In 1968, Bob Mannel began his search for his first Fairlane. A friend had provided him with a 1963 Ford Buyer’s Digest, which showcased all the Fairlane models and available engine options for that year. Among the illustrations, the depiction of a High Performance 289-4V engine caught Bob’s eye and sparked a lasting fascination with this particular powerplant.

Bob wasn’t able to locate and purchase an affordable Fairlane equipped with the High Performance 289-4V back in 1968. It wasn’t until 1984 that he finally landed a Fairlane with the rare High Performance engine option. And what a Fairlane it was!

An affinity for Ford small-block V-8s

From 1968 to the early 1980s, Bob was elbow-deep working with Fords packing other small-block V-8 engines, such as the 221-cid V-8, 260-cid V-8 and the pedestrian version of the 289-cid V-8. His first car, a white-over-turquoise 1962 Fairlane, was powered by the 221-cid V-8. His wife’s chestnut 1963 Fairlane Sports Coupe also featured the 221-cid V-8, which was later upgraded to a 260-cid V-8. Another one of the couple’s Fairlanes, a 1963 Country Squire station wagon, received a 289-4V to replace its original 260-cid V-8. Additionally, a 1963 Fairlane Sports Coupe was upgraded to a 289 engine using Ford’s Muscle Parts Program components, transforming it into a hydraulic version of the High Performance 289. As Bob’s small-block collection continued to grow, it even came to include a couple Mercurys: a 1964 Comet Caliente and a 1965 Comet hardtop, both powered by small-block Ford V-8s.

With so many small-block-powered Ford Motor Co. products — especially Fairlanes — coming and going from his garage, Bob found himself networking with other Fairlane owners. One thing led to another, and in 1981, he and his wife Jane contributed to the establishment of the Fairlane Club of America. They subsequently launched a newsletter titled Fairlaner that, over time, developed into a magazine under their editorial leadership. 

With a wealth of small-block Ford V-8 knowledge and hands-on experience with the engine, combined with his Fairlane connections, Bob set out to write a comprehensive book about the engines that powered his beloved Fairlanes, as well as other Ford models. The book included coverage of popular Mustang V-8s due to the high interest in Ford’s pony car, but Bob’s primary focus was on the smaller-displacement engines found in their predecessors, notably pre-1965 Fairlane models.

New Ford, new small-block V-8

For the 1962 model year, Ford repositioned the Fairlane from a full-size model to a new intermediate model, bridging the compact Falcon and the full-sized Galaxie. The Fairlane was designed to compete with Chevrolet’s new Nova and Plymouth’s new shorter models. Measuring 197 inches in length with a 115.5-inch wheelbase, it was 16 inches longer than the Falcon and 12.3 inches shorter than the Galaxie.

Fairlane styling borrowed from several FoMoCo products, and for its inaugural model year of 1962, it actually borrowed more of its styling cues from the full-size 1961 Fords rather than the restyled 1962 big Fords. The 1962 Fairlane had small canted tailfins that terminated above large, round taillamp lenses, as on a 1961 Ford. The Fairlane grille incorporated horizontal quad headlamps and appeared close to that of the 1959 Edsel grille, but without the Edsel’s central “horse collar.” The roofs of the new 1962 Fairlanes had wide C pillars, as seen on a Thunderbird.

Structurally, the new Fairlane featured unit-body construction incorporating Ford’s distinctive “torque boxes,” which improved vertical absorption of road shock. Its front suspension utilized a standard short-long arm design, complemented by a Hotchkiss drive system at the rear. For 1962, Fairlane body styles included only two-door and four-door sedans available in both the base Fairlane and top-line Fairlane 500 trim lines.

Fairlane powertrain options for 1962 began with a standard 170-cid inline six-cylinder engine, while the introduction of Ford’s lightweight small-block V-8s provided increased performance at extra cost. Initially available as a 221-cid variant generating 145 hp, mid-year saw the addition of a 260-cid “Challenger” version producing 164 hp. These new small-block V-8s packed good punch for their size — with relatively good gas mileage to boot — and fit nicely into the intermediate Fairlane’s engine bay. They were also lightweight, which helped keep the Fairlane’s overall weight down.

A Sports Coupe version of the Fairlane 500 two-door sedan debuted during the 1962 model year, adding bucket seats and a compact floor console. All top-line Fairlane 500s added wider side strip moldings and three bullet accents on the rear quarter panels not seen on base Fairlane models.

For its second model year, the midsize Fairlane/Fairlane 500 started to look more like the full-size Ford it complemented. The 1963 Fairlanes received new front fenders that were led by a concave grille very much like that of the 1963 Galaxie. However, the body shell from the cowl back remained the same as in 1962, so the 1961 big Ford’s tailfins appeared on Fairlanes for another year. The Fairlane line also increased for 1963 by adding station wagon and two-door hardtop models. 

The Challenger 221-cid and 260-cid V-8s returned as options for 1963, so the real news was the debut of the High Performance 289-4V engine (aka Hi-Po 289). This engine was based up on the small-block V-8s that had debuted in the Fairlane line in 1962, but besides being punched out to a larger displacement, it also had cast-iron headers, solid lifters, a nodular iron crankshaft, high-performance connecting rods, a wider harmonic dampener, a dual-point ignition system, Autolite 4100 series four-barrel carburetor, a hot camshaft and screw-in rocker-arm studs, among other performance goodies. These tricks brought the Hi-Po 289-cid V-8’s performance potential to 271 hp — not too far from one horsepower per cubic inch. Fairlanes equipped with the High Performance 289-4V engine received front fender-mounted “V” badges labeled “289 High Performance” to indicate the upgrade to John Q. Public, and a “K” as the fifth character in their VIN to identify the hot engine to Ford personnel. As a result of the “K” in their VIN, High Performance 289-4V cars are often called “K codes.” It’s worth noting the Hi-Po 289 was the same engine supplied to Carroll Shelby for use in Cobras — it’s a true high-performance, no-compromise engine designed for full-throttle operation, capable of generating its 271 hp at 6,000 rpm. Ford offered the engine through 1967, replacing it with the 302-cid V-8 in 1968. 

