Boy, is someone going to hit one out of the park in acquiring this 1963 Ford Fairlane 500 coupe. It’s another good find by Curvette that brings us the ad here on ebay. The demand is for $23,500 or best offer before Saturday morning, so if you’re keen, you’d better get to it. At least try a number you’d be comfortable with. You can hardly go wrong here. If you get the car, be prepared to hightail it to Saugatuck, Michigan, trailer in tow, to bring it back as the centerpiece of your collection.

Why is this such a great opportunity? Let’s remember a couple of things: First, most cars labelled “original” are far from that, little changes and mods over the years adding up to less-than-factory configuration. Second, not much other than real fixers is available under $20K these days, sad as that might be. This car is not absolutely perfect, nor would you want it to be. It’s a driver-plus quality ride, properly labeled a “survivor” if the details the seller claims check out, with things like a good underhood detailing separating it from concours-level trophies. You can fix that, probably without recourse to a professional restoration shop.

Vestigial fins and fender skirts add to the way-back feel you get when you gaze at the long, flat body plane this car displays. The grille, too, is handsome with its nearly eight million tiny openings (OK, that’s an estimate), and the styling carries to the rear seamlessly. This old Ford is not overpowered, but the 260-CID engine should pull you along alright. And if the 78,000 miles are truly on their first time around, you should be able to pilot this black beauty for years before you ever need to take the engine down and rebuild it. Note that a mileage logbook substantiates the history of the car, a point that, to my mind, adds several thousand dollars to a reasonable asking price.

Do you have to love this body-style to be anxious to acquire this car? I don’t think so. The history, the documentation, and the fact that the factory paint is still the color coat you’re seeing make for a rare opportunity. Ravel Black is perfectly complemented by the all-red interior and red side spears. There’s just nothing not to like here, unless the two-speed automatic transmission is not to your taste, but suck it up and let the car do the shifting, will ya? You’re not going to find a finer ride for anywhere near this cash.