The Fairmont replaced Ford’s compact Maverick in 1978. Unlike the Maverick, Mustang, and Falcon before it, the new car was not based on the Falcon’s unibody platform. It was the first U.S. Ford to use the new Foxbody platform, which the Mustang would adopt in 1979. The Fairmont enjoyed a six-year run and more than 1.6 million cars sold. It’s another example of U.S. autos built during the so-called Malaise Era when quality was sometimes suspect. This 1983 Fairmont Futura (the swankier model) has been sitting in a field in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for a year and is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $1,500 OBO. Our appreciation to “Lothar… of the Hill People” for the tip.
During the Fairmont’s run, it was sandwiched first between the Pinto and Granada models, and later between the Escort and LTD. Mercury sold a version of the Fairmont badged as the Zephyr. When the Fairmont’s tenure was over, it was replaced by the Tempo in 1984. The Futura wore a higher level of trim as it did back when the Falcon had a model wearing that name, too. The Fairmont had a 4-cylinder as standard, with a 200 cubic inch inline-six extra, which is what’s in this example.
We’re told this Fairmont has been sitting in a field or yard for more than a year. Besides the engine not running (from being idle or for other reasons), the brakes are locked up. The odometer reads just 40,000 miles and – given the clean interior in this car – that could be actual. The Ford has an automatic transmission, condition unknown.
The body looks okay except for a dent in the driver’s side front fender. However, the rear bumper is missing, and we’re told there is some rust in a few places. It looks to have a vinyl roof, and hopefully no corrosion has begun to form beneath it. The seller had planned to turn this into a drag car but used a Mustang for that purpose instead (perhaps it’s in some of the photos). So, it’s time for this Fairmont to go live somewhere else. Is it a good buy at $1,500 or less?
Dented, rusty, not running, locked up brakes plus missing the rear bumper, it’s worth scrap value. No one is going to put this back on the road or turn it into a drag car. The interior might no be bad, but how much demand is there for a gold interior for a 4 door Fairmont.
Steve R
Another groaner car post.
Steve, just to clarify – the car, not your post…:) I agree that these kinds of posts are not worth the effort.
Or possibly a restoration project.
You might be surprised in the resulting interest in this vehicle. It’s majority complete, needing just a few things to make it road ready. Prospective buyers are not going to be interested in that in line 6 banger, anyone considering a purchase is going to want to stuff a small block Ford 302 in there & since Ford offered this model with V8’s & the parallel build dimensions to the Mustang, the conversion will be relatively simple. This will make a super sleeper sedan, expecially if you maintain it’s modest appearance. It would be a shame for it to go for parts, or to the scrapper. Ford isn’t building any more sedans, so in that regard, it’s collectible, at least in my opinion. If I had room for it I would surely consider giving it a home.
I guess the first question is:
Who wants a Fairmont ?
Second question:
Why ?
Sarcasm aside, I am sure someone has a sentimental attachment to these.
During the Rebate Era, my next door neighbor bought two identical. Swapped plates from year to year, sold them after 10 years. Nice lady, a bit odd.
I too question who would want this. I did ask for more plausible offerings, and the site has delivered on that, thanks, but this is almost going too far. Now, if this really was a low mile Fairmont, ready to drive, regardless of how hum drum they may seem to us, it would sell immediately. The pool of people willing to even try and start the car, is shrinking. Our Walmart practically eliminated the auto section( in favor of a larger gun section) and auto parts stores going bust, nobody will take these types of cars on. Shame, these were good cars, but have to be nicer than this.
Now, about the boats, equally as useless. People sure are digging, huh?
Guns? Really? I do understand less car parts, though. New cars are too complicated (on purpose) for us average guys to wrench on. Then, where do young people learn even the basics? Many grow up in apartments as the folks will never be able to own a house and garage, plus dad is working 3 jobs just to try to pay the rent in Potter’s tenement. What a world we are leaving our grandchildren. Not a good one. Maybe it will be okay if AI wipes us out before 2030 as the world the rich will make by use of AI will not be a pretty one. The rich are greedy fools. Did it ever occur to them that if you get rid of all the workers, the economy collapses as no one to buy goods and services, plus no tax base to provide a stable country needed to do busiiness? Desperate people trying to feed hungry children will do desperate things. (maybe Walmart is onto something, with more bang bang goodies) Is that why all the trillionaire wannabees are rapidly digging private survival bunkers? If they know the obvious outcome, why not shout from the rooftops for the need to rapidly change the trajectory? Greed. There is that word again. Might as well go out with a bang in your half billion dollar boat, I guess.
Huh???
Thanx, man! Your well thought out post here just proves a point I’ve had for a long time- Pintos- both the car and the writer- provide intelligent solutions to thorny problems. Well stated!
Blink twice if you need help.