Fairlanes for 1964 received a minor refresh to mark the new model year, notably receiving a new forward-raked grille that mimicked the grilles of that year’s full-size Galaxies. The tailfins were finally clipped from the Fairlane, but the large, round jet exhaust-inspired taillamps remained, as did the wide Thunderbird-type C pillars. Since the 1962-1964 Fairlanes have a clear resemblance to one another, it’s logical that Bob Mannel would concentrate his small-block engine research efforts to Fairlanes of these model years.

Landing a Hi-Po 289 four-door

Locating and documenting early-1960s examples of the 221-, 260- and standard 289-cid V-8 engines for his book was relatively easy in the large junkyards around Bob’s Los Angeles home. However, the Hi-Po 289 was much rarer and highly sought after by Mustang enthusiasts, making it difficult to find examples. 

After relocating to the Northwest, Bob placed a want ad in the Seattle Times seeking early Ford small-block V-8 engines to document. This led him to a neglected 1963 Fairlane 500 four-door in the Seattle area equipped with the 289 Hi-Po engine he had been searching for. The seller would only sell the car as a complete unit, refusing to separate the engine from the car.

Bob struck a deal and brought the whole Fairlane 500 home. He removed the engine for documentation, but chose to keep the rest of the car since he had never heard of a High Performance 289-4V being factory installed in a four-door sedan. Through further research, Bob discovered that only one other four-door sedan with this engine had been produced in 1963, but it had been scrapped before it could be saved — likely for its valuable engine and drivetrain. This left Bob’s Hi-Po 289 Fairlane 500 as the sole surviving K-code four-door.

When Ford Motor Co. installed the High Performance 289-4V engine in Bob’s Fairlane 500 four-door sedan, it paired it with a column-shifted manual three-speed transmission — specifically, a modified heavy-duty Galaxie unit usually paired with a 390 V-8 — rather than the typical Fairlane unit. It’s believed this transmission was installed to better handle the increased horsepower of the High Performance 289-4V engine. Like other 1963 Hi-Po 289s, the exhaust system was comprised of a single 2-3/4-inch pipe and a special muffler. Both the engine assembly and scheduled build date of Bob’s car occurred on April 9, 1963.

The white 1963 Fairlane four-door sedan had passed through seven owners before Bob acquired it. He learned it was originally ordered by Westside Ford, Inc. in Seattle, potentially for use as a showroom display as it was outfitted with chrome valve covers, likely for aesthetic enhancement. Apparently having a performance engine in its four-door body didn’t help sell the Fairlane 500, and it took five months into the following model year to find a buyer. When the Hi-Po 289 Fairlane 500 did finally sell, it was sold as a leftover model at a heavily discounted price of $1,950 (the base price of a 1963 Fairlane 500 sedan, before any options, was $2,407). Each owner used the car as a daily driver and modified it to suit their needs. These included changes to the rear gear ratio, the vacuum advance distributor and the installation of hydraulic lifters. After 12 years and 94,000 miles of use, the rare Fairlane 500 was parked in a field for four years. Bob saved it from the field in 1984, then stored it another four years, although in better conditions.

Restoration journey

In addition to removing the engine and transmission for documentation, Bob also removed the seats, carpet, door panels and any other items that might attract mold and mildew. He then treated the car’s metal surfaces with primer and undercoating to prevent rust. The car remained mobile and was stored in three different states over the course of Bob’s career as a U.S. Navy pilot. 

In 2016, Bob finally had the opportunity to begin restoring his K-Code Fairlane 500. The car spent six months with a professional restorer to repair the chassis and receive a fresh coat of white paint. Bob then undertook the meticulous task of overhauling and reassembling all components. The restored Hi-Po 1963 Fairlane 500 four-door sedan made its debut appearance at the 2022 Fairlane Club of America National Meet in Kingsport, Tenn. It was the only Hi-Po 1963 Fairlane four-door sedan at the meet, and as the lone survivor, it always will be.

Bob not only finished restoring the unique Fairlane four-door, he finished his book on Ford small-block V-8s. His book, titled “Mustang & Ford Small Block V8 1962-1969,” was finally self-published in 1998. It sold out in December 2024, but since 2015, he’s been updating its contents with a complementing PDF that was included with the printed books. Now that the book is sold out, he offers his PDF as a stand-alone, digital book at a nominal fee to cover his expenses. He continues his small-block Ford V-8 research, and updates his PDF of valuable information at http://www.fordsmallblock.com. 

Looking for more information on Fairlanes or just want to meet fellow Fairlane lovers? Check out the Fairlane Club of America.

Fairlane Club of America
7177 County Road 1135
Leonard,  TX  75452-6083
610-750-4703
https://fca.clubexpress.com

Love Fairlanes? Here are a few more articles for your reading enjoyment.

https://www.oldcarsweekly.com/car-of-the-week-1968-ford-fairlane-500-428-cobra-jet

https://www.oldcarsweekly.com/features/car-of-the-week-1960-ford-fairlane-500-article

https://www.oldcarsweekly.com/features/car-of-the-week-1968-ford-fairlane-500

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The post Car of the Week: 1963 Ford Fairlaine Hi-Po four-door appeared first on Old Cars Weekly.

Dallas Israel of Oregon considers his 1956 Ford Town Sedan to be a survivor, but not because it has its original paint, chrome and interior and low miles. It’s survived Israel learning to drive, going to college, three wrecks, a failed trade-in attempt and three marriages. Most recently, it survived the 2020 Riverside Fire in Oregon that came within a mile of Israel’s home.

