Looks can be deceiving, this rather normal-looking Fairlane is in fact an extremely rare factory-built race car. The Ford Fairlane 500XL 427 is an important piece of automotive history. Power comes from the legendary 427 side oiler with dual quad carburetors connected to a stout 4 speed top loader transmission. This makes it easy to realize the importance of the car and the effect it had on drag racing in the sixties. Check it out here on eBay in Granite Falls, WA with bidding up to $45,000 at the time of writing.
How cool it must have been to purchase this new, drive it to the track and run 13 second plus/minus quarter-mile times than drive it home. I can picture two scenarios of when these cars were new. The first being the buyer that ordered the car special with the sole intention of going racing, the second is a Mustang buyer being steered toward this Hot Rod Fairlane that’s been sitting on the lot. This car has its share of pros and cons, it’s largely original but the drain train is removed and the engine is a non-matching number 427 service block that is completely disassembled.
This 427 has a sad story to tell. The Engine apparently was modified and built as a stroker using a 428 crank and complete when the seller got the car. However, it sounds as if the engine was never running or installed in the car and left outside under a tarp. What’s the logic in that? The engine has been disassembled and the cylinders were found to have rust pitting. Most of the engine parts are there including the medium-rise heads and dual quad intake. The block is also a service block that is not numbers matching to the car. A block this valuable is worthy of repair but there is a lot of information around about questionable quality with some of these service blocks. Consulting an FE engine expert would be smart. The seller suggests finding a correct date coded block, which would be good practice given the value of the car.
The interior looks appropriate and matches the exterior in terms of originality. The door panels are new reproductions, the seats and carpet are original but new materials are included. It appears this car has been given a light refreshing after being in long term storage. The interior has been cleaned and repaired and the original paint has been polished, or so it appears. The hood is the only sheet metal not original, however, the hood bracing that is unique to the factory hood is included making it possible to recreate the factory hood. The transmission is not original either but appears to be the correct top-loader type and the center section is missing from the rear axle as well. This car has a lot of cons with the non-matching drivetrain, but it is a relatively complete Fairlane 500XL R Code so the value is there. If the included 1981 Washington license plate is any indication of when the car was last on the road, this car has been out of the public eye for a long time. Hopefully, this one gets restored to its former glory.
Considering what has been done to the engine, and that a proper 427 may need to be sourced, this is a $20,000 car…
$15 K for a rebuilt motor
I can shed light on the history of this Fairlane. I built the motor with my auto shop teacher way back in high school. My teachers brother was going through a divorce and I bought the car. We put on a trailer and took it to my teachers home and worked on the motor. It had a bad head gasket. So why not do some upgrades 13: 1 pistons change the crank put an offset key in the crank timing gear bigger heads. Just to list a few. I drove the car and sold it to a buddy of mine and he was in the Army and life moved on. Would love to hear from the new owner. I really need to reach out to the DMV.and get the Vin number to see if it’s a match. Be awesome if it is.
More fearsome Fords! I I’m in awe of this missile, not really a GTO or SS396 competitor but a real race car with license plates. The stance it has now will be what it looks like coming off the line and pulling hard right to the end. Great ride.
Why not 100k and a nice baggie of prescription stuff for the pipe dream of what used to be a rare car.
I don’t understand the want to buy a gutted matching numbers vehicle. Does one buy it and tell everyone its a rare original matching car?
I mean i guess one can say a numbers matched car while looking at the front and back license plates.
Would this be the same as going to ones 30 year High School prom and picking up the past once young Prom elected queen 👸 that gained 350 pounds and saying yep all original same as the senior year pretending nothings changed? This Ford has left prom and hit rock bottom never to wear that size 6 prom dress ever again. 👀😂
The 427 Fairlanes are so rare there is no way someone could successfully pass it off as matching numbers in the future. This car, if it wasn’t already, will now be in the radar if every serious collector of high performance Fords.
Steve R
The write up clearly says this is NOT a numbers matching car, so what exactly is your rant about, fat prom queens, that probably belongs on another website.
Well, he probably meant “reunion” since they don’t have 30 year proms. Time and the relentless march of technology has changed how you’d look at this car today versus 36 years ago.
Next to a 427 Galaxie, this is my buy if I win the lottery! $60K and still needs a full resto? Good luck trying to get that money. Take the $45K and run with it!
Agree with Classic Steel about this car being a waste of money. With the reserve not met at $45k, the original drivetrain long gone and a disassembled engine of questionable value left, what we have here is a greedy dealer and a bunch of idiot bidders. You could build a better clone for much less.
