Ford Fairlane (North American)
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- See also Ford Fairlane (Australian)
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The Ford Fairlane was an automobile model sold between 1955 and 1971 by the Ford Motor Company in North America. The name was taken from Henry Ford's estate, Fair Lane, near Dearborn, Michigan.
Over time, the name referred to a number of different cars in different classes; the Fairlane was a full-size car during the 1950s but became a mid-size car in the 1960s. The mid-sized model spawned the Australian-built Fairlane in 1967, although it was considered a large car there.
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[edit] 1950s full-size car
- See also 1955 Ford
For 1955, the Fairlane name replaced the Crestline as Ford's premier full-size offering. Overshadowed then and especially now by the contemporary Chevrolet Bel Air, the Fairlane was nevertheless successful and considered quite desirable and stylish. Six different body styles were offered, including the Crown Victoria Skyliner with a tinted, transparent plastic roof, the regular Crown Victoria coupe with lots of stainless steel trim, a convertible Sunliner, Victoria coupe, and traditional sedans. All featured the trademark stainless-steel "Fairlane stripe" on the side. Power options were a 223 in³ (3.7 L) straight-6 engine and a 272 in³ (4.5 L) V8.
1956 saw few changes; a 4-door Victoria hardtop was introduced, and two new, more powerful V8 options, of 292 in³ (4.8 L) and 312 in³ (5.1 L), the latter available up to 225 brake horsepower (168 kW).
- See also 1957 Ford
For 1957, a new look gave a longer, wider, lower and sleeker look with low tailfins. A new top trim level was added, the Fairlane 500. For the first time, the lower-level Custom line had a shorter wheelbase than the Fairlane. Engines were largely the same as the year before. The big news for 1957 was the introduction of the Fairlane 500 Skyliner power retractable hardtop, whose solid top hinged and folded down into the trunk space at the touch of a button. Unfortunately, it attracted more attention than sales; the option was expensive, somewhat unreliable, and took up almost all the trunk space when retracted. Even so, it required the roof to be made shorter than the other Fairlanes, and the trunk to be larger.
Another facelift for 1958 saw fashionable quad headlights, a grille that matched the 1958 Thunderbird, and other styling changes. New big-block FE V8s of 332 and 352 in³ (5.4) and (5.8 L) replaced the previous largest V8s, and a better 3-speed automatic transmission was also available.
1959 saw a new top-level full-size model introduced at mid-year, the Ford Galaxie.
- See also 1960 Ford
Full-size Fairlane and Fairlane 500 models were redesigned for 1960 and continued through 1961.
[edit] 1960s mid-size car
The Ford Fairlane was reintroduced for the 1962 model year to bridge the gap between the compact Ford Falcon and the full-size Galaxie, making it a competitor for GM's A-body 'senior compacts'. With an overall length of 197 in (5004 mm) and a wheelbase of 115.5 in (2934 mm) it was 16 in (406 mm) longer than the Falcon and 12.3 in (312 mm) shorter than the Galaxie.
Like the Falcon, the Fairlane was a unit body structure, but the body incorporated an unusual feature Ford dubbed 'torque boxes,' four boxed structures in the lower body structure designed to absorb road shock by moving slightly in the vertical plane. Suspension was a conventional short-long arm independent arrangement in front, with Hotchkiss drive in the rear. The Fairlane was initially offered only in two-door or four-door sedan body styles.
The Fairlane's standard engine was the 170 in³ (2.8 L) six, but as an option, it introduced Ford's new, lightweight V8, initially with a displacement of 221 in³ (3.6 L) and 145 hp (108 kW); a 260 in³ (4.2 L) version was added at mid-year, with an advertised 164 hp. The 500 Sports Coupe débuted mid-year and featured bucket seats and a mini console. The 260 was bored out to 289 in³ for 1963, the same year a station wagon arrived, called the Ranch Wagon and Ranch Custom Wagon. The Fairlane 500 trim appeared in this year, too, continuing to the 1971 model year. All 1962 Fairlanes had "B" posts despite the popularity of the pillarless hardtop and convertible styles in that era.
Ford saw the problem and introduced two pillarless hardtop coupes for 1963, in Fairlane 500 and Sports Coupe trim. Front end styling for the '63 models mimicked the big Galaxie models, but the rear end retained the small tailfins and "pieplate" taillamp styling cues. The Squire wagon (a fake woodie) was available for 1963 only, including one model with front bucket seats. 1963 saw the introduction of the bored-out 289 cubic inch V8 which could be ordered with up to 271 brake horsepower, as well as three-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission, which could be specified in place of the old Fordomotic two-speed unit which was also available.
