor-level gear shift and the special GT/GTA emblems – this one shows a column shift arrangement… I don’t recall that change-up.