This isn’t the typical car you’d find on a used car lot, or at least one in 2016! The 1965 update to the styling of the Ford Fairlane brought some angles to the 1964 model and continued the trend towards making the Fairlane’s styling a smaller version of the larger Ford models. This one really looks in period (or at least everything but the asking price on the windshield) with an even older car behind it on the lot! It’s located in sunny Tavares, Florida, which is close enough to Orlando that you can sell the whole family on a trip to Disney when you go pick it up!
You can really see the resemblance to the full size 1965 Galaxie from this view, with the main difference being the horizontal orientation of the tail lights versus the vertical ones on the Galaxie. The seller says the tops of the fenders have light rust but don’t mention anything else in the way of corrosion.
Here’s a picture of the right hand side; the left is similar. If this is all the rust there is, I’m pretty happy! It’s nice to see the period white walls and original wheel covers as well.
It’s a shame this neat car is at the back of the used car lot! The chrome looks pretty nice as well, and I think all the trim is present (and there’s plenty of it!) I actually thought the paint was original until I looked closely at the ID plate pictured in the auction; there’s some light overspray spots on the plate. The seller doesn’t claim original paint, but they do claim 22,932 original miles. I’m torn on that one.
While I would prefer bucket seats, the seats look pretty decent in both the front and the rear. Carpet looks nice as well. What do you think; does it have 22,ooo or 122,000 miles?
The engine looks pretty original as well, and a 289 should motivate this Fairlane quite nicely. I’m just not sure about the low mileage claim. Let me know what you think! And if you’re interested in checking out this fair Fairlane further, it’s available here on eBay, where bidding has yet to hit $1,000 but it hasn’t met the reserve yet either. Don’t forget to tell your family about their upcoming trip to Disney when you win the auction!
122K miles, no question in my mind
There would have to be paperwork proving original mileage, some people, like me, keep a box for receipts from oil changes and anything bought for the car. There’s one, looks like a coral color near a relatives house, in nice shape like this one.
and about 6K over on their ask
Ugliest fairlane ever made….but ole guy I used to work with has one he bought new….dark blue(my fav color) and a 289 4 speed….I would take it….
I totally disagree Dan; this is one of the most tasteful and crisply designed Fairlanes that will never go out of style.
My mind says 22K miles
I LIKE THE 64 STYLE BETTER. HAD A FEW. BEST ONE WAS A 500 SPORT COUPE 289SPECIAL OR SOMTING. bUT FAC. 4 SPD ORIG WHITE AND BLACK INT. BUCKETS AND A HUGH CONSOLE. KIND OF ROUGH BUT AREALLY HAD A KICK. PAID $125 SOLD $500i THINK IT WAS QUITE RARE A NOTHERTHER ONE THAT I WISH I STILL HAD,BUT THEN THERE WHERE LOTS TO BE FOUND FOR CHEAP. THOSE WHERE GOOD DAYS
Erik, I pictured a really old guy with an ear trumpet…
Not a very popular body style for the 60s. This is another “T-aint”… Definitely T-aint wroth the asking price.. The mileage claim also appears bogus.. The car sits too low for that.
IMHO,, worth grabbing for a driver, but don’t look to make any $$ reselling it.. Worth somewhere around $3k to $4k to a buyer whose salivating..
Good find,, not a bad car..
Agree, 64 style was much nicer. Perhaps I am biased given that I grew up in a 64 4-door in Gaurdsman Blue.
Count me with those who like the ’64 a whole lot better. Still, this is a nice survivor. Those look to be the original seats and interior. If this car has 122,000 miles on it, it would have had to be driven by Casper the friendly ghost or the invisible man. There’s no freakin’ way. And the steering wheel would be mostly black, since the factory paint wore off in about 40K.
Some people seem to think that if a car isn’t driven much, it should still appear pristine even after 50 years. Not the real world. Time takes its toll, especially in Florida of all places.
Never cared for the ’65 Fairlane, ’58 Chebby, or the ’58 Ford, but I’d take any one that looked this good nowadays. Well, maybe not the ’58’s.
I agree about the 58 Ford. . . 57 and 59 Fords were gorgeous cars but something about those hideous horizontal oval tail lamps on the 58 made them so much less desirable to me.
Great looking car regardless of the mileage. Nice clean interior, and a reliable 289 to get the missus and kids back from D’land.
Dudes & Dudesses.. This is the correct curb height for this vehicle, (see pic) which indicates the seller has a higher mileage car than what is being advertised.. Springs don’t sag from a lack of use.. IMHO
I’ve restored a lot of cars with high mileage and the rear springs (especially) sag.. Installed new springs and the curb height is perfect.. Check out the attached photo and then look at the sellers car..
My Dad had a 55 Ford Fairlane same color as the one partially hidden by the new Fairlane.
Yeah the car looks a little down in it’s cups….looks like a ’55/’56 Ford in the background.
I drove one of these to 150,000 miles and it looked a hell of a lot worse than this one when it finally cratored. I loved that car and wished I’d kept it. The engine was bullet proof but leaked oil at timing chain cover. Few people know it but this engine was not cast in sand like the engines built later on. 65 and 66 221, 260, 289 were cast using a special method that insured light weight and exacting tolerances but cost more. These engines were used in Tigers and the first runs of AC Cobras. I personally think that this is a low mileage car as the fabric seats tended to fray and discolor and cars with over 100K miles usually have way more damage. I wish this car good luck in the future and hope the new owners treat it with respect.
I can’t imagine the seats still looking as good as they do if the car had 122K.
I vote for 22k instead of 122 since the paint looks original and the interior looks so amazingly unrestored. Considering that these didn’t receive the top-grade fabrics that the Lincolns would have for example, there’s no way this interior could’ve survived 122k this well.
No overspray on the w-strips and hardware etc etc, all good omens for low mileage. That said, just being 50 years of age can wreak its own havocs…
My Grandmother had a 65 4d auto 289, with optional power disc brakes. She complained to my dad ” it screeches when I start and stop” Dad drove it and realized she was leaving and dragging rubber every start and stop!
Ugly yes. Hot Rod this thing and ugly goes out the window!
The 1965 Fairlane was my brothers first car (in 1968), aquamarine metallic, white roof, black interior, 289 3 on-the-three, beautiful car, fond memories. I was talking to my Uncle, a Ford salesman, in the show room he worked for years. he had sold my parents the car for my brother in ’68. This was in 1978, talking to my Uncle while in the Ford showroom and I brought up that Fairlane…..then one Fairlane identical to my brothers, slowly went down the street, looking kind of rough. I’d never seen another in that color combination, odd coincidence.
WAY too over priced!!! Get real folks. Plus, its on a car lot, too.