“My father bought the car in 1959,” he said. “I learned to drive in it -— I have been driving the car since 1962.”

Israel’s father found the Ford through a friend that had used the car to haul a trailer. Such work can mechanically tax a vehicle, but Israel’s father knew the Ford had been well maintained during its chores.

Although Israel learned to drive on the 1956 Ford, it wasn’t his first choice for a car. That honor goes to an Austin-Healey, even if it was a short-lived affair.

“I got this (Ford) from him to replace my first car, a 1959 Austin-Healey Sprite, which was pretty fragile for a teenager. I had problems with the transmission and every time we needed to work on it, we had to pull the engine. Dad got tired of that and he paid me $150 to get rid of the Sprite, and he sold the Ford to me for $150, so he got his money back and got rid of the Sprite.”

The sale was back in 1965, and Isreal and the Ford have together ever since — including through some rocky periods. Those trials seem to have made Israel appreciate the ’56 Ford even more.

“There is a lot of sentimental value to it since my dad is, of course, gone,” he said. “I remember taking trips from Tracy [Calif.] to Bakersfield to see my grandparents, and I had my first date in the car. I can’t pinpoint one thing. It got me through college and just growing up.”

Israel didn’t immediately treasure the Ford, especially in college when everyone else was driving sportier two-doors. He set out to change his situation upon graduation in 1969 when he tried to swap his four-door Ford for his second roadster.

“When I graduated from college, I bought a ’66 MGB and I wanted to trade the Ford for the MGB and the guy at the British car dealer gave me $50 cash to keep the Ford. So I guess from that point on it has been like an old tire — they never really go away. That is why I call the car a survivor.”

Since the import car dealer refused the Ford, Israel kept it as a second car and split driving time between it and the MGB. It worked out in his favor, because Israel’s second dance with a British mistress went about as well as his first.

“My first wife redlined the MG too many times and blew the engine, so we kept the Ford and bought another car after the MG, but the Ford stayed.”

His first wife quickly developed a reputation for being hard on cars, and it wasn’t long before the Ford also succumbed to her heavy-handedness.

“My first wife totaled it,” Israel recalled. “She pulled out in front of someone. I always wanted to try my hand at restoring something, so I fixed it. I drove it without a bumper and one front fender until I could start piecing it together again.”

Israel eventually had the Ford back together again and looking good, but that was not to last.

“An old lady pulled out right in front of me and I had no chance to stop,” he said of the second accident.

“The (third accident) wasn’t that bad, but the hood opened itself up and hit the windshield. That caused damage to both front fenders and the hood, so that was an ordeal.”

After each accident, Israel repaired the damage and had the car repainted in its original Georgia Peach and Colonial White two-tone. He said decent body and trim parts were relatively easy to find on the West Coast, with the exception of the replacement hood. He ended up finding a different hood in Arizona that wasn’t nearly as straight as the seller sold it to be. With some work, it’s still covering the Ford’s original 292-cid V-8. That 292-cid V-8 also received some attention, eventually getting a rebuild that included a bore of .030 inch that raised the displacement to about 312 cubic inches with a four-barrel carburetor.

He also noticed the front frame cross member had rusted — a common occurrence on 1955 and ’56 Fords -— but he easily found a replacement.

The years and miles took enough of a toll on the old Ford that Israel eventually had the car reupholstered in the original materials. That was in the late 1980s or early ’90s. Thanks to Israel’s care and the mild West Coast climate, the Ford never required a frame-off restoration. It’s been more of a rolling project; whenever it needs something, Israel has repaired it.

“It’s been a very good car, all in all,” he said. “It runs like a Swiss watch and of course I don’t hot rod it — it is just a nice cruiser, a nice driver.”

Sure, a small part of Israel wishes his father had bought a sportier Crown Victoria or Sunliner version of the 1956 Ford Fairlane all those years ago, but he’s more than content with the Town Sedan. Since it’s been in the family for so long and it carries so many memories, he has absolutely no plans to ever part with it.

“It just hung around all of these years,” he said. “I told my son if he wants it, it would be nice to keep it in the family for the next 30 years or so.”

The Lifeguard ’56 Fords

The 1956 Fords closely resembled the 1955 Fords they followed, but the basic design of the 1956 Ford actually went back to 1952.

Following the wildly successful 1949-1951 Ford design, Ford completely restyled its cars for 1952 and put the new body on a new chassis. The redesign gave more flair to the rear of the cars, which had a quasi-fin in which round new taillamps and their supporting metal extended several inches beyond the trunk with jet exhaust-like flair. The cars looked lower with a stamped character feature in the design of the rear fenders. The headlamps were now frenched into their bezels for a very custom look, and the grille was an open and airy evolution of the grilles immediately before them. The new body was called a “Ford Coachcraft Body,” which suspiciously recalled Coachcraft, a California coachbuilder that had been building custom bodies since 1940 — some of them on Ford chassis. The Fords were advertised as “The big new ’52 Ford” and “the only completely modern car in its field.”

A six-cylinder was available for the thrifty-minded and to keep Ford in step with its competitors Chevrolet and Plymouth, which only offered sixes. However, Fords of this era could still be fitted with the famous flathead V-8 engine that also kept them one step ahead of the competition.

On the outside, Fords were simply given different trim and grille treatments from 1952 to 1954 model year. The big change for 1954 was the new overhead-valve V-8 that helped Ford keep pace with performance and technological advances.

