Original, un-restored cars from the 1960s are becoming harder and harder to find. Even if they aren’t mint, it’s nice to be able to start with cars that haven’t been “messed with.” This 1965 Ford Fairlane Sports Coupe fits that definition, only has two doors to satisfy the coupe-only folks, and is available for sale here on eBay without a reserve. The car is located in Seattle, Washington and bidding has only reached $3,750 as I write.
The Fairlane appears to be in a Ford-friendly environment as one can see. This side of the Wimbledon White car appears to be straight, and while there is surface rust on trim and bumpers, it doesn’t look too bad. Looking at the body plate from the car, it was originally delivered to the Seattle zone. That would have me wondering about rust given all the rain. We don’t get good shots of the rocker panels or quarter panels so an inspection or further photos are probably in order. The body plate also tells us that the car was equipped with a 289 “premium” V-8 (this is not a K-code) with a four-barrel carburetor. It was manufactured in Kansas City and left the factory with a 3.00:1 rear end and a C-4 automatic transmission.
I think there’s a crease in this rear fender behind the door but it’s honestly hard to tell with such poor lighting. All the trim, including the cool Sports Coupe scripts, appear to be in place. The seller does tell us that the driver’s side door and trunk floor have some rust issues.
The interior still features the factory white Ford bucket seats and red carpet and trim. I wonder what a good cleaning would do here?
Here’s that 289, which not only looks very original but should provide plenty of power to move the 2,984-pound car around. And with only 15,141 of the 223,954 1965 Fairlanes produced being Sports Coupes, I suspect this car is pretty rare at shows and events today. The seller tells us the engine runs, drives and stops but provides no details on how well it performs those tasks. According to the NADA price guide, the car is still below the “low retail” estimate for a 1965 Sports Coupe, and with the amount of originality here it might be a bargain. What do you think? Anyone ever had one of these coupes?
It’d be a unique car to restore but I’d be leery of anything that has lived for any length of time in the Seattle area. Not to say every car or truck on the NW Coast is suspect but as my BIL lives in Paulsbo and works near Bremerton it’s always awe-inspiring to see moss growing on some of his neighbors cars when we go visit!!
You’ve good eyes, Jamie, that’s a good size crease behind the drivers door-possibly inflicted by someone DWTO (Driving When Too Old) as they were parking?
Or possibly a millennial with no driving experience!
True, Ken! If it’d been a STICK:that would’ve made it almost Millennial-proof here in the US, although my terrific daughter learned all the pertinent car stuff (especially clutch work) driving my ‘06 Cummins 4×4 6spd manual, God Bless her!!! To that end she and my SIL recently brought a Subaru and had to special order it to GET a manual transmission…Sad it’s come to that anymore.
Nice car. The “Sports Coupe” was a rare car. Most people didn’t buy a Fairlane for it’s sportiness, it was just a plain, mid size car, millions boringly took to work and it sat. One notch up from the Falcon. The Sports Coupe was, I figure, the bosses up and coming son ( or in law) still working in the mailroom, but a big future ahead, and he chose the Fairlane 500 Sports Coupe. Not a 7 litre Ford or T-Bird material, yet, but it showed someone had class, even on a budget. Since this car is already very presentable, and reasonable, it could be cleaned up and enjoyed as is. It was a special car, for sure.
Nevada. It won’t be much longer and you won’t be able to buy a stick shift car as they will all be either automatic, electric, hydrogen etc . A sad sign of the times that we now live in. Well at least we have enjoyed stick shifts, overdrive, hill holders, crash boxes, synchromesh and automatics so we can’t complain. (Too much!)
You’re absolutely right, Ken, our generations have been the lucky ones. Manually rowing thru the gears, the sweet sound of an angry Jag, snarling V8 or the angelic scream of a hi revving multi cylinder motor singing like the Sirens of Greek mythology. We are the fortunate ones, and guys like you, geomechs, Howard, Scotty G., Jamie with all the rest here help to pass on to those that will listen to the tales of another time and perhaps keep the torch lit a little longer.
On a lighter side, my ‘61 Midget had a hillholder-whenever I stopped on a steep hill, I’d reach under my left shoulder, jerk the door cord and slam the door open while simultaneously shoving the brick I had in front of my seat under the left front tire. When I started forward it’d be the same but I’d snatch the brick as I passed over it..
