This one, on the surface, is a bit confusing. It’s listed as a 1963 Ford Fairlane 500 “K-Code” which means a hi-performance 289 CI V8 engine is in store. It’s confusing, though, because the Ford sales brochure makes no reference to it and conventional research “sources” (at least the ones that I use) have no record of it. But let’s dig a bit deeper. This Fairlane is located in Westminster, Colorado and is available, here on craigslist for $19,500. Thanks to Gunter K for this rare find.
So the story is that Ford added the Hi-Po K-Code 289 CI V8 engine option to the Fairlane model late in the ’63 model year. Estimates are that there were only 277 produced. Ford’s sales brochure only mentions the presence of either a 221 or a 260 CI V8 but that may be due to the late model year introduction for the K-Code option. The VIN does confirm that this Fairlane is equipped as claimed.
So what does a K-Code designation mean? It means a 271 gross HP, 289 CI V8 engine – a motor better recognized between the shock towers of the nascent Mustang. Claimed to have experienced only 43K miles (the odometer reads 40K), the seller states, “Runs but needs tune and valves adjusted among a good tune-up I’m sure. Been sitting many years“. A four-speed manual transmission handles gear changes. One odd mention is that of the exhaust system, this hot-rod Fairlane exhales through a single exhaust system – that doesn’t seem right.
The exterior pictures are very limited – there are more of the underside than there are of the body and the underside ones aren’t too clear as to what’s being displayed. The sole exterior image included is of the driver’s side – it would be nice to know how well the passenger side has fared. The body of this Fairlane 500 is OK, it has rust in the fenders and the quarters, above the rear wheels, but it’s reasonable overall. The E-Code Viking Blue finish looks to be original as it is rather faded. The underside, per the menagerie of images, shows as sound.
The blue vinyl interior is in surprisingly nice shape – there are no noted rips or tears, the center console is nice but the dash top is starting to fade or is scratched – there’s no padding, it’s all steel. The interior is devoid of any enhancements other than a lone auxiliary gauge attached to the bottom edge of the dash. The interior could be left as is with minor aesthetics performed at a later time.
Here’s another seldomly seen example from that anything-goes era of the ’60s – it’s a neat find! The listing, unfortunately, is pretty weak, especially when you consider this Ford’s rarity. If you’re a Ford guy or girl and are interested in something non-Mustang, this Fairlane 500 would be one to investigate further, wouldn’t you agree?
I’m just now noticing how the roofline resembles a 63 T-Bird.
It looks like Some one Changed out the Distributor Because Hi-Po 289 had Dual Points With NO Vacuum Advance,They had Internal Weights in the Distributor for to Advancing the Spark.
That appears to be the correct hi-po distributor for a 63 hipo. They used the same distributor body as the standard 289 but blocked off the vacuum advance. All internal components were removed. See Bob Mannel’s Book page 3-49.
And an early ’63 Galaxie.
Is this car still available
someone asked if the car is still available. I am restoring it and plan to keep it.
If you ever want to sell it, please contact me. My parents had the same in black.
The first 5 digits of the VIN, 3K47K, indicate that this is a 1963 Fairlane 500 Sports Coupe with the high-performance 289, built in Kansas City. There’s no mystery here. The K-code 289 was a late introduction during model year 1963.
Well, it was a mystery to me because I couldn’t find any official Ford documentation attesting to this combination ever existing (and the single exhaust system seemed suspicious). Agreed, the VIN, as I stated, tells the story.
JO
That’s why all the early Cobra ads stated powered by the Fairlane V8.
@ Jim ODonnell The three years of the HiPo 273 were all with a single exhaust.
Jim
The original 1963 289 Hipo had a single exhaust.
I have one.
See Bob Manley’s book on small block ford motors.
Turned 15.2 in a quarter mile.
Can ten at 7,500 rpm all day long
First motor in the GT40, modified of course.
They run like a scalded dog. Thanks
I have a 1963 289 HIPO Sports Coupe.
They are an anomaly
There is a guy back in new Jersey who sold his found 65 Shelby GT350 he bought for a tidy profit in order to capitalize on one of these rare cars. If I recall his was black. He told me the rarity of the car was something he could not pass up. His Shelby ended up in the Galpin collection.
I think it’s cool enough to call Leno to add to his stuff .