For 1955, Chevrolet and Plymouth were all new and all modern from top to bottom — new bodies with wrap-around windshields and new V-8 engines. Ford was still able to sell its cars as being new — “Discover the thrill of a totally new Ford,” said ads — even though the engine and body were based on the 1954 components, but with major updates and improvements. Very few people knew the 1955 272- and 292-cid V-8s were based on the new-for-1954 239-cid V-8, and the 1955 body, now labeled as a Crestmark body, was a serious update to the 1952-’54 body given new outward sheet metal and a new cowl to accommodate 1955’s wrap-around windshield.

The 1955 Ford design is credited to Franklin Q. Hershey, who also designed the original Thunderbird that inspired full-size 1955 Ford styling. Like the Thunderbird, the big 1955 Fords used hooded headlamps and small fins atop Ford’s now-trademark round taillamps. The peaks of the hooded headlamps and tailfins were visually connected by a straight line that also formed the beltline, giving the Fords a cohesive modern look. Adding to the modern appearance was a lower top to the trunk and a hood that barely domed above the top of the front fenders. Graceful new side trim on the top new Fairlane model began atop the headlamps and then curved down the front fenders to a dip in the door. The trim then checkmarked back up the doors and then ran parallel to the ground until terminating in front of the rear taillamps. An exaggerated interpretation of this trim also appeared on Ford’s 1955 Mystere concept car.

Ford also shuffled model names for the new 1955 models. In 1954, Crestline was at the top, but was replaced in 1955 by the Fairlane; the midline Customline and low-line Mainline names were carried from 1954 to 1955 and ’56. The Fairlane series was the most diverse with the most models: a Sunliner convertible, the Crown Victoria with additional trim including a novel stainless band that stretched over the roof to form a B pillar; a Skyliner variation of the Crown Victoria in which the front half of the roof had a see-through Plexiglas panel; the Club Victoria two-door hardtop; the Town Sedan four-door sedan; and the Club Sedan two-door sedan. In 1956, a four-door hardtop was a must and Ford added this model with the Fordor Victoria during the year.

For 1956, Fords were simply updated. After all, why mess with a good thing? While Ford was updating its trim to the carried-over sheet metal, it incorporated a few tricks common among all manufacturers to make existing bodies looks lower and longer. Most notably, ’56 Ford parking lamps went from round to oval and the side trim became wider.

Fords for 1955 had V-8 engines that displaced 272 cubic inches or 292 cubic inches in the Thunderbird V-8 (the overhead-valve six displaced 223 cubic inches); these engines were mounted in a beefed-up frame incorporating a ball joint front suspension system. Starting came from a six-volt electrical system. For 1956, the V-8 engine choices remained the same but with the added availability of a 312-cubic-inch Thunderbird Special engine that came standard with a four-barrel; dual four-barrel carburetors became available for race applications later in 1956. All engines in 1955 and ’56 were touted as having “Trigger Torque” power. Ford also made a 12-volt electrical system standard in 1956 and routed the exhaust through the back bumper that year.

While the subtle styling changes were applauded and the mechanical improvements welcomed, Ford marketing was focused on new safety enhancements marketed under Lifeguard design. It didn’t replace Ford’s promotion of Thunderbird styling and Thunderbird performance, but Lifeguard design marketing certainly overshadowed them.

Lifeguard design came from Ford-funded research at Cornell University’s Medical College that showed that most harm to vehicular occupants in a collision was caused by being thrown from the car, harm from striking the instrument panel and windshield and impalement by the steering wheel and column.

Ford claimed that “Lifeguard design means greater protection for you and yours against injuries resulting from accidents. It embraces a whole new family of safety features” designed to prevent harm to occupants in a collision. Those standard safety features included double-grip door latches to keep doors from springing open in an accident; a deep-center steering wheel that “gave” to protect the driver from being hurt by the steering column and wheel; a shatter-resistant Safety-Swivel Mirror with “give;” and a seat track designed to keep from sliding forward in a collision. Optional Lifeguard equipment included seat belts and cushioned instrument panel and visors.

In this day of lane alerts, automatic braking and backup cameras, such basic safety features are appreciated. However, car buyers in 1956 had little to no interest in safety. In an article for Old Cars Weekly during the 1980s, Tim Howley said he knew many 1956 Ford owners. “They all raved about the car’s good looks and snappy performance and cursed the seat belts. Research showed that less than six percent of buyers were influenced by the safety pitch. In fact, research strongly indicated that the safety story was turning buyers away to Chevrolet.”

Indeed, Ford led Chevrolet in sales through the first half of 1955, but Chevrolet came out slightly ahead by the end of the year, leaving Ford second in sales — 1,435,002 Fords to 1,682,708 Chevys. In 1956, the comparison was more dire for Ford, which recorded 1,392,847 car sales against Chevrolet’s 1,574,740 cars. Ford would rebound in 1957 when it again outsold Chevrolet.

Although 1956 Fords looked great and handled and performed well, Howley said they had a “so-so reputation” when new. “Buyers complained about poor gas mileage (13-17 mpg with four-barrel 292 V-8), body squeaks, leaks, rattles and generally poor quality workmanship. The interior vinyl, while bright, was cheap, and quickly took on a flophouse look. The dual exhausts through the bumpers soon rusted the bumpers. The soft stainless steel grille dented easily. By 1959 or ’60, most ’56 Fords looked worse than cars 10 years their seniors.”

Certainly these observations weren’t consistently experienced and the 1956 Ford has had a strong following for decades, including right up to today. The most sought-after examples remain the Sunliner convertible, the Crown Victoria and Crown Victoria Skyliner and the Victoria hardtops. Ford’s station wagons were in their own series and they have a following of their own, especially the two-door wagons in which the Parklane two-door wagon was at the top.

Today, any surviving 1956 Ford is a handsome treasure from the nifty ’50s, when Ford was building beautiful cars that performed as well as they looked.