I’d have to challenge that assertion. Parts are the scarcest on the planet
Again, and I’m the worst offender of this, we focus too much on their bloated prices, and not so much on the car. None of us are going to buy it anyway. As mentioned, this was nothing more than a drag racer in civilian clothes. I believe they were all 4 speeds, because the automatic wasn’t tough enough. As discussed on the other Fairlane stock car tribute, I think the R code motor was outlawed by NASCAR, put in the same category as the 427 Cammer, but for drag racing, there wasn’t much that could beat this car. While “rated” at 425 hp, in reality, it was pushing over 500. Without some traction mods, this car will be like driving on ice, and a ton of weight up front provides iffy handling, but in a straight line for, oh, say, 1/4 mile or so, for 1967 this was the hottest stick you could buy and the seller knows it. Still, a fantastic find.
You maybe thinking of the dual quad set up which would not be allowed in NASCAR, but the single 4 pot 427 was used, don’t know the year but a race only “tunnel port”427 was also used to close the gap on the 426 Hemi Dodge/Plymouths. Weight or wheelbase, I used to know, also determined cubic inches,, the rules changed each year. That applies to all brands not just Ford, who found themselves up against the ropes competing with the horse powerful Hemi top end screamer. Destroked full bore engines, even the Smokes’ mystery Chevelle used a destroked 427.
Rules, rules, and more rules. Correct me if I’m wrong.
Thank you Howard. By definition a barn find is a some sort of vehicle that needs work, allotta work in most cases. The clincher is how many are left and overall condition, then desirability. The money is part of the deal. How many have you seen…availability, at the cost. If there are 50,000 for sale scrutiny can be applied but if all you’ve ever seen is the type model series in a magazine then what is in front of you is it. Then it becomes a matter of how thick your wallet is and your want but ya cant put it down because the guy wants a seemingly outrageous price tag.
My friend Doug stated to me ” he could find one of those anywhere” a Falcon sedan delivery any year, the Falcon sedan delivery he showed me was a 4 door sedan.
Humm, I guess, it could be, would be, might be, NOPE that aint it.
Ima almost thinkin that many of these commenters might not be the wrench turner that they think they are.
I rather have something that requires work a driver, then something that someone says, its been rebuilt, no rust, or needs just alittle work.
Call em like ya see em Howard.
Mike
When Chrysler released the Elephant for civilian duty it caught the others flatfooted! They had to have SOMETHING to sell, so Ford created the dual quad 427. GM had a corporate ban on racing but that didn’t prevent Chevy from selling the 427/435 in the Corvette. But in the intermediate arena, in 1967, Chevy had the 396, the B-O-P dealers sold 400s. No match for Hemis. While Hemis often blew up, they were covered by a 5 year/50K mile warranty. Ford wouldn’t match it and the 427 4×2 wasn’t offered for very long.
Chrysler sold a hundred Hemis for every one of these Ford sold.
But back in the day, these were screamers. It may never be numbers matching but it should be restored regardless, with a crate motor if necessary.
The cammer was not allowed into NASCAR, However the engine was modified with the tunnel port heads and manifold lent from the research on the cammer engine. They ran very well and ousted the rein of the 426 hemis on the NASCAR long tracks. I have one sleeping in my garage with a NASCAR engine thats outright scary to drive but it handles very well but lowered closer to the ground.
Howard. Ford was threatening to do the chevy and drop out of NASCAR and let the show be Chrysler competing against themselves over the disqualification of the Cammer motor. However a compromise was reached and Ford was allowed to use some of the tech learned on the cammer which was the Tunnel Port heads and dual quad carbs to give them a fairer competition against the 426 hemis.
Ha. One or our neighbor’s (next farm/ranch over) kids (close to my age) had one of these when we were growing up. Everyone in the county was driving around at least 383 cubic inches. My wheels at the time was a 55 Chevy that my dad helped me swap in a built 396.
The neighbors were only rancher I ever knew that had a 300 gallon tank of road tax free premium “farm gas”. I could never convince my dad that we should do the same. His answer? “If you want to drive a drag car, you can pay full freight.” ;-) Of course, this was in the late 60’s, but 15 cents a gallon premium. Those were the days.
Right. For that kind of money might as well build your own.
Always dreamed of a 427/4spd for my 66 500 hardtop.
The 70 351w I found running for $100 slipped right in to take over for a knocking 302 that 66 came with. And worked well enough for my pockets.
