Metal artists and fabricators, this car is for you. It’s also for any of us who love the stacked-headlight Fairlanes. This 1966 Ford Fairlane 500 Club Coupe looks like a great starting point to a full-on restoration or maybe you have another direction that you think would be better? It’s listed here on eBay with an unmet opening bid of $2,900 and there is no reserve. It’s located in Enid, Oklahoma which may explain it’s relatively small amount of rust.
Just because a vehicle may have a small amount of rust repairs to tackle doesn’t mean that it’ll be a walk in the park to restore it. You can see some wrinkles, dings, and dents here. That’s where your metalworking skills come into play. This is one cool car and it’s worth it.
The seller mentions that this car has original paint, but some of these cracked areas look like former bodywork rearing its ugly head to me, and they do say that “there is a bondo patch that is lifting on the right bottom quarter panel.” The fifth-generation Fairlanes were sold for the 1966 and 1967 model years and they’re by far my favorite Fairlane. I’m also a big Dragnet fan and Harry Morgan as Officer Bill Gannon drove a ’67 Fairlane sedan. I’ve wanted one ever since. It’s one of the most iconic tv cars to me, just because I like the show so much and that four-door Fairlane seemed to fit his personality on the show so well. This example is a Club Coupe which was a base model two-door Fairlane.
Are those AC vents? The interior doesn’t look too bad but it could use some help. The seats, both front and back, could use some new original style covers. They say that the “transmission shifts but car has only been driven locally around the block due to overheating. Hubcaps are in back seat, car appears to be 99-100% complete. All trim is on car. Car does not appear to have ever been cut on. ”
This is Ford’s 289 cubic-inch V8 with 200 hp. It’s not the hottest engine but a V8 is a V8 is a V8. And, it does have AC! There isn’t too much information given about the operating condition other than they “cleaned out gas tank and fuel lines, runs and drives but overheats quickly, have not checked the thermostat but we suspect it’s stuck closed. Transmission shifts but car has only been driven locally around the block due to overheating.” Most Barn Finds readers could have this engine out, on an engine stand, and stripped down before noon and then back in again the next day. How would you bring this car back to life? Original spec? Restomod? Drag car?
Gloss black…with a silver accent stripe…and sweet brushed chrome Cragars.
Worth saving.
The 66-67 Fairlanes are under appreciated. They look great, unlike many Fords from that era. I’m not a fan of building a race car from scratch do to availability of low price of quality turn key cars, but this body style would be an exception for me. Build a small tire bracket car would be the way I’d go.
Steve R
Seller had the time & motivation to clear out the gas tank & lines, but not 5 minutes to change a thermostat? Um…did you check to see if there’s even any coolant?
Nice find!
Scotty – if you’re a fan of Dragnet and Jack Webb, and you’re on Facebook, you MUST follow this page, run by the fiance of Jack’s late daughter, Stacey: https://www.facebook.com/Jack-Webb-Archives-453527154752962/
Jim, thanks for the great tip!
Jeez, yet another 2 door!
Had a 65 gt convertible, 390 and 4 speed. Previous owner painted the grille to look like shark teeth. Never sourced the period engine or trans. Sold it for $225 or $275 to a man in Arkansas . Lost his check and saw it a few years later on car craft cover and the story explained that it was one of something like 250 Gt 390 4spd convertibles with power top, windows, brakes and steering. Still get a little queezy about letting it go when i think about it.
My Pops had a 66 2 door and a 67 2 door he sold the 66 when he was living in the Dominican Republic to a local a few weeks before he was to turn over the car he hit a Horse and sent car to local body shop and had paint and body work not as good as Earl Scheib. Buyer came to get car in late evening picked up car he called next morning and wanted to know if car had been wrecked my Dad swore up and down that it was never wrecked not a good lesson to pass on.
Great fine, wish it was a little closer to upstate N.Y.
Mildy bizarre but worthy.
If you could find a Ford 427, top loader, 9inch rear, upgrade brakes and suspension. That would be a neat car. Otherwise bore and stroke 289.
The club coupe is not a sought after body style, so this probably would not be worth a concours restoration. It would make an excellent base for a restomod though.
I would chop off the front at the cowl and narrow a 65 Galaxie clip and install it like Chevy did the Nova. Drop the rear and do the same with a 65 Galaxie rear suspension and add a pair of connectors. Build 4.125 bore X 4.25 stroke FE and a C6. 3.55 gears. The ultimate cruiser mobile with 700 hp of FE and all plain bench seat i interior with Cheeta shifter popping just above the bench seat. Paint it Bronze and a 427 fiberglass hood. Maybe some Torq- Thrusts and enjoy!
Looks like a “get-away” car to me for some reason, bank robbers special! Ha! I have always really liked the fairlanes of these years, and they are a rare sight, have been for years, especially compared to their GM rivals. There are all kinds of directions this car could be taken, for a period correct racer the 427 would be interesting, street/strip I’d have to say a 428 built up although that engine would not be truly”correct”. But gosh awful quick and fast, like the one I drove back in ’85 but passed on, for a whopping……2300 bucks.
A tweaked small block like a 351 would be interesting nonetheless, and more sensible than a big block swap.
My cousin owned a ’66 Fairlane similar to this in the early seventies with a 390 engine,according to him it was originally a Columbus detective car,later on he sold it to the younger brother of my brother in law who jacked it up in the rear with huge tires and wheels on it,after he went in the Navy his older brother “borrowed” it and promptly totaled it out.
Update the rearend, brakes, and electrical system then drop in a coyote motor. Leave the outside a sleeper.
Well the update I outlined would be what I would do, put the battery in the trunk, the 65 Galaxie suspension front and rear, disc brakes in the front but really good drums in the rear. The Torq-Thrust wheels would be 16 inch with Police 160 mph tires. The bronze would be a factory color with the 427 hood z I would stay true to my roots with a 4.125×4.25 FE with good heads and intake like SuperStock PortOSonic that I already have. The C-6 and 3.55s with just a peek of Cheetah shifter over the bench would be really cool. The Coyote just isn’t my Generation. 700 hp and 600 ft lbs is. But you do have some game there🍷