Crown Victoria Association
Recognizes 1954-1956 Fords
www.thecvaonline.com

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The post Car of the Week: 1956 Ford Fairlane appeared first on Old Cars Weekly.

Patrick Kaluzny’s 1960 Ford Fairlane 500 Town Sedan might be a four-door sedan, but there’s nothing mundane about it. While most people walk past four-door sedans at car shows, Patrick Kaluzny’s Fairlane draws a crowd wherever it goes. The 1960 Ford’s attraction may come from its lovely green-and-white two-tone paint. It might even be what Ford described as the “continental flair” to its long and lithe styling. But more than likely, it’s the fact that someone restored a mid-level 1960 Ford four-door sedan, and did so to a show-stopping, gem-like Old Cars Price Guide Number 1 condition.

While it might be hard to believe that people are so drawn to a four-door sedan, we’ve witnessed it. The ’60 was invited to the Ford Product Development Center (PDC) Truck and Car Show, an event organized by Ford Motor Co. employees in which vehicles must be invited to attend, and then receive final approval after the invitation. Even amongst the other top-notch invitees to the 2022 event, we watched crowds gather around Kaluzny’s 1960 Fairlane 500 sedan. (Editor’s note: We’ve also been among a crowd to surround this car as it was unloaded from a trailer at a past Iola Car Show.)

Indeed, the 1960 Ford looks brand new, maybe even better than the condition of the new 1960 Ford Fairlane sedan that Kaluzny’s father drove off a Ford dealer’s lot in 1960.

“Back in 1960, my father, Tony Kaluzny, bought a new 1960 Ford Fairlane 500 four-door sedan,” recalled Kaluzny. “It was black with a white top, and the interior was black with gray inserts. It had a 292-cid V-8 engine and three-speed manual transmission on the steering column.”

“I have fond memories of my brother, Tony, Jr., and I riding in the back seat on our way to a barber shop in Old Detroit for our monthly haircuts,” Kaluzny continued. “We would marvel at the shape of the quarter panels and their fins. In our young minds, it looked like an airplane with its sleek-look, shiny chrome hubcaps and grille. The body, with its moldings, was different than anything we’d seen before. And the wide stance made it look massive.”

“My brother and I were in elementary school when our father brought it home from the local Ford dealership. It’s one of those impactful memories from my childhood that I’ll never forget. That black 1960 Ford Fairlane 500 changed my life and the way I looked at cars. On that day in 1960, more than 62 years ago, my interest in automobiles had been fueled.”

Kaluzny was too young to ever experience a drive behind the wheel of his father’s 1960 Ford before it was sold. His father kept the Ford for just six years before trading it in, but Kaluzny never forgot it.

“Unfortunately, in 1966, my father traded in the 1960 Ford Fairlane 500 for a new 1966 Mercury Parklane,” he said. “It had the unique Breezeway rear window, but lacked overall appeal. The [Mercury] didn’t have the same level of visual impact as the Fairlane 500. When my father showed up with the new Mercury, I was disappointed and immediately missed the Ford.”

“As an adult, I started attending car shows, hoping to come across a 1960 Ford Fairlane 500 four-door sedan like the one we owned,” Kaluzny said.

Discovering a Ford like Dad’s

Kaluzny is a retired Ford Motor Co. employee, having worked as a controls systems department supervisor at the Research Innovation Center in Dearborn, Mich. He regularly attends events held on the grounds of his former employer, including the Ford PDC Truck and Car Show. The car show is held just minutes from the Research Innovation Center where he previously worked. However, it was at a different event, one at Ford World Headquarters, where he first saw his 1960 Ford Fairlane 500. Kaluzny remembers the day well — it was Sunday, June 12, 2014.

That day, Kaluzny was showing his 2011 Mustang GT/CS convertible at the annual Shelby American Automobile Club (SAAC) Motor City Region car show. Upon settling into his car’s display space, Kaluzny kept noticing a crowd gathering around an automobile in the distance. After seeing this continue for a while, curiosity got the best of him. He wondered, “Had Ford Performance or Shelby American brought something new to the car show?” He made his way over to the crowd and couldn’t believe what stood before him.

Kenneth Robert Malofey was proudly displaying a 1960 Ford Fairlane 500 four-door sedan painted light green with a white roof, and it was simply amazing. Like everyone else who laid eyes on it that day, Kaluzny couldn’t believe the phenomenal fit and finish of the Ford. The engine compartment was impeccable, and upon looking at what appeared to be an original, like-new interior, childhood memories came flooding back. Eventually, Kaluzny introduced himself to Malofey, who mentioned he’d recently purchased the 1960 Ford Fairlane 500 four-door, and this was its first car show since he acquired it.

Malofey said the previous owner, Paul Garlick, of Vulcan, Mich., found the rust-free Fairlane 500 in Iowa. He completed the concours-quality restoration in 2012. During the restoration, each nut, bolt, screw, panel or component was reconditioned or replaced with genuine FoMoCo parts.

Malofey went on to say the paint color is Adriatic Green on the lower body and Corinthian White on the roof. The interior is green Modern Stripe nylon cloth with Morocco grain vinyl bolsters, and except for the driver-side front insert surface, the interior is original. The engine is Ford’s 223-cid six-cylinder, and it’s backed by a three-speed manual transmission with overdrive and a 3.89:1 rear axle. The original factory glass was retained and reused during the restoration.

Kaluzny and Malofey exchanged phone numbers with the understanding that, if the car was ever for sale, Malofey would contact Kaluzny and give him the opportunity to buy it.

The purchase of a lifetime

On Sept. 19, 2017, Kaluzny purchased the 1960 Ford Fairlane 500 four-door sedan after coming across a Craigslist ad offering it for sale. He contacted the owner and bought the car. When he drove it home for the first time, reality sunk in. He had fulfilled a childhood dream to own a 1960 Ford like the one his father purchased new nearly 57 years ago.

