The couple who stand behind this 1966 Fairlane GTA look pretty proud of their classic Ford, and as you are about to see, that pride is well-founded. For lurking under that layer of dust is a stunning vehicle, just waiting to be released from the shackles of what appears to be years of inactivity. As you will see, the hard work has now been completed. The Fairlane is now looking for a new owner who is willing to fit the final tiny pieces into this puzzle, and to complete the transformation from the dusty (but not ugly) duckling into the beautiful swan. Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, you will find the Ford listed for sale here on eBay. At the time of writing, the bidding has reached $20,200 in what is a No Reserve auction.
Wow! Sorry, but I really can’t do a lot better than that as a first impression. The Fairlane has certainly undergone a bit of a transformation since we saw it sitting in the garage. Of course, a project like this is definitely helped along when the owner is starting from a solid base. The GTA is a rust-free vehicle, and it did receive a high-quality repaint at some point in the past. This process entailed the removal of every piece of glass and trim, with the panels made laser-straight before a fresh coat of the original Black paint, was applied. The current owner has meticulously detailed the exterior, and while he does note a few minor scratches and chips around the car, it remains rust-free, completely free of any form of filler or Bondo, and beautifully presented. The red side-stripe provides a nice contrast and is the perfect way of tying the exterior and the interior together. All of the chrome and trim has a great shine to it, as do the wheels. The majority of the glass is said to be original, and it is free of any flaws, chips, or cracks.
This Fairlane is a real-deal, full numbers-matching GTA, complete with an S-Code 390ci V8. This is backed by a 3-speed automatic transmission, while the car foregoes power assistance for either the steering or brakes. In standard form, the 390 would have been good for around 335hp, but I suspect that the figure is probably a bit more than that today. Notice how clean the engine is? That’s for good reason. The owner has had it pulled and rebuilt. During that process, he also chose to have it balanced and blueprinted. It’s nothing radical, but it should result in the engine being capable of producing more than its original output figure, and doing it very smoothly. That also means that once the engine is nicely bedded-in, it should be capable of meeting or exceeding the 15-second ¼ mile ET that it was capable of when it was new. If I bought the car and was going to test this, I’d probably want to give it a chance to get a few miles under its belt first. After all, that engine has only accrued around 10-hours of running since it was rebuilt. Of course, it’s no great surprise to learn that the Fairlane runs and drives really well.
When you look at the interior, it’s easy to see why I said that the red side-stripe did a nice job of tying the exterior to the interior. That’s a lot of red! It presents beautifully, but that is for one very good reason. The vast majority of the interior is brand new. The owner does note a couple of minor badges that are missing, along with the fact that the console requires attention, and I have also noticed that the original radio is missing. What we are talking about here though are some pretty minor details. However, I’m not about to trivialize these sorts of items. In the past, I’ve talked about the “one-percenters.” These are those tiny details that can make the difference between a good restoration and a truly great one. That is what we are talking about here, and while the interior looks good now, it could potentially knock your socks off once complete.
It would be very easy to be overwhelmed by this stunning 1966 Fairlane GTA and to ignore the details that would be required to complete the restoration. To do that would be to do the car a great dis-service. It isn’t perfect, but there is little doubt that if you owned it Fairlane, you could park it anywhere and hold your head high with the knowledge that this special find is still a great driver!
Beautiful…please keep her stock next care taker.
Okay, I have to ask for my own enlightenment. Repainted, new interior with the engine removed and blueprinted. Survivor? Don’t get me wrong, I love this car but I’m confused about calling it a ‘survivor’.
Both sides of the mouth speak. Just two sentences earlier: “…..details that would be required to complete the restoration.”
How about replacing the “S-word” with “special car”?
Yep, that’d do it….
North of the Mason Dixon line, we call anything that has escaped the tinworms a survivor! Most of these didn’t last much beyond 1970.
Black car, Las Vegas, almost summer, no AC I know why they’re selling it.
WHY,WHY,WHY can’t I find a car near me like this and not across the entire states? Always in Portland area or Near California or Nearby the Nevada landscape!!! I am in Ohio, the rust belt.Yes!! My Dream Car for many of many years. But as is a, only a Dream!!!!!😭
If Mohammad will not go to the mountain then you must bring the mountain to Mohammad. Rob, you are the mountain.
Or to put it more contemporary terms Captain Ahab did not sit around his swank Nantucket bachelor digs waiting for Moby Dick to swim along. He gassed up the Pequod, called up Starbuck and Queequeg, shanghaied Ishmael and went after the white whale or black GTA as the case may be.
You are living wrong, as are we all. You must get on your horse and ride.
That should be enough tangled and rickety metaphor to suit your purposes and get you straightened out. Have at it.
Wonderful sentiment, Paolo. What is truly disturbing is that it makes some sort of sense to me.
But then again, I work for the Department of Redundancy Dept.
You certainly can’t buy a new car for this kind of money ! And a classic muscle that looks this great ! Dude, you only live once and can’t take it with you !
Hey Rob-! I drive a car( many times sight unseen) back 2400 miles from Arizona to Canada every year-its no big deal-and its fun, cheaper than shipping-take a chance.Check out route 66!
Because Rob, as others have said, you and I are living wrong. Even worse for me; I’m in Buffalo. I actually shipped a car here from CA. The car should’ve stayed where it was and I should’ve been shipped to it.
Beautiful just beautiful the way it is!!!!
Rob, if you got the money, nothing can compare with driving your dream car across country home. Mate, I will even take the longer route….
This car is a stunner!! The big block looks right at home under there!!! Worth every penny!!!
The seller’s Cadillac lucks to be reasonable as well
Is nice all right….
Had to laugh at the cherry bomb mufflers in the newer-looking pipes though. I’ll bet it is way louder than the average 60’s Caddy!
Beautiful just beautiful, is the way it is…
My opinion is the same as others stated. What a beautiful car! If I bought it I would upgrade brakes keeping the old parts to make it a safer car to enjoy. Because I would definitely be in the carb secondaries drinking the premium petrol!
Owned this same car in 1966 same color and same interior but mine was a 4speed Car was very strong ran against GTOs and 396Chevelles Did not haveAC was interested in speed not convenience Still love the lines of the car My Buddy had the same car it his was Dark Blue with 410rear He beat me off the line but I got him at top end
Nice !
I wouldn’t call it a survivor, as some are pointing out. It’s restored. But it is definitely a beautiful car.
Personally, I would put on a set of Magnum 500s or the original GT styled steel wheels. I think the ones on it are from a ’68-69 Torino GT. Beyond that I wouldn’t change a thing
Tough old Fairlane,, the lack of AC, power steering and power brakes probably seemed perfectly normal on a high performance machine like this. Curious if it has better heads and a different intake set up on the 390.
I’ve probably said it a hundred times for at least three decades….Ford’s best looking intermediate muscle car….in my humble opinion. Stay healthy.
I liked these cars when they were new and still love them now. This car is absolutely beautiful. Ofcourse when it was new and I was a whipper snapper of about 20 years I would have passed on it thinking all cars worth driving had to have 4 speed transmission. However, times have changed I’ve gotten old and now prefer the ease of the automatic transmission.
God bless America
What a beautiful car! Of all the Fairlanes, the 66-67 years were the best! The ONLY way to improve on this car, would be a 427 8-V with either tunnel port heads, or a CAMMER, and of course a 4 speed!!! However, I would still take this car, and be very proud of it!!!
Call it whatever you want, survior-restored, whats not to like? I would love to own it!
I had a convertible XL in high school. Dark blue white top. 390 4 speed. Bought it for $200 . Loved that car