1965 Ford Fairlane 500

Description

Wow, when was the last time you saw one of these? 1965 Ford Fairlanes aren't exactly common these days, especially not in bright with a matching red interior. Add a sweet-running 289, and you have a great runner that's bound to generate more than its fair share of double-takes on the street and an easy car to upgrade to take it to the next level.

I liken the early '60s Fairlanes to the industrial-strength Mopars of the same period: lots of power without a lot of excess baggage. The lines are clean but very subdued, the roofline is formal but stylish, and there's only enough trim to make a statement. Painting it red attracts a lot of attention, with this one being repainted quite a few years ago and perhaps in need of some freshening today. However, the paint obviously doesn't hide anything so you won't find major surprises underneath, and the look is still pretty intimidating. Seriously, if this car rolled up next to you at a light, you'd think twice about punching it when the light turned green; who knows what kind of evil lurks under that long hood? Fortunately, there's enough chrome to lighten the mood a bit, and all of it remains in great shape, particularly the angular side trim that matches the forward-canted angle of the roof. And I think Chrysler owes Ford an apology, because that concave rear window looks awfully familiar, don't you think?

Personally, I think red interiors are a great choice no matter what you're driving. Flashy but traditional, the bench seat setup in this car has a luxurious yet sporty look that matches the car's personality. The seat cover, door panels, headliner, and carpets are all older pieces and showing their age a bit, but you don't have to worry much about it at this price. The instrument panel is original and all the gauges are disconnected, so that's a place where you can really add some value. The original AM radio is gone so it's ready for any kind of entertainment you'd like to add, and aside from a heater and defroster, this car is pretty light on options, so you know it was ordered and built to do just one thing out on the mean streets. The back seat is big enough for three friends (or "ballast" as we used to call them) and with a giant trunk, road trips or excursions to the track don't mean you have to leave essentials behind.

A snarling 289 cubic inch V8 lives under the hood, and gives the Fairlane the moves of a much younger machine. Great low-end torque means it gets out of the hole quickly and the 289's penchant for high-RPM excursions comes via an aluminum intake and Holley 4-barrel carb. Ford Blue paint on the block looks the way Ford did it back in the day, with just enough bright chrome to make it look important. The transmission is a familiar C4 3-speed automatic and a 9-inch rear with 2.80 gears inside means this is an easy cruiser. A recent dual exhaust system with glasspack-style mufflers sounds fantastic at, say 5000 RPM, and the vintage Magnum 500 wheels wear 225/70/14 white-letter radials that add the perfect performance look.

An unusual, fast, fun cruiser that will have a lot of folks scratching their heads after having their doors blown off. With a little TLC, this could be a really impressive car. If that sounds like fun, call us today!