“I was over the top with excitement,” Kaluzny said. “[Being] in the driver’s seat, at the controls, for the first time was a once-in-a-lifetime thrill.”

“As I made my way home, people pulled up next to the car and gave me a thumbs up,” he said. “It seemed everyone wanted to get up close for a closer look. They had smiles on their faces and nodded their heads in approval. It was a day I’ll never forget.”

Kaluzny continues to drive the Ford to car shows throughout the Detroit area, so it’s no trailer queen. However, he meticulously cares for it in order to keep it in tip-top condition. Just like the first time he saw it back in 2014, other enthusiasts remain amazed by its size, pristine condition, laser-straight body and exceptional fit and finish. When spectators peek into the engine bay, they’re surprised and then fascinated by the six-cylinder engine and its vertically mounted carburetor and air cleaner, which neatly rest in the huge opening that is usually occupied by one of Ford’s big V-8s. With Kaluzny’s exceptional care, the Ford is sure to keep amazing people for many years to come.

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The 1960 Fords at a Glance

Except for the Thunderbird, the full-size Fords were totally redesigned from the ground up for 1960. They shared nothing with the previous models except engines and drivetrains, and used a fresh design closely inspired by the Ford Quicksilver show car. While 1960 Ford styling was considered controversial by many, it remains one of the smoothest designs ever to come from the Dearborn drawing boards. The new models were longer, lower and wider than in 1959, yet when compared to some of their contemporaries, were stylistically restrained.

All three model lines of the full-size 1960 Ford were introduced to the public on Oct. 8, 1959. They included the base Fairlane series, the mid-tier Fairlane 500 series and the top-line Galaxie and Galaxie Special series, the latter including the Starliner two-door hardtop and Sunliner convertible. In addition, Ford launched its new compact Falcon for 1960, giving Ford a nearly clean slate at the start of the new decade.

Full-size Ford fenders were trimmed by a thin chrome strip that started above the front bumper, swept upward to the top edge of the front fender, then ran rearward along the horizontal beltline to the back of the car where it turned inward and capped the sharp horizontal tailfin. Large, semi-circular taillamps were housed in a concave panel below the tailfins and directly above a large chrome bumper. At the front end, a large, recessed mesh grille housed dual headlamps.

The Fairlane series contained the word “Ford” spaced along the recessed section of the full-width hood and no other additional side trim — not even a “Fairlane” identifying script.

The Fairlane 500 was the intermediate trim level and included all the Fairlane trim plus a “Fairlane 500” script on the side of each front fender. There were also five “delta wing” chromed strips on each rear fender. The Fairlane 500 was only offered as a two- or four-door sedan, which Ford called the Club Sedan and Town Sedan, respectively.

Only the Fairlane 500 and top-line Galaxie/Galaxie Special series used a Ford crest on the recessed center of the full-width hood. On both Galaxie models, a single chrome strip began near the center of the front door and continued on the side rearward toward the taillamps. A ribbed aluminum stone shield was behind the rear wheel opening.

Also worth noting is that Ford produced about 900 full-size Custom 300 models to fleets for use as taxi and police cars. This bare-bones model did not appear in the consumer brochure for civilians.

Although Ford did not provide production breakouts by engine type, trade publications recorded that 67.5 percent of all Fords (excluding Thunderbirds and Falcons) had V-8 engines installed. All Falcons were sixes and all Thunderbirds were V-8 powered. Automatic transmissions were installed in 67.1 percent of all Fords, 44.5 percent of all Falcons and 97.9 percent of all Thunderbirds built during the model run. Ford’s share of the overall automobile market dropped to 22.55 percent this year, compared to 27.33 percent in 1959. Model-year production peaked at 911,034 Fords, 435,676 Falcons and 92,843 Thunderbirds. Production of full-size 1960 Fords, by model, was as follows: 900 Custom 300 models; 204,700 Fairlane models; 244,300 Fairlane 500 models; 289,200 Galaxie models; and 171,800 station wagons. Just 297,400 of these full-size Fords were six-cylinder-powered for the 1960 model year.

The full-size 1960 Ford was a substantial automobile, measuring 213.7 inches in overall length on a wheelbase of 119 inches. Some states limited the width of a vehicle without side marker lamps to 80 inches, and the ’60 Ford was 81-1/2 inches wide. Since the Ford lacked side markers, it was technically illegal, but Ford obtained a waiver and narrowed its cars to 80 inches for 1961. The weight of a six-cylinder Fairlane 500 Town Sedan was recorded as 3,609 lbs.

Ford built 153,234 Fairlane 500 Town Sedans with six-cylinders and V-8s in 1960. The base price of the V-8-powered Fairlane 500 Town Sedan was $2,501, while the six-cylinder Fairlane 500 Town Sedan was base-priced at $2,388.

Ford options included: Polar Air conditioning, including tinted glass and V-8 ($271). Select Air air conditioning, including tinted glass and V-8 ($404). Backup lamps ($11). Heavy-duty 70-amp battery ($8). Equa-Lock differential ($39). Electric clock ($15). Fresh Air heater/defroster ($75). Recirculating heater/defroster ($47). Four-way manual seat ($11). Rocker panel molding ($14). Padded dash and visors ($25). Two-tone paint ($19). Power brakes ($43). Power seat ($64). Power steering ($77). Front and rear power windows ($102). Push-button radio and antenna ($59). Front seat belts ($21). Tinted glass ($43). Cruise-O-Matic ($211). Ford-O-Matic with six-cylinder ($180). Ford-O-Matic with V-8 ($190). Overdrive ($108). Wheel covers ($17). Windshield washer ($14). Two-speed windshield wipers ($10). Ford offered numerous tire options, such as white sidewall and oversized models.

