This 1966 Ford Fairlane GT left the factory with the S code 390, the smallest motor available in a Fairlane GT in ’66. Sometime later it acquired its current motor, a 427 cubic inch mill. More on that later. Though currently located in Andover, Minnesota, this car is said to have spent most of its life in Texas. You can see more pictures and throw in a bid here on eBay. Currently wearing red primer it is said to have been “originally candy apple red,” a point which the late Joe Bailon, the inventor of Candy Apple Red who died this week, might dispute.
The seller calls this a “1966 center oiler,” i.e. oil galleries down the center of the block. Most experts refer to this as a “Top Oiler,” and consider it less desirable than the later “Side Oiler” block that featured a stronger design and oil galleries on the side to improve high-RPM oiling. To learn more about these FE blocks check out this article on MustangAndFords.com and this oiling diagram on Wikipedia. These pages indicate that Ford phased in the “Side Oiler” during 1965, but I will leave it to our Ford experts to comment on the description of a “66 center oiler.” No matter what you call it, this motor powered Ford’s NASCAR effort and other racing endeavors. In fact Mario Andretti won the 1967 Daytona 500 driving a 1967 Fairlane two-door sedan, the only other year of this body style.
The interior and other parts are stated as “new” and look sharp, though I’m not a fan of the white kick-panels and the carpet looks rumpled on the far left. As one would expect with Ford’s top racing motor, this Fairlane comes with a manual transmission.
We rarely feature many cars with an underside this clean or so many parts looking replaced or refurbished. A complete 427 engine (with all the date-correct goodies) can bring $17,000. The seller doesn’t claim this car or engine are perfect, but it does have some of the parts you would want. The fiberglass 427-specific hood as well as fiberglass trunk and bumpers puts this classic squarely in the quarter-mile corner, and the buyer will most likely have some hard driving in mind. He or she had better anyway! These ’66-’67 Fairlanes are one of my favorites, and I’d love to bang through the gears on this baby. What do you think of this fast Fairlane?
dye or replace kick panels …
Other than my ’57 Merc w/368 cu in , I’m not a Ford guy, but this car is tempting.
Lots of work appears to have been done CORRECTLY… and the red interior leaves some nice choices for exterior color.
Depending on the end price, this ( Texas) car with new interior is a much better investment than most of the rusted or undercoated cars found in the Northern half of this Country East of the Mississippi…
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1,000,000 miles!
Not bad! But it’s a hardtop, not a sedan. Mario’s was too.
I love it, but I have too many cars. Candy Apple Red is a 1966 Ford Color code. Code T
The first thing I’d do would be to remove the four speed shifter and replace it with a Hurst unit. Those Ford shifters were horrible. In fact horrible is too kindly a word for them. Other than that this car is a keeper. I wouldn’t part with it unless I was dying. Maybe that’s the case here.
Poorly laid carpet is often an indicator of floor issues. It’s hard to believe someone competent enough to shoehorn a 427 into the engine bay would be challenged by laying a carpet.
My ‘67 had a 428 squeezed in between the shock towers. I’ll admit changing some of the spark plugs was a bit challenging as there was hardly any clearance for sockets. And drives under the exhaust manifold.
One of my favorite cars. Building one right now with a Heits front and rear suspension. It will have a 557 stroker 9″ rear with 391s. Mine is red also, but want be when its done
I like this a lot!!! A friend in high school had a 67 fair lane gt . Midnight blue with crager ss wheels, a little up in the rear and dropped at little in the front. That old school look. I would love to do one like this like this. (keep the red). neat fairlane!!!
Nice car, close to me.
But I’m collecting dust on a black/black ’97 XK8 coupe right now.
David, sell the Jag to me and go for it. A 427 Fairlane, to me, is the Ford 1960’s Holy Grail. I’d put Megasquirt on it and head to the track. With some careful modifications, you could race twisties and 1/4. Just change the tires.
Too rich for my blood… but still doesn’t hurt my wallet to look.
Like this ’69 428 cyclone gt
https://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/cto/d/cobra-jet-cyclone-gt-selling/6320175894.html
Really nice. Had a 66 gt with the 390/4 speed and limited slip. Spring time yellow. Ran 457gears and crane cam with solids. Thing would fly in the 1/8 ( Mel Larson’s strip out of Phoenix) and in the 1/4. Blew it up right before I left for Viet Nam and ordered a’69 428 fast back Torino while in Nam. Would love to have this Fairlane. I noticed the fenders sport the Mercury emblems or those of the big block fe autos. Been a while and I’m 70 so my mind forgets sometimes! I like it.