And this, along with the inflated prices, are why I’ll NEVER buy a new pickup truck (yes, I realize that a Fairlane isn’t a pickup lol!). I stopped by EVERY local dealer to spec out a new, full size, 1/2 ton, regular cab 4×4 with an 8′ bed a month or so ago. I told the sales reps that I wanted a base model truck and the only extras should be the biggest gas engine, heaviest tow package, tilt wheel and a/c. They looked at me like I was nuts when I wanted a regular cab/8′ bed and I’m thinking they were getting set to have me committed when I asked about a manual transmission! I found out that the ONLY full size truck that has a manual trans available today is a 3/4 or 1 ton Ram…I still call them Dodge…with the Cummins engine. When they quoted prices around $40k, for a truck that I don’t want, I decided that I’d just keep my 78 GMC K-35 and rebuild it…again. yes, I was considering “downsizing” to a 1/2 ton but, I don’t see any sense in doing so now.
What was the difference between a 289 Premium and a K code one ?
Was the Premium just the base 289 ?
Asking for my cousin.
The 289’s available in a ’65 Fairlane were the “Challenger” (2-V, 200hp), the “Challenger Special” (4-V, 225hp) and the “Challenger High Performance” aka K-code, Hi-Po. This car has the Challenger Special. As McQ pointed out, it requires Premium fuel because of higher compression. Ford didn’t refer to any 289 as “Premium”.
On the air cleaner there’s an orange sticker that says 4V 289 Premium Fuel required. For 1965 the 289-4bbl. or 4V became optional for the Fairlane. It was essentially a “warmed up” version of the standard 289-2V. With the 4 barrel Ford carb the engine got pistons that raised the compression ratio thus requiring premium (ethyl!) fuel. The K Code was the High Performance 289 which had become available to Fairlanes in mid 1963. The K code was only avaiable to Fairlanes for ‘63-‘64-‘65. It was a very unique engine featuring a heavy duty block, 10.5:1 compression ratio, a true high performance solid lifter camshaft, dual point centrifugal advance distributor, free flowing exhaust manifolds, topped with a special version of the Ford Autolite carburetor. The heads were unique too. Essentially the exact engine Shelby chose for his small block Cobras. The suspension system in K Code Fairlanes also featured the Nine inch differential. I could go on too long about K Code Fairlanes so I’ll give it up here.
As I’ve said before, this is the forgotten year for Fairlanes. However, with a little fixing up, this can be a real eye catcher. Being a hardtop with a 289 is definitely a plus.
Too bad there are no pics of the undercarriage. I made the mistake many years ago buying a 1967 Cyclone without looking under the car. Found out later that some the floors and torque boxes were MIA!
Had one just like this back in ’77 (in ugly green) and got rear ended hard. Thanks to the low back bucket seats the whiplash I got still bothers me. Man that little 289 would run.
These earlier Fairlanes are probably more interesting now, to a point, than when new or even twenty years afterwards. Figure the folks looking for a sporty new Ford in ’65 walked right past these to drool over the new Mustang! The ’66-67 Fairlanes most definitely had more sporty appeal…for me anyways.
Troy S: Your assesment regarding folks going for the new Mustang is right on the mark. And I also agree with your opinion on increasing interest in the early unibody/midsize Fairlanes (‘62-‘65). Now as for the ‘66-‘67 …. wait I completely agree with you here too. But here’s just a personal anecdote – in the summer of ‘65 my dad bought a new Fairlane 500 2-dr hardtop, 289-2V, automatic. Red with white top. I thought it was a sharp looking car although I thought it a dog compared to my daily driver: ‘55 Bel Air with 327 power and stick. When I first saw a ‘66 Fairlane 2-dr hardtop I was underwhelmed. I thought it strange compared to pop’s ‘65. But the ‘66 grew on me to the point I parted with the ‘55 to acquire a Fairlane GT/A 390.
As for this ‘65 featured here on BF – I think it’s a super opportunity! Should sell for a very reasonable price. It’s a 2 dr. Sports Coupe … bucket seats, console, and the uncommon Challenger Special 289-4V. Should be a reasonably easy resto and a fun cruiser.
Yes, McQ, this ’65 would be a draw at any show/cruise with a few tweaks done to it, especially with Ford people around. Not a bad car at all…
It’s just to nice to mess with. Mags, loud pipes, decent tires, it’s just the way I look at cars of these years.
Fifteen minutes tops behind the wheel of a ’67 Fairlane street/strip car is all it took to rattle my nerves at the age of eighteen. The impression that 428 loaded with 427 medium riser parts left on me was unreal! Scary fast.
Is that console original from Ford ?
Yes. That is an original console for that Fairlane.
gone @ 4K$.
Like the nxt ‘stacked hdlghts’ models
Well I must say I hate Fords but this one almost changed my Orange Ape prefferences.
Fairlane Sport Coupes were the only models Ford put in bucket seats and a center console
still for sale 10/1/2021
is this 65 fairlane still for sale 7/29/2022