I had this exact blue fairlane here in Ohio in the late 60’s. It was titled a 63 1\2 and was a 289 hi-po with a factory 4-speed and had a Mallory dual point distributor that had two sets of Ford six cylinder points in it and came from the factory that way.!!! It was one bad ads street machine and one of many cars I had in my youth. Lol. My home page has my favorite two cars I had ,a 55 Chevy with a donor 396 4-speed and a 65 g.t.o. 389 tri-power 4-speed trophy winner.
Those console top plates are goldmines…
Is it just my old tired eyes or do I actually see a factory style shifter knob in one picture and a Hurst style T knob in another ????
it has the correct ford 4 speed shifter knob with a T release for the reverse lock out
Cool car! Wish I had the space and money. Not sure if this provides any additional information as to the authenticity of the car on BF/Craigslist.
https://www.motortrend.com/features/found-junkyard-fairlane-heart-shelby/#:~:text=The%20%22K%22%20signifies%20the%20hot%20solid%2Dlifter%20289.
In the late 70’s i was walking thru 40 Acres salvage yard near Amazonia MO and came across a 63 fairlane 4dr, could of been a 64 and it had hipo 289 badges on the front fenders, the hood was off and motor and trans were gone, I never looked inside to see if it was a standard or auto, we were looking for challenger stuff then, wander if it was real? Wasn’t really into fords at all back then and i thought HIPO 289 was kind of silly back then
Cool find. Looks like the distributor is non-original as the dual-point original did not have vacuum advance, just centrifugal, AFAIK. Looks like the vacuum can isn’t hooked up to vacuum anyway, though.
I think I would at least remove one valve cover and maybe the oil pan just to be sure. Lots of the old swaperoo been gone on since ’63. If it’s the real deal give him the money.JMO
Just look at the fan, which is indigenous to the Hipo.
Flex fan-
I like these first generation mid-size Fairlanes. Not aggressive looking, but can pack a punch if properly equipped. They also sent Chevrolet to the drawing board to answer with the Chevelle, as did Chevy II to Falcon and Camaro to Mustang.
Ford did make “K Code” 289 HiPo’s with a single exhaust. A friend’s Dad had a 64 Fairlane that he bought after a bank repossessed it in late 1964. It was single exhaust from the factory. He drove it into the 1970’s when it rusted and wouldn’t pass state inspection.
It sat in the yard until he passed away, then his sons cut it up for scrap and let the motor and 4 speed sit on the ground with the Fairlane hood covering it for another 10 years. My friend finally got around to hauling it into the basement and other than a rust hole in the oil pan, it wasn’t hurt. It turned over by hand with no problem. He had the heads redone about 15 years ago but never got any farther. It’s a shame because we bought him a solid 65 Comet out of Southern Virginia, so it would have a home if he ever finishes it.
Got that Thrush muffler,the local Western Auto Store for those who remember,had 55 gallon drum with these different links and diameters,dig through find what you want, about 15 bucks if I remember.
Yes, I think they called it a “Hush Thrush”
I’m pretty sure the Hush Thrush were of an oval shape rather than the straight-thru can, and there was no “hush” to them!
The round thrush mufflers were just a “Thrush”, the oval shaped ones were called “Hush Thrush” mufflers.
Here you go.
http://www.kcode.net/Khistory.htm
I worked at a full-service gas station in the mid 80s and a young gal came in all the time in a black Fairlane. It was a HiPo car. Her daily driver with kid seats in the back. She was in all the time. I was gaga about the car. Another lady came in often too with her 69 307 Camaro. It was white with a patterned vinyl top. When I asked about it, she told me she ordered it this way, including the shower-curtain pattern vinyl top. It was a very neat car!
Great find. I think some of the confusion might stem from the fact that “early ‘63” promotional material didn’t list a 289 for any small Ford or Mercury- much less the Hi/Po version. The 271 horsepower 289 came with solid lifters, and of course chrome valve covers. 👍🏻 K-code cars were also equipped with a 9” rear. The package was also available in Falcons, Comets, and the last of the Mercury Meteors. This would look great parked next to my ‘63 1/2 Comet 2 door hardtop!
The mercury k code was the standard 289. Not a HIPO even though it had a “K” code Vin. Don’t be fooled.
The falcon had a reported 4-5 with a real Hipo’s made. I believe they were Canadian
What rear differential does it have? I can’t tell by the picture, seems to me the early mustangs with the K in the VIN had a 9″
it is a 9″ open carrier with 3.50 gears
Blue Oval Power….Great Find.
Ad deleted!