In 1983 ( wow 34 yrs. ago) I had a chance to buy a mint orig. 66 427 Fairlane for 12k, instead I bought a 66 390 GTA for 5k from the same person in California. just my .02
Pal Jim had a nice ’66 GTA. The term side oiler often referred to the common trait they had of oiling down the strip with every pass. :-) Terry J
I bought a yellow 67 Fairlane GT in August ’69 with the s- code 390 , which ran good but blew up on New Years Eve running 100 mph up to a party in Beulah ,Colorado, but one mile ahead the road turned to snow with a right turn and cliff beyond, so saved our lives ! Built a sideoiler 427 with the LeMans rods and forged crankshaft and two Holley 4 barrels ! Put another after market shifter on the top loader close ratio four speed and 5.14 Detroit locker in the rear end to back up what was the scariest car I ever owned ! Winding out to 7,500 rpm shifts put me right at the quarter mile in 4th gear. Held my own around Pueblo, Colorado for about a year until marriage and buying a house changed priorities ! Sold the engine to a guy who put it in a 32 Ford coupe modified stock car , which was unbeatable for a while, but he managed to scatter it in a finish line dash !!
Yes, the good old days were great !
Todd, you are absolutely correct. What a relief it is for someone beside me to point out the fact that Ford may have called their red “Candy Apple”, but for ANYONE who has ever seen true Candy Apple, there is no mistaking this for that. “Candy Apple” is metallic based, with clear color shot over. Ford marketers (in my opinion) misappropriated Mr. Bailon’s intellectual property. Sorry to read about his passing. His invention of Candy Apple changed the entire landscape of hot rodding in the 50’s.
Had a 64 ford galaxie fac 4 speed candy apple 390eng..loved that car
Probably in the top 3 of my all time favorite cars: the super rare 427 fairlane. Could’ve bought a ’67 with a very healthy 428 swapped in back in 85 for 2300 bucks, thought it was a bit overpriced (hahaha). Had a C6 screech-bang automatic with 3.50’s in the rear, primer red paint and black interior. That car had a real nasty pull to it, the tire screeching 1-2 shift alone made my heart race like a kid on a roller coaster! Great car.
Those Granada wheels look surprisingly good on this car.
My 66 Ford Fairlane R code 427 1 of 57 built
Wow. Bucket list car right there.
Todd, the S Code 390 wasn’t the smallest motor offered in the ’66 Fairlane GT. It was the ONLY motor offered in the ’66 Fairlane GT!
The 427 wasn’t available in the GT.
z28th1s – So the 390 was the smallest — and also the largest — motor available in the GT / GTA. All joking aside I appreciate the clarification. Thanks!
2 different Horsepower 390’s though.
Very cool car.
12,500, reserve not met.
Nice ride, would love to have it! When I was in high school, there were plenty of Fairlanes & Galaxies in the parking lot, but I never gave them a second nexus I thought Camaros & Chevelles were the all that existed. But now I gravitate to these & BOP cars & pay no attention at all to Chevelles or various pony cars. Funny how age & wisdom do that.
Staff,
For some reason, I can’t pull up the response that Rich Voss sent on any of his BF responses. He isn’t even listed as a responder in the comments.
Can anyone explain?
Rocco, I just searched the comments through the backend and wasn’t able to find anything by that name.
Jessie,
I know. It’s crazy. I copied it.
Barn Finds
To Cobra351rman@yahoo.com Oct 3 at 12:57 AM
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Rich Voss said –
Beauty ! Those Ford guys running these in A/FX were my favorites right before I went I the Army. So I took a new ’67 GTA with me to Germany…
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I had a 67 Fairlane that I bought for $800 in the fall of 1991. It had a 428 and a C6 transmission. Not sure of the gear ratio out back but dropping it into second and stomping on the skinny pedal when getting on the freeway sure was fun every time did it. Sure do miss it.
In the fall of 1966 I worked at a shop in Tigard Or. They did all the pre delivery for Ford in Oregon and some of Washington. A Black Fairlane Two post came thru and was assigned to me to do. It had a R code 427 radio heater and back seat defeat. Also had a 4 speed. I was told just to check the fluid levels and do the body fits. When I was done we had a short test track to check for squeaks and rattles. A supervisor went with me as I rounded the curve back to the parking Lot I stopped. He asked what was wrong and I said I heard something Fundy. I goosed the engine a couple of times than I buried the go petal. He was screaming at me The whole crew was out side yelling. It was a blast. Needless to say I was In deep dodo bat managed to keep me job. Wish I had the chance to do it again