47K Miles: 1963 Ford Fairlane 500 Two-Door Sedan

Ford really did often have a “Better Idea.” In 1962, they originated the “intermediate” car with their new Fairlane, and while it had a LOT in common with the Falcon, it was just a little bit bigger…the “right size” for a lot of people. This generation lasted until 1965, and of those first four model years (1962-65), I think my favorite is the 1963 model: Its grille reminds me of the big Galaxie, and the small fins remind me of my ’63 Thunderbird. This 1963 Fairlane 500 is a restored 47,000-mile two-door sedan, which Barn Finder Curvette found here on eBay in Mount Airy, North Carolina. The high bid so far is $9,100, but the reserve has not yet been met.

Under the hood of this Fairlane is one of the great footnotes in Ford V8 engine history, the 221 small-block. If you’ve never heard of it, there’s a good reason for that: It didn’t even make it to the end of the 1963 model year, even though it was the first incarnation of the long-running small-block (introduced in 1962). The 221 produced 145 horsepower and 216 lb.-ft. of torque, breathing through tiny 1.59″ intake valves and 1.38″ exhaust valves. The engine color combination is close to original, which would have combined a black engine block and cylinder heads with blue valve covers and air cleaner.

The optional 164-horsepower 260 was so much livelier than the 221 that it became the go-to V8 until the 289 superseded both engines. This 221 is backed by the two-speed Fordomatic; the C4 wouldn’t come out until 1964 (hence the name of the transmission itself).

The upholstery would have been either a combination cloth-and-vinyl or all vinyl; it’s likely that this car would have been ordered with the former, but the patterns are not original (not that it matters to most people who will be interested in this Fairlane).

The dashboard and gauge cluster appear to be in excellent condition, and the big steering wheel will help mitigate the lack of power steering.

While the aftermarket wheels add a little sportiness to a car that isn’t very sporty to begin with, I’d be inclined to reinstall the original steel wheels and hub caps. The wheels just look right with their matching Corinthian White paint.

The seller says that the car was “redone” about five years ago, and it’s almost guaranteed that you would spend more money restoring a 1963 Fairlane than you would buying this solid example. No, it’s not a Sports Coupe, nor is it a rare K-Code 289 High-Performance car, but it is an example of a neat little part of automotive history where Ford had a better idea…again.