IIRC, the Sports Coupe started in 63, and was a V-8 engine, and extra chrome, badges etc. I thought that 63 was the last year of the 260 and 64 the 1st year for the 289 and the HiPo. This is either a 64 with wrong year on title(not so farfetched if it’s an early production 64), or a re-badged and swapped 63, or I am just as confused. I had a 65 Sports Coupe, and it was a serious sleeper.
Have fun
1963 fairlane was the first year of the K code fords, with 277 produced
Hi Harry,
I have a HIPO 1963 Fairlane Sports Coupe.
The first 289 was a HIPO motor. It was the first motor in the GT40.
At a Ford Car Show, a gentleman gave me the skinny.
He said that Carroll Shelby was talking to Ford about the mustang with a high performance motor, hence the 289 HIPO.
They were limited production because of the cost of $425.00 extra for the motor.
I know the 260 was around in the Futura in 1964.
The 289 HIPO is a great motor. It can run at 7,500 RPM all day long. (solid lifter motor)
Regards,
My bought a 63 Galaxie and it had the 289 but it was a mid year introduction and in all of the Ford literature I’ve not found anything regarding a hi-po version until 64. It was a lot of marketing moves and they often added a few little changes and called it a hi-po or something similar. My cousin ordered a new 67 Fairlane with a 390 and got the high performance package for $35. Slightly different carb and exhaust and that was about it.
I see it’s in ebay now. That’s a rare find and everything is correct with the single exhaust and correct 63 only distributor. Hipo also only came with the 19, 20, or 21 heads.
had a good friend that had a red one. he was also a mechanic, don’t know what else he did to it, but we did a lot of street racing and nobody could touch him. the shocked look on the opponents faces was amazing.
They used to put 456 gears in the rear ends. Guy was cleaning hemis on Woodward Avenue by doing that to one. Guy in my hometown was there and told me about it. Actually thinking about getting it.
Did pretty much the same thing on Telegraph back in the late 60’s, early 70’s. 65 Falcon with a 289 hipo out of a Fairlane, Crane prepped heads, balanced assembly by Gonzales Brothers, Wieand Hi-rise, Holley with gear driven secondaries, 9″ with 4.57 gears. Surprised a lot of Z-28’s, Road Runners, GTO’s. Motor now sits in my 64 K code Fairlane, back to bone stock with all matching number components.
I now own this car and it IS a real 289 hipo (K code). All that is seen in the photos is as it was when purchased by me. The car is all original except for the carb, radiator and minus a fan shroud. My research has shown that all parts are original ford, the motor is now at a Denver machine shop (The Block Shop) for freshening, it was running OK but tired. The engine has all the correct hipo parts and is marked hipo in white chalk on the rear bell housing area. I will make it as original as possible, but it is difficult to find original parts for a 59 year old car. I plan to get it running in good mechanical condition and then restore the interior and body. By the way it has a working AM reverb radio. I have much documentation to prove where the car came from and what it is.
Hi James, if the car becomes available I will let you know, email me daxtll@aol.com
Dean, I was just reading the threads about the 631/2 Fairlane HiPo that you aparently purchased. It was very interesting to me because I purchased one new that appears to be identical. I was working in the engineering dept.of Bendix eclipse in Elmira NY at the time. Had to wait quite a while because we knew that the first 50 engines were going to Shelby. Unfortunately I don”t have any record of it’s vin # but if you find that this car came from this part of the country I’d sure like to hear about it, I might be able to add a bit to your story.
The PS is; the read was very interesting because I’m looking for a replacement as well.
I hope I might hear from you and what part of the country you are in as well as what your plans might be after the restoration.
Regards, Richard
Hi Richard, this car was purchased in Denver CO by the original owner in early 1964. He had it until 2021 when he passed away and his estate sold it to a guy who was going to restore it but had medical problems. I purchased it in March of 2022. The Fairlane is all original except for the radiator and carburetor. I am in the process of restoring it and plan to do so in as original a way as practical and then drive it. You can reach me at daxtll@aol.com.
Believe it or not, my grandmother, who loved cars, bought one of these, used. When she turned 69 in 1969, she gave it to me, claiming that “I’m too old to shift.”. (She then bought a ’66 GTO, power glide). Unfortunately, being a stupid kid, I raced it, butchered it and sold it for $100 a few years later. When the reverse lock-out cable broke, I took it to Motion Performance (yes, the very one), and for $100 they installed a Hurst shifter.