Maybe these young folks should get a trade, say, as a plumber, or an electrician, instead of pushing a mouse around all day? Then, instead of buying $10 coffees, daily, expensive clothes, shoes, phones and getting Uber Eats for dinner, 4 nights a week? They could earn a good living, save their money, and buy a home. Just a thought…
Agree…I’d rather see something truly interesting.
I don’t think I’d drag that away for free.
“Car.”
Seriously, if you were to look up “Car” in a 5th grader’s dictionary, there’d be a line drawing of a Ford Fairmont.
My father and I both owned Fairmonts in the 1978 -1983 time frame. His was a 4-door sedan. Mine was the 2-door Fairmont Futura. Both cars had the 200 cubic inch inline 6 cylinder engine and 3-speed automatic transmission. What a joy fills my heart when I see one driving on the street in 2026!
Boring but good.
Like the Chevy Citation, we bought for my wife to conute to college and take kids to day care.
Tan 4 door
Tan vinyl seats
Tan carpet.
Never had a problem with it in 3 years, but sure was happy to trade it in.
For awhile, DIYers bought Fox “frame” stuff like this for the suspension bits. Is that even a consideration anymore more?
Wayne, I know you’d consider it if it were closer and you had just one more Ranger/Mustang/Durango pickup project..😁👍🏻We’d be in the truck and down the road by now!
They were still building these in ’83? I thought Tempo was already out. Anyway, I always liked them. Clean and crisp styling and the two door Futura had that junior Thunderbird vibe. This looks pretty clean inside so it could be donor car for the nicer one you’re restoring. But who’s doing that?
1984 was the first model year for the Tempo/Topaz.
It was a spring ’83 launch. Notice they didn’t even bother to update from the block letter FORD emblems to the blue oval all the others had by ’83.
Only the Futura Sport Coupe had that T-Bird vibe. (Also what they used to build my 1981 Ford Duango from) As for making a V8 car from this. You have to change the sub-frame first. As all Fox body cars use the same sub-frame EXCEPT the 200 6 cylinder cars. That one is completely different. Changing the front sub-frame is no big deal, but it needs to be done when any engine swap is done. The part(s) on this car that have the greatest value are the tail lamps. They have been obsolete since about 1988 or ’89. I needed one for my Durango and was not able to find one. But I did find the whole tail panel with lights from the Mercury version on the same car. (Tail light patterns are horizontal instead of vertical design which I like better.) Has them shipped from Northern Illinois to Northern Nevada. Generally speaking that 200 6 cylinder doesn’t out much strain on the C4 automatic transmission. So chances are the transmission is good. I spent 6 months looking for some replacement front end sheet metal for my Durango from the Canadian to the Mexican borders and from California to Wyoming and south to New Mexico and wasn’t able to find a hood and front bumper. (finally one showed up at my local pick-a-part that was rust free like my Durango AND it was even the same color!
So this is a parts car. However, not too many of these still roaming the streets. So not sure of the potential of parts sales. (Cast aluminum bumpers have some scrap value )
I once parted our a Futura.I got $50 for the taillight assembly.
These were everywhere at one point,& we had a ’78 wagon in Black,
with the 200 six.I added TRX wheels/tires which filled out the
wheel wells & lowered the car.
I always thought that they were nice-looking cars,& I liked the
way that the top part of the front fenders were sculptured.
That said,this car is a parts car,& not woth much.
Ford Exec.: “Your mission today is to come up with the most boring design possible. Any hint at excitement or style and you’ll be shown the door. Understand?”
Designer: “Yes, but why sir?”
Ford Exec: “Shut up and get to work.”
i would not pay 15.00 for. leave in the field to sink into the ground.
A quarter of a million/year over a six-year run isn’t chump-change.
First application of the much-vaunted FoxBody, soon to be tweaked into the beloved FoxBody Mustangs.
But in Fairmont/Zephyr guise, just not sexy enough to get respect from many folks.
The Falcon filled exactly the same position in Ford’s 1960 lineup, and THAT platform gave the world the original Mustang.
The Fairmont should be considered collectible if only because of its historical importance as the bones upon which we got some pretty impressive Mustangs, T-Birds, and even Lincolns over the years.
Banal? Yes.
But also an important step forward for Ford.
There was a 4 door like this running a twin turbo LS in my area until it barrel rolled at a local track.
Why, come on these cars are light, simple and useful. I finally let this one go and of course it is going to be faster. I had a carburetor on a roller 5.0 5 speed and 8.8 rear differential. It ran good and the young fella I sold it to pulled out the working AC and upgraded the engine and rewired the car under the hood. It was the six and auto car with the smaller differential. Still evolving!
I have just two things to input:
First, I completely agree with Steve R., this has nothing more than whatever scrap value it has.
Second, someone was going to attempt to turn a 1983 4 door Ford Fairmont into a drag car? Seriously??????