The smallest Ford V-8 for 1960 displaced 292 cubic engines, had 185 hp and added $113 to the base price. A two-barrel 235-hp V-8 displacing 352 cubic inches was
$147.80, and a four-barrel, 300-hp 352 added $177.40. Ford also offered a high-performance 360-hp version of the 352, but its additional cost is not available.

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The post Car of the Week: 1960 Ford Fairlane 500 appeared first on Old Cars Weekly.

This is what Don had to add about his fabulous Ford…

“The 1955 Ford Sunliner has always been my favorite 1950’s Ford model, and at the ripe old age of 64 I was finally able to find one I loved. It also has some sentimental value to me because it was the car that my big brother drove me to my first drive-in restaurant back in 1964 at Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank California. It’s finished in that two-tone “Bumble-Bee” combination of Goldenrod Yellow and Raven Black, which are the colors it had when it came from the factory in 1955.

No “Ford-O-Matic” transmission here. Under the hood is a 272 c.i.d. V8 that’s paired with a 3-speed manual on the column with overdrive… old school, just like I wanted, and my intention is to keep her as close to original as possible. Since I purchased the car last year, I’ve made a number of mechanical repairs, such as replacing the clutch, repairing the overdrive, upgrading the ignition system, and some minor re-wiring. I’ve also replaced some of the basics like the battery (6V), voltage regulator and a few wiring harnesses. I just put in some new shocks and motor mounts too. She rides real smooth and she’s running like a charm. Cheers!

Now, with Covid putting a damper on shows and gatherings, it’s been hard to get out there and show the car the way I’d like to but I look forward to a great 2021 where I can finally get out and enjoy the fruits of my labor.”

If you would like your car featured in Reader Wheels click on the link below and tell us a little bit about your ride.

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Help a loved one stay on top of car care with a Meguiar’s DA PowerSystem Package.

Here is what’s included in the package:

· 1 Ultimate Compound
· 1 Ultimate Polish
· 1 Ultimate Wax
· 1 DA Power System tool
· 6 assorted foam pads
· 3 Microfiber towels

Find it at your favorite retailer of car care products just in time for the holidays.

Automotive Apparel

Let that loved one show their automotive allegiance with some sweet threads from Pep Boys. The retailer offers mechanic’s shirts, t-shirts, hats, belts, key chains, polo shirts and other apparel to outfit die-hards who love their Mustang, Camaro, Ford, Chevy, Mopar, Corvette, Charger, Cobra, Ram, Firebird, Challenger or Shelby. T-shirts start at just $9.90

Start your shopping here or in-store.

“Standard Catalog of Chevrolet: 1912-2003” book

Give the gift of facts this Christmas season with a “Standard Catalog of Chevrolet” book. The heavily illustrated softcover book covers Chevrolet automobile production figures, options, mechanical features and more in its 450 pages. Look for complete coverage of Camaro, Corvette, Corvair, Impala and all the other important Chevy cars for just $24.99. The hundreds of in-period black-and-white factory photos make it a great ID guide, too.

Order now for holiday delivery here.

“Standard Catalog of Ford: 1903-2002” book

Ford fans will pore over the hundreds of black-and-white factory illustrations, historical data, production figures, options, available engines and other hard data featured in “Standard Catalog of Ford: 1903-2002.” The softcover book’s 400-some pages include all the important Ford automobiles, from Falcon and Fairlane to Thunderbird, Mustang, the Model T and Model A and more.

Order the Ford “Standard Catalog” now for holiday delivery here.

Model 1934 Buick Series 60 convertible coupe from Brooklin

Can’t quite cover the cost of buying that special someone the car of their dreams? That’s OK; they’ll think this 1:43-scale model of the 1934 Buick convertible is just as sweet of a treat.

The handmade, white-metal model accurately replicates the 1934 Buick Series 60 convertible coupe, and will likely be the centerpiece of your favorite hobbyist’s collection. The heavy body, intricate trim pieces and beautiful blue paint are all outstanding enough to make Santa want to trade in his sleigh.

Order this stellar scale 1934 Buick Series 60 convertible through a Brooklin retailer; find one at www.brasiliapress.com or by FAX at 574-262-8799. Better hurry!

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John Checki likes a cool convertible or a sporty hardtop collector car as much as the next guy. And he happily admits he’s owned “more than my share of both” popular body styles. But Checki also figures he was a little ahead of the curve with his affection for the more utilitarian four-door sedan. Sure, the humble four-doors of decades past are finally getting their due in hobby circles, but that wasn’t the case back in 1999 when Checki and his wife, Mary, became the third owners of their unrestored 1964 Ford Fairlane 500 sedan.

Actually, Checki figures he was one step ahead of the crowd on two fronts with his lovely Ford. Not only is it a sedan, but it’s an unrestored original — another segment that’s getting more appreciation these days.

“Ten years ago, people walked past this car, when I first bought it, and didn’t give it a second glance,” said Checki, who owns and operates Happy Daze Classic Cars, a small collector car business that specializes in finding owners for a variety of different hobby cars — including untouched originals. “There is a whole new respect in the last few years now for unrestored originals.

“Now, the comments you hear are, ‘Holy smokes, an unrestored original!’ You know, even if you get into the late ’60s, there really aren’t many cars anymore that are unrestored originals. There was a time when people in the hobby were so bent on making their car the best one in the show so they went over all the paint and replaced everything. Now, people are starting to appreciate these cars.”

Checki, who lives in Fond du Lac, Wis., didn’t need much time to warm up to the beautiful Ford when he first came across the car in 1999. It was obvious that the two previous owners had babied the car from Day 1, and Checki planned to continue that practice.

