This 1965 Ford Fairlane 500 Hardtop is a well-documented, mostly original car that comes with a wealth of new and vintage parts, making it an excellent candidate for restoration—or a period-style drag car build, as the current seller originally intended. Featuring a solid body, a clean Texas title, and boxes of new sheet metal and NOS pieces, this Dynasty Green over Turquoise Fairlane is listed here on eBay.
The Fairlane’s story is part of its appeal. It left Ford’s Kansas City plant on September 30, 1964, with a 289ci two-barrel V8 and C4 automatic, wearing Dynasty Green paint with a Turquoise interior. The seller notes that it was last registered in Texas in 1988, spending decades off the road until a friend located it in the Arizona desert. The seller, who owns Moonshot Performance in Moorpark, California, had big plans to build a nostalgic drag car with a tunnel ram and vintage ET wheels, but growing business demands now force the sale.
The factory engine is long gone, but the included C4 automatic (missing some external parts) could be rebuilt or used as a core. The Ford 8-inch rear axle carries 2.80 gears and an open differential, good for cruising but easily swapped for a performance setup. The car still has its factory power steering and four-wheel drum brakes, with a new dual master cylinder included. New front and rear sway bars are also part of the package.
One of the biggest selling points is the included sheet metal and parts stash. A NOS passenger fender and fender cap are included, along with new floor pans, a trunk seal channel, a package tray filler panel (from a ’66–’67 Fairlane), and inner fender sheet metal to repair the battery tray area. New marker light and taillight lenses, two manual transmission humps, extra grilles, and even an additional hood come with the car. The seller also includes a new American Autowire harness to modernize the electrical system.
The body appears solid, with clean frame rails and doors that shut with factory gaps, though the usual rust spots need attention. The trunk, trunk channel, and floor pans will need cutting and welding, the top of the tail light panel has corrosion, and there are a few small rust holes in the roof panel. The passenger fender extension is dented, but the NOS replacements are ready to install. The original paint can still be seen under the respray, and much of the trim is intact.
Inside, the car retains most of its original components, including the factory steering wheel, gauges, radio, and under-dash A/C unit. The dash is solid, and the seats are serviceable for a driver but would benefit from reupholstering in the correct material. The windshield is cracked and will need replacing, and the headliner and door panels should be restored if a factory look is desired.
For enthusiasts, this Fairlane is a blank canvas: it could be built back to stock, turned into a street/strip bruiser, or even left with some patina for a nostalgic vibe. With its solid structure, original details, and impressive parts haul, it’s a project with plenty of potential. Would you build it as a drag strip-inspired street machine or bring it back to its factory glory?
This is probably one of my favorite early midsize Ford. Never owned a real one but had a good looking model back when I was probably 14 maybe 15 years old. Yeah I said that! I am getting very familiar with the early Ford’s as I bought the 65 Falcon Sprint that was on here about 2 years ago. That’s been a crazy ride, almost road worthy, 289 was well used, squirrel ate most of the wires under the dash could go on and on. Should be a cool sixties runner soon. This one looks like a serious project and I don’t think this one is going to be a restoration any time soon. Locating parts could be the biggest challenge.
Obviously tons of work needed, but maybe this is just the project someone is waiting for. Parts stash is a plus. The 1965 doesn’t seem to be a highly desired model, so do what you want.
Thanks for the update Cadmanls.
I had a coworker with a 1965 Fairlane, he’d converted it to a 4spd and put a 4bbl intake and carb. It was a pretty nice driver, but he always complained that he picked the wrong car, even though he didn’t have much money into it, it was an orphan with no interested and very limited access to aftermarket restoration parts. These are still dead players, there is still little to no interest, they have no racing heritage nor were they sought after like 64’s, 66-67’s, and later Fairlanes and Torino’s. There is no point in trying to turn it into a “race car”, you’d be starting from scratch which would cost significantly more than buying a competitive turn key car.
It’s basically a roller that needs full restoration, has passed through an unknown number of hands in multiple states, none of which bothered to put the car in their name, what could go wrong with that? Unless this is someone’s dream car, there are better projects out there for people willing to put in the work.
Steve R
@Steve R. It’s likely not a surprise to you that there would be a difference of opinion regarding your comment that the 1965 Fairlanes are “dead players”. Admittedly I am the owner of a ‘65 Sports Coupe, black ext., red interior, numbers matching K-Code with the factory 4-speed, and 9” rear axle, 3.50 ratio. The 289 HiPo provides outstanding ‘60s era performance. I’ve always liked the unibody Fairlanes that came to production in ‘62 with the ‘65 being particularly sharp to me. I’d recommend doing a search on the ‘65 Fairlane that Ford tuner, builder and drag racer Les Ritchey campaigned in D Stock Automatic. Yes, Ford did offer a factory heavy duty C-4 automatic for the HP289 in ‘65. Fairlane only. The K Code Mustang didn’t get the special C-4 for the 289HP until ‘66. I think the ‘65 offered here provides an opportunity to build a unique mid ‘60s Ford you won’t see at various car gatherings.
I am in total agreement with you, again I was thinking Falcon, Mustang same year couldn’t be too much different. Ha was I wrong, Ford in their infinite wisdom then like dash wiring harness, Mustang is close but wires are pinned different in the same harness and it’s molded rubber! The spring shackles are larger in the Falcon. BTW rewired the car with a painless Mustang making a couple of changes. Wiper motor and harness. Yes even started checking the Fairlane parts. Even though these cars share so much they are so different. It’s almost hilarious what they were doing. But yeah like the square Fairlane of 65, just like I like that squared off Falcon. Just don’t see them.
My first car was 65 fairlane. 2 door 289 2bl 2 speed ford o matic. Wish I still had it. Even still agree the 64 or 66 better looking. This one sure needs a lot of work. Kinda reminds me of the condition Dad’s 58 MGA was in when her bought it in 83 , and still in when he sold it in 85.