The 1964 and 1965 Fairlane ranges consisted of similar body styles: two- and four-door sedan, two-door hardtop and Sports Coupé, and the station wagon. All 1965 models featured 14" wheels as standard, and Fordomatic was finally phased out, leaving Cruise-O-Matic the only automatic available for the Fairlane. Styling features for 1965 included body-color headlight bezels for the deluxe models and rectangular taillight lenses, along with less chrome on the body and a small standup hood ornament.
The Fairlane was revised in 1966, and spawned a Mercury Comet twin. XL, GT and GTA packages were introduced, as well as a convertible to join the existing range of sedans, hardtops and station wagons. The GT featured a 390 in³ V8 as standard, while the GTA had a SportShift Cruise-o-Matic automatic transmission. The base 390 in³ engine, meanwhile, developed 335 bhp and had a four-barrel carburetor. In c. 60 Fairlanes with a Special Handling package, Ford installed a detuned 427 in³ unit, rated at 410 bhp rather than the 425 of the NASCAR cars. The Country Squire wagon débuted for 1966.
Minor trim changes were introduced for 1967 as the Fairlane was mildly facelifted. The 289 in³ small-block became standard, with the 390 in³ optional (with either two- or four-barrel carburetor, at 275 and 320 bhp respectively). The 427s were still available, either with a single four-barrel carburetor or dual quad carbs, developing 410 and 425 bhp respectively. The notable addition for the 1967 model year was a Ranchero pick-up truck as part of the Fairlane range. 1967 Fairlanes also saw the introduction of a number of Federal government-mandated safety features, including a new energy-absorbing steering column with large padded steering wheel hub, soft interior trim, 4-way hazard flashers, and shoulder belt anchors.
The Falcon Ranchero and Falcon station wagon were, between 1966 and 1970, identical under the skin to the Fairlane versions of the same model. Only sheetmetal and trim differed.
[edit] Thunderbolt
As the muscle car market took shape, Ford introduced a Fairlane for drag strip racing for 1964, heavily modified to incorporate a 427 in³ (7.0 L) V8 with two four-barrel carburetors on a high-riser manifold, ram-air through the openings left by deleting the inboard headlights, equal-length headers, trunk-mounted battery, fiberglass hood, doors, fenders and front bumper, acrylic glass windows, and other lightweight options including deleted rear door window winders, carpeting, radio, sealant, sun visors, armrests, jack, lug wrench, heater, soundproofing, and passenger side windshield wiper. This special model, of which 111 to 127 total were made depending on who you ask, delivered 500 hp (373 kW) at 7,000 rpm and was known as the Thunderbolt.
Racing in NHRA Super Stock class on 7 inch tires, the Thunderbolt was based on the mid-level Fairlane 500 two door pillared sedan, and set elapsed time and top speed records in 1964 at 11.6 seconds and 124 mph (200 km/h), took the Super Stock title, and won the Manufacturer's Cup; it is very possibly the fastest drag racing production car ever produced. The car as delivered was in fact slightly too light to meet the NHRA 3200 lb (1451 kg) minimum weight unless it was raced with a full tank of gasoline, which would bring it to 3203 lb (1453 kg). NHRA rules then required a metal front bumper, so the cars began to be supplied with an aluminum bumper and previous purchasers were supplied with one.
Finally the NHRA changed the rules to require 500 models of a car to be manufactured for Super Stock competition, and Ford, which had been losing $1500 to $2000 on each Thunderbolt sold at the sticker price of $3900, gave up. The first 11 Thunderbolts were painted maroon, which was known as Vintage Burgundy in Ford literature, the rest were white; 99 had manual transmissions. Many still race, still delivering quarter mile elapsed times in the very impressive 11 second range and occasionally lower. About 50 similar Mercury Comet Cyclones were also produced by Ford in 1964, destined to be modified to represent Ford in A/FX competition, which they dominated as well.