“The original owner was a typical little old lady from DeKalb, Ill.,” he said. “She bought this car new in Sycamore, Ill., on Aug. 14, 1964, and we still have the original box with the Sears seat covers she purchased … The postmark on the box, I think, was April of ’65, so she didn’t wait too long before she knew she wanted to keep it.

“It was pretty much a typical story. It was a Sunday car. She drove her two friends for a Sunday drive after church, and she used it to go the grocery store and that was probably about it … There are no parking lot marks on it or anything like that. We were told that she had never had the car wet. Who knows about that, it had to have been wet to wash it. Whether that story was embellished, I don’t know, but the car is pretty darn nice.”

Ford’s mid-size Fairlane series was wildly popular among car buyers in the 1960s, but not many of the nearly 200,000 examples built for the 1964 model year were as gently used as the Checkis’ sedan. The Fairlanes came in both six-cylinder and V-8 varieties, with the 500 series one step up the trim ladder from the base Fairlane.

The 500s were set apart by chrome around the windows, a twin-spear molding running from stem to stern that featured an accent color between trim strips, upscale interior amenities such as arm rests and chrome horn rings, and extra badging.

The traditional four-door sedan was one of eight body configurations in the 1964 Fairlane lineup, but only five of those were offered in 500 trim: the four-door sedan (also called the town sedan), two-door club sedan, two-door hardtop coupe; two-door sport coupe and four-door station wagon. A total of 86,919 four-door sedans were built, although Ford didn’t break down how many were six-cylinders like the Checkis’ car, and how many came with a V-8.

“Ours is a top-of-the-line Fairlane 500, so it doesn’t have a lot of options,” Checki noted. “It has a radio, it has optional seatbelts with fancier chrome on them – I don’t know why she would have ordered that; windshield washers … I mean, we’re talking kind of a fancy Model T, is what it is.”

Fairlane 500 four-door sedans with the six-cylinder tipped the scales new at 2,843 lbs. and carried a base price of just a few nickels over $2,300. Substituting the V-8 added a little more than 100 lbs. and about 100 bucks to the bill.

The standard engine was the 170-cid six, but the new 221-cid Windsor V-8 was a popular upgrade. If you wanted more ponies, you could keep moving up the checklist and find 260- and 289-cid V-8s that would fit under the hood of your Fairlane.

The Fairlane used a unibody frame and short-arm independent front suspension that, together with the six-cylinder engine and modern radial tires, make it a splendid performing and riding car, according to Checki. 

“It’s got radial tires on it, that’s one of my few concessions to modernism,” he says with a laugh. “A radial tire is just a whole new ballgame for tires. But this car has terrific straight-line roadability. I’ve had it at 80 mph with a cross wind, and it’s very stable. Cornering, the suspension is soft. Steering is slow because it’s manual steering, but the manual steering is actually a good thing, because I think too many people are getting flabby muscles because they don’t do any work! The car makes you think, ‘When am I going to downshift? And you have to shift — it’s a three-speed on the tree. Probably the most amazing thing performance-wise with the car is the power the 170-cubic inch has. It says 101 horsepower, but I’ve had other cars — I had a ’60 Rambler American, where you keep it on the floor going uphill and you’re slowing down, whereas this thing just climbs right up the hills.”

“It is a very peppy six, and it starts at the turn of a key, which is nice. I had a ’62 Fairlane with the same engine, basically the same car. I had it when we were first married, and that car sat outside and it would always start — even when it was 20, 25 below [zero].”

It’s clear that Checki is finicky when it comes to his cars, and he certainly found a car that meets his standards in the Fairlane. The amazingly well-preserved original interior, shiny black paint and near-perfect chrome bits on the car seem to defy its age, and the 92,000 miles on its odometer. And it’s not that the Checkis always keep their Fairlane at home and out of harm’s way. They have actually piled up 24,000 miles on it in the last 11 years, and they don’t plan to change their driving habits with the car anytime soon.

“A part of me says, ‘No, no, don’t drive it.’ But there’s a part of me that loves driving the old cars too much and it overcomes that,” John said. “But the other thing is, the worst thing you can do to a car is let it sit, in my opinion, because the seals dry out. Anything that’s rubber, or gaskets, gets bad. The brakes freeze up. It’s hard on everything to let it sit. The key is things like – I follow trucks at a safe distance. If a truck passes me, I pull way over to the right. If I see a dump truck coming at me I pull way over to the right, and so far it’s worked.”

“But yeah, I do have mixed feelings about driving it. They were intended to enjoy, that’s why they built them. They didn’t build them to put in your garage and look at ’em. That’s my philosophy. I take the very best care of them that I can. This car is actually in better shape now than when I bought it, even though I’ve driven it 24,000 miles. I can actually say that about the paint, the interior and definitely mechanically.”

Checki says it’s heredity that has fostered his affinity for neat, well-cared-for original cars. His parents were the same way, he said – so much so that he learned how to spot a good survivor by studying the cars they drove.

“My parents were really super fussy – and I know what their cars looked like in various stages. I kind of studied that kind of thing all along, and it gives me an idea what to look for,” he said. “If you look at the weather stripping, or the window whiskers… The windows on this car go up and down like new. You push the button on the door – even the driver’s door – and it pops right out. So they haven’t been opened and closed a ton of times. You learn to look at a lot of little things.”

One thing new that Checki has learned since he has had his Fairlane is exactly how warmly regarded the cars are by many who remember them from the 1960s. His black-and-red beauty will probably never have the sizzle and sexiness of a freshly painted muscle car, chrome-laden ’50s cream puff or stately pre-war Classic, but it gets lots of smiles and triggers plenty of conversation.

“A lot of it with old cars is bringing back memories,” he muses. “And chances are pretty good your parents had a four-door sedan at some point in their lives.”

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The post Car of the Week: 1964 Ford Fairlane 500 appeared first on Old Cars Weekly.