Lot of unwarranted hate for this vehicle. Coupon good for a free steak dinner if car does not sell & goes to crusher with the vanilla ice cream L6. I’ve talked to a number of Motor heads who want to get one of these & drop Mustang V8 mechanicals in it. Richard Rawlings, of Gas Monkey fame, even took one & did a badass rehab job on it (granted it was a coupe) Go to Youtube & type in Fairmont/Zephyr drag car & see what come up, I’ve seen all, coupe, sedans, even wagons.
Reliable turn key brackets cars aren’t expensive to purchase. Unless someone really loves a particular make or model it makes little sense to build one from scratch. This car is too rough to seriously consider, start with the best car you can find. Too many people start building a car without thinking it through to the end, then abandon it part way through, this car has all of the earmarks of a car that would follow that trajectory.
Steve R
I owned a 1983 Fairmont Futura just like this one, without the vinyl roof. My second new car that I purchased after my first one which was a 1976 Toyota Corolla. It was a great family car, huge trunk, good mileage using the cruise control, and very attractive in an 80’s way. But it didn’t last as long or was as dependable as the Corolla. The last American car that I’ve owned. The carburetor was it’s downfall, total junk, and at 120,000 miles, it just suddenly stopped. I maintain all my cars meticulously and usually get at least 50,000 miles more out of them. Great memories , but expensive, hard pass on this one.
I once owned a gold ‘81 Futura that drove fine with the inline 6 but at 18,000 miles the transmission went out, luckily under warranty. Would only pull around 16 MPG. Ford missed the mark with this one.
I was leaving a comment about my 1980 ES 2-door sedan but it went away halfway through. I’d love to have it again and put a small -block v-8 in it.
It actually sold! Unbelievable.
Why do people even bother trying to sell this kind of crap?
Well any car listed is worthy of starting a discussion if nothing else. A relative had one (1980 I think) – a 2 door with the B pillar that slanted forward and graphics that extended over the roof. It was reminiscent of a 1955 Crown Victoria I once had so I liked it. :-) Terry J
Several of these naysayers owe me a steak, I’ll take a T-Bone or Porterhouse, medium well, while Steve R can eat some crow. Love to see the finished project. Bet cars spurs some good vibes & good memories.
I guess the old saying is true.
There is a Lid for every Pot.
Hope the sale works for seller and buyer.
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. It has been sold.
Well, I’m not sure that taking a high five victory lap about an obvious junker selling for $1,500 is really is really the appropriate response.
Just my opinion.
It is for the seller.
Oh, I would guess that the seller is howlin’ at the moon about his good fortune.
To quote Quint from Jaws 1975, “Well it does prove one thing, you wealthy college boys don’t have the education to admit when you’re wrong.”
We had a Mercury Zephyr station wagon with the 302 V8 which Dad leased through the Philco-Ford employee plan. It was a comfortable, good-looking vehicle. Surprisingly peppy, too.
The 302 V8 oil pan in this car had 2 drain plugs. Apparently this was necessitated by a front end cross member dividing the oil pan into front and rear sections, each with its own low point. It confused the kid doing the oil change at the local gas station; when he opened only one of the plugs, he found only half the oil he expected and informed us that the car was way low on oil. He proudly told us, however, that he’d refilled the engine with the correct amount. Of course, with only half the oil drained, he’d actually severely overfilled it… which we found with our first look at the dipstick.
Well if you just had to have basic transportation , and had no other choice…. Might be a good Father /son first car. So junior 14 -15 years old could start learning about cars, before getting license. Then again now-a-days most “Chads” are spoiled by Dad buying them a new car off the bat. So they learn nothing….except put gas in new mustang.
And what Chad would learn does not apply to most cars on the road today.
they called it “The Malaise” era, ok, i get it, but any blanket statement cant ring entirely true a decade (or all makes/models). Here, a continuation of fox platform, a real transition car (not as much as nxt gen marquis/ltd [not GranMarquis/LTD panther platform]). Commin into the car puter age (1st entry: ele. ignition becoming standard) and lack of carb.
If just used this for parts they can fit from (’72/4) Grenade-a to SN-94 (’95/’04). I’d like this dash for my ’85:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1983-Ford-LTD-Door.jpg
cant B seen well here but the left corner of a very fussy 2 step-lip around the whole top edge. Curves dwn RH side as well, of course. Now cars are using more plastic so the whole unit needs swapped. Typical reverse, back- application-forward “up grade”. LOL
So I’d take the dash and 200/3.3 i6. The latter would get this:
https://www.vintageinlines.com/product-page/deposit-only-aluminum-head-package
but not for the fifteen hundred $.
Best Fairmont? this or my waggy (a 3.8L ’83/6 ltd)
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/OUeIPeUrL9o
212 built (1 for sale near me).
Hi Chrisful and others: “but not for the fifteen hundred $”. Question: Do we know how much it actually sold for? Terry J
Facebook Marketplace ad says it is SOLD
I can’t believe the amount of comments that this junk yard dog generated. Crazy!
Sold for $1500!