Ahhh …
The 1966 Fords used the 289 engine. The 302 was not installed untill mid year 1968.
Didn’t say the 302 was the original motor. Just that it’s what was in the car when I got it in the mid 80’s.
What a bunch of whiners. Is this car expensive, NO. So it has a service block, big deal. The only reason you guys a gripping is that you will never have a car like this. I have a 65 2 door post, 427 , dual quad 4 speed and it is a clone. Even has the one year only , on 427 cars only Pyrex head light covers. Is it streetable, of course. Is it expense ,you bet. It does everything it is suppose to do. and does it very well. Look at the garage where the Fairlane is sitting. This guy knows what he has and he will get what he wants.
Nice car.
You are right about this Fairlane and the seller. He might not get what he wants from this auction, but it’s just a matter of time until he does.
Steve R
Yes. Nice car. Lots of room under the hood for the 427 in that body.
Not really, I’ve seen one
at a show. The 427
exhaust manifolds are
jammed-up tight on the
shock-towers and
steering column.
Most resto-mod guys
are using a newfangled
suspension that sits
lower. More room.
Very Nice, Tough looking Car. I had a light blue 65 390, 66 390, and a 67 352. Those 3 cars back in the 70’s were hated for the thirsty FE Blocks. I bought them for myself until I seen how guys liked the full body, big engines, and BIG back seat.
Around here they were drive in cars. Kool but Classy enough for your date. Most of these cars were swapped 3 and 4 gear manuals as the parts could be had for cheap. The were more 3 gear as the tranies were 100 bucks and the 4 speeds 500. I still have two or three around here.
Anyway Morley I would pull up to you, look at the Badge, listen for the loose engine, clutch, then decide if it was time.
Now that friends is how you polish a turd!
Another thing about 427 Fords. They are the Holy Grail and who knows why. GM put out so many 396 and 427 engines. Chrysler put out a lot of Hemis and 440s , they where everywhere. I know I was driving then, but to see a real 427 Ford. Well Ford was scarce even then. I have tried to own one since then. It took years to find my 65. It is just what I want.
Let’s hear it for the 427 Ford. Yes.
They had 427 side bolt Fords motors going back to 1963 – not sure why there are not more around or why they are considered rare.
They were same as Ferrari, In fact they may have learned the trick by Ferrari. All early 427s were hand built blocks and quite expensive to build. They were predominantly intended for racing ala Thundebolts, Cobras and GTs. Later after winning Lemans the demand by Ford for hand built blocks diminished and in 1968 they terminated the hand built line hence many of the 68 cars had the more profitable 428s including cobras. Then the evolution of the 385 engine series 429. The 427 was a big bore high nickel steel but light weight power house. But to offset the performance of the side oiler more beef (steel) was added to the 428/ 429s which made them heavier. And the added weight probably cost Ford many races as the trophies were not as many as with the 427s
Side Oilers were race intended. I think 57 built in 66 and 230 in 67 to meet NASCAR eligibility rules. Do the math maybe 300 motors for all the racing in 65,66 and 67 and 57 years later. Might be a little rare to find one.
If it was a real 427 or not, if it were a coyote with a 6 speed!! I really never gave two poops about matching numbers!! I’m not some rich collector buying cars for an investment!! I just want to get in a car like this and push the pedal to the floor and scream like a mad man as it leaves a trail of smoke behind me!!! It’s all about the drive!!!
Sure this once “was” an incredibly cool and rare car. Now like that 1968 hemiless hemi Charger with NO ENGINE, this Galaxy is just another example of what once was but never will be again.
Would i take it and slop in some motor and zip it up and down the byways, sure but, not unlike those owned by famous folks and or was in a movie cars, this Galaxy just has a cute story with nothing left to offer when speaking to rarity and ultimately value.
Kool Ride, the parts are out there. 25 miles from me the engine sits ready for a chassis to match up. The complete engine will hit you harder than the car.
25K is what the car is worth without the value adders. The 500XL 427 is like grabbing a live wire with the 4 gear. The core parts were scavenged by a racer that had a chassis needing to be finished or more likely the car was stolen for the parts.
I would also say that if someone were to hunt down the original pieces you could marry the car back together. The pieces are out there. Start with the origin of ownership.
The 500XL restored original with the best finish by an artist of Ford History could see a very good return on investment.Perhaps 4 or 5 to 1.
Someone knows where the parts are and will have to pay for them, perhaps buying the “other car”.