Faults:

Between 79,000 and 80,000 miles, the starter had to be replaced, and the transmission & carb rebuilt (transmission began slipping & losing fluid through the overflow valve, carburetor leaked gas.)

Worn timing chain & gears were replaced recently, as they were causing the car to stall.

Bushings in the front suspension are starting to rot/disintegrate, suspension pops & creaks.

Needs a front end alignment; steering is off-center & wheels sit with negative camber.

General Comments:

I'll preface this by saying this is the first car I've ever owned, but I've driven many other, newer cars.

Although I've had many issues with the car, I take blame for most of them (I push that little 221 engine way harder than I should.) The rated max speed of the car is 98 mph, & I've had it up to 101.

I'm used to cars actually accelerating when you hit the gas pedal, but this car crawls even when you floor it from a dead stop. That's not to say it doesn't move at all, but don't expect to go anywhere fast; a HUGE inconvenience when having to drive in stop-and-go interstate traffic. At first, I chalked it up to the ridiculous 2-speed "Fordomatic" transmission, but apparently that's just how the 221 performs.

That being said, the car is great to cruise downtown or take joyriding down a country road on a summer day. The car will ride nicely at 45-60 mph down the highway. Going any faster than that can get a little unsettling, though; the roar of the engine at high RPMs is overshadowed by the incredible wind noise.

The Fairlane handles decently, though driving it around a parking lot can be a chore, what with the non-power-steering and brakes. In most settings, however, maneuvering the car is quite smooth and easy. It also has a slightly tighter turning radius than you'd expect for a sedan its age, though you'll be fighting with the steering wheel to achieve it.

The seats are comfortable, but don't allow much room behind the steering wheel (I'm thin so this isn't an issue for me, but I imagine it's bothersome for others.) The combined cushion of the well-upholstered seats and the floaty suspension makes it extremely comfortable to drive on most roads.

The aesthetic, both interior and exterior, invoke a feeling of performance. The car's square, sleek profile and short fins, combined with the simple 3-gauge instrument cluster and pleated chrome dash panel, seem vaguely inspired by the jet aircraft of the times. I could just be over-analyzing it, though.

All-in-all, the Fairlane is a solid, conventional car. Its comfortable ride and sleek aesthetic are an unfortunate contrast to its anemic performance. It's never left me stranded on the side of the road, though, and that's saying something, considered the amount of mileage I've accumulated in the short time I've owned it (it's my daily driver.)

Faults:

The car is still working, and the electric clock is still ticking.

General Comments:

This car is one of 339 (76E Body) Ford Fairlane 500 convertibles produced in 1968. The car was made by Ford for Ford, and there is no record of the car ever having been sold by Ford to the public. The Vin Number is less than 15.

The car was built as an Introductory Show Unit and was shipped to Hawaii and delivered to the CBS, "Hawaii Five O" production company in Honolulu. The car was used in 6, first season episodes in 1968. The episodes were: Deathwatch; No Blue Skies; By the Numbers; Up Tight; Deathwatch; 24 Karat Kill.

The car came with bucket seats, console floor shifter, power disc brakes, power windows, power steering and was painted Ford Diamond Blue with a two-tone blue vinyl interior and a white top. Ford only made 9, 1968 Fairlane 500 convertibles in this configuration.

On September 20, 2010, the new "Hawaii Five O" premiered. CBS in Phoenix, AZ did a news story about the car and its connection to the original show. The car was used in the first episode where the famous words "Book 'em Danno!" were uttered by actor Jack Lord to actor James MacArthur.