[edit] Arrival of the Torino
A full redesign took place in 1968. Mercury introduced a Montego version of the Fairlane in this model year. The wheelbase remained at 116 in but it grew in other dimensions. The two-door sedan was deleted. A fastback Sportsroof model was introduced, as well as a more powerful Torino line, designating the top Fairlanes. Therefore, there were also Torino sedans and a Torino Squire station wagon. The Ranch Wagon model name was deleted: Fairlane wagons had either the base or the 500 trim. The GTs were part of the Torino range, and no longer the Fairlane's, with a 302 in³ as standard, with optional engines being the 390 in³ and 427 in³ V8s. The latter was replaced by the Cobra Jet 428, developing 335 bhp. There was even a Super Cobra Jet. The Ranchero had a GT model, in addition to standard and 500 versions.
The Torino Cobra GT was introduced in 1969. Basic models featured the 302 in³ V8 and three-speed manual transmission as standard, but bucket seats—which had been standard—became optional. The 1969s tried to capture the spirit of the lightweight 1964s, as a basic car with a lot of power. Options included the 390 in³ and two 428 in³ V8s. The Cobras, meanwhile, had a standard 428 in³ V8 with 335 bhp, and options included bucket seats, hood scoop, clock, tachometer, power disc brakes and 4·30-to-1 gearing. "Regular" Fairlanes and Rancheros continued, all with bucket-seat options.
An even more powerful version, the Torino Talladega, was created to compete on the NASCAR Grand National speedways. Only 754 were built. Like the Plymouth Superbird, the Sportsroof-based Talledega got a sloped nose and flush grille. The 428 in³ V8 was standard, but mated to a C-6 Cruise-o-Matic automatic transmission.
[edit] The 1970s
Probably at the instigation of Ford president Bunkie Knudsen (who was fired by Henry Ford II in September 1969), the Fairlane grew again in 1970, now with a 117 in wheelbase. The largest engine was now a 429 in³ with four-barrel carburetor and 360 bhp, on the Torino Cobra. Different heads were optional and gave the Cobra 370 bhp and higher compression. Other options included the Cobra Jet Ram Air 429, though Ford quoted the same power output, and the Drag Pack rated at 375 bhp. However, the ’70s were slower than the ’69s, and race teams were forced to run the older models.
Falcons appeared for 1970½ (on January 1, 1970) as a low-spec version of the Fairlane in this generation, making them intermediates and not compacts. These are relatively rare, Ford having produced only 26,000 examples of all 1970½ Falcon types.
The Fairlane two-door sedan returned for a single year, while the Ranchero gained a Squire trim level.
As the muscle-car era drew to a close, the 1971 Fairlane engines were downgraded. Engines now began with a 250 in³ six, with 302 in³, 350 in³ and 429 in³ V8 options. However, the Boss 429, the most powerful (375 bhp) engine, was no longer available. It was the last year of the Cobra and the convertibles.
The Falcon and Fairlane 500 were replaced by the Torino, as the higher range began to absorb the lower ones. The base Torino became the Torino 500 for 1971, while the Ranchero 500 was replaced by the Ranchero Custom. Consequently, no Fairlanes were offered in the US in and after 1971, even though the Torinos that year had all been derived from the 1970 Fairlane.
The Torino became a new line for 1972, independent of the Fairlane.
After this, the Fairlane name was used only on luxury, long-wheelbase versions of the Australian Ford Falcon (v.s.).
[edit] 2008 Ford Fairlane
In the 2005 Auto Show circuit, Ford revealed a new concept car with the Fairlane nameplate. The "people-mover" Fairlane crossover utility vehicle concept featured three-row seating for six passengers, and previewed the chromed three bar horizontal grill design, which also appears on the 2006 Ford Fusion sedan and 2007 Ford Edge crossover utility vehicle [1] [2].
A production version of the Fairlane concept, which may bear a different name, is slated to enter production and go on sale in 2008. It is to be built on the Ford D3 platform, which is also used by the Ford Freestyle, Ford Five Hundred, and Mercury Montego. It is intended to replace the Ford Freestar minivan [3]. See also: Motor Trend article on the Ford Fairlane
[edit] See also
- Ford Fairlane (Australian)
- List of Ford vehicles
- Ford Falcon
- Ford Torino
- Ford LTD
- Ford Fusion
- Ford Five Hundred
- Mercury Montego
- Mercury Cougar
- Meteor
[edit] External links
- 1960Fairlane.com -- A collection of tech info and photos of 1960 Fairlanes
- A 1970½ Ford Falcon
- Ford Fairlane at Muscle Car Facts
- Universal Classic Car VIN Decoder - Decode all 1960 Fords
- A year by year account of one of the greatest muscle cars ever
