Old drag cars have a certain appeal that goes beyond horsepower figures and quarter-mile times. They remind us of a time when enthusiasts were willing to modify just about anything to get a faster run down the strip. This 1955 Ford Fairlane two-door hardtop is listed on eBay as a former drag racer and barn find,Ā with a 312 Y-block V8, Tri-Power induction, and a four-speed manual transmission. Located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, it’s listed for $10,000.
The seller doesn’t provide a detailed account of the Fairlane’s racing history, but the listing’s description is enough to spark Ford enthusiasts’ curiosity. The car is finished in black with lettering, and the seller specifically identifies it as a former drag car. Whether that lettering dates back to its racing days or was added later isn’t explained. Under the hood is a 312-cubic-inch Ford Y-block V8 equipped with a Tri-Power induction setup. That’s an interesting combination for anyone who appreciates vintage performance equipment, particularly when paired with a manual gearbox. The listing identifies the transmission as a four-speed, with power going to the rear wheels. Unfortunately, it provides no additional details about the engine’s internal components, its mechanical condition, or the drivetrain’s history. The seller also doesn’t mention any performance figures or past racing results. Those would certainly be interesting subjects to discuss with the current owner.
The Fairlane’s two-door hardtop body style adds another dimension to its appeal. While plenty of enthusiasts are familiar with modified 1955 Chevrolets, seeing a Ford Fairlane presented with a Tri-Power Y-block and former drag-racing identity offers something a little different. Inside, the listing notes a black interior, but it doesn’t describe its condition or equipment. Likewise, the seller doesn’t provide information about the body, frame, rust, or previous repairs. Since the Fairlane is advertised as a barn find, prospective buyers will want to know exactly what condition it’s in before making plans.
The odometer displays 7,853 miles, but the listing doesn’t explain whether that figure represents actual mileage or mileage accumulated during a particular period of the car’s life. It’s best treated as an indicated reading rather than a verified total. On the paperwork side, the Fairlane is advertised with a clean title. The seller is a private party, and the eBay listing offers a Buy It Now price of $10,000, with a $500 deposit required. No warranty is included. One of the biggest unanswered questions is whether the Ford currently runs and drives. The supplied listing doesn’t say, so it’s important not to assume that this former drag car is ready to return to the road or track.
Still, the basic package is worth appreciating. A 1955 Ford Fairlane hardtop with a Tri-Power 312 Y-block, a four-speed manual, and a claimed drag-racing past is an intriguing combination, especially for anyone who enjoys old-school Ford performance.
Drag strips and racetracks = good clean family fun for the whole community.
šš
This is really cool, a portal, if you will, into drag racings glorious beginnings. 1st, and foremost, I on’t think this is a drag car, per se, more like a street terror, but relegated to Sunday, for fun, and I bet quite a ride at the local drive-in. Mid 50s, sanctioned drag racing was just getting started, and cars like this inundated “Airport Rd.” It really was “American Graffiti” all across this land. Can we ever go back? Not likely, but I bet there’s still a lot of folks that raced these cars, and drove our daddies to drinkin’.. Cool find, Jim Reed in Adam-12 raced a ’54(?) in the classic episode “Who won?”. Spoiler alert, Reed won, natch!
To the author, this is not a hardtop.
Nice motor there. I found these in the woods with trees growing out of um. The cars were raced in predecessor of nascar and associated with regional tracks. What a hayday of auto racing sports in America it was
You can see the 4-2-1 exhaust manifold dropping down behind the front wheel in the first shot. It’s slightly odd – to my eyes anyway – as Minis and Escort exhausts have a long centre branch – the outer 2 cylinders join together, then the inner 2 join them. That one’s front 2 / back 2 – but V8s run and fire differently to 4s. I think it’s probably been in a road-legal drag class, hence no strange stance.
I’m guessing not running, going by the absent radiator top hose.
I had a wee look; the first letter (C) is vehicle weight per cubic inch and MP is Modified Production. So aye, old drag racer.
I hope pictures can be found to verify its racing heritage. There are so many fakes that one should be skeptical by default. The lettering looks almost too nice, but there a lot of cues that it saw track time. If verified, Iād clean it up as much as possible, refresh the drivetrain, make the occasional pass down the track then take it to some nostalgia events that screen out fakes.
Steve R
Nice motor there. I found these in the woods with trees growing out of um. That car and others were raced in predecessor of nascar and associated with regional tracks/ovals. What a hayday of auto racing sports in America it was
Engine by John Mahoney, lot of good local engine builders back in the day, but that don’t cut no ice with me. I put a crankshaft in an IH 345 that was a Freddie Jones motor out of Florida, crapped out in Va, the driver went on and on about Freddie Jones motors, if his so damn good why am I putting a crank in?
This is a real snapshot of drag racing past! Good luck to the flipper.
Pretty serious effort went into this baby beyond just the ridiculously cool 3×2 Y block…tri-Y headers/exhaust dumps, what I can only assume is a GM T10 transmission, a truck axle with traction aids… great professional hand lettering. This was a drive to the track with slicks in the trunk type of ride.