1966 Ford Fairlane 289

Summary:

I've been looking for another one that has been redone - 66 or 67

Faults:

Replaced tie rods.

Wiper motor failed in the winter. Had to use rope back and forth, couldn't afford a new motor, took time to find used.

General Comments:

This car was old and worn out when I got it. I was sixteen, it was my first car and I loved it!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 28th September, 2010

30th May 2018, 19:39

Using a rope to work the windshield wipers?

And you thought texting while driving is dangerous. Ahh, the good old days.

In reply to 30th May 2018, 19:39

31st May 2018, 13:39

Some vintage you actually used a windshield lever by hand. Some had vacuum wipers that actually stopped at times climbing a hill. Then started working again. Some no wipers at all, so you folded the windshield down. A lot less traffic back then however.

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1966 Ford Fairlane 500 289

Summary:

Plain

Faults:

Floor rust, front bench seat was missing front bolts to anchor seat down. Car was purchased for an engine swap. Glove box door had a bullet hole in it. Didn't bother with the engine swap and sold the car for what I paid for it. $150.

General Comments:

Basic four door car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 10th September, 2009

1967 Ford Fairlane GTA 390

Summary:

Maybe God will let me own another one before I die

Faults:

Tore the transmission out 4 times.

General Comments:

I bought this 67 Fairlane GTA because it was the only car my insurance company classified as not high performance in 1967. Boy were they wrong.

290 horse power. Automatic transmission. Bucket seats. Power convertible top. Wide oval tires. 15.43 in the quarter mile. I won 15 trophies at the local strips that summer. I was never beat. Pure stock.

I drove my tire dealer crazy when he would take off the old Dunlop gold seals; they would be full of little round rubber balls. I wore out a set of back tires about every 7000 miles.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 23rd January, 2009

1963 Ford Fairlane 221

Summary:

The "small" Fairlanes were magnificent cars in the '60s and EVEN better to own now -if you can find

Faults:

Radiator split a seam and overheated the engine when coolant steamed from the radiator. Otherwise this little car was almost indestructible. Almost. Hurricane Camille actually "totaled" the car, & that wasn't the car' fault.

General Comments:

This 4-door sedan car was extremely well designed for its time (of development).

The "new in '62" 221 cubic inch displacement, 2V aspirated engine rated by Ford @ 145 horsepower was quite a magnificent performer in torque, acceleration, fuel economy (using "regular" gasoline), and smoothness through its complete RPM range. Current technology engines should perform so well.

A rear stabilizer bar would have appreciably helped cornering stability (rear stabilizers as we know them today were not available "back in the day."). "Brown" stabilizer would do the trick (if you could afford the $125.00 cost in the mid-to-late '60s.

The car would comfortably carry six passengers on long trips. Just don't expect it to accelerate as quickly carrying that extra 1,000 pounds of people & luggage.

The manual "3-speed" column shift transmission was the "first of its kind" produced and installed in domestic (US made) automobiles. It was a "fully synchronized" (could be shifted into low/first gear without having to "stop" the car to shift into low/first gear) transmission allowing the driver to down-shift into first gear without having to bring the car to a standstill.

The "little" 221 cu. in. displacement engine evolved (by cylinder boring) into the 260, then mighty 289, 302, and with more modifications, the Windsor 351. What a track record! Similar to the Chevy 265, 283, 327, etc.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 17th October, 2007

18th Oct 2007, 05:06

Ah, I love to see this review! It makes me very nostalgic! Thanks for the memories.

My dad had a 1962 Fairlane with this small V8 engine, and what a fabulous car it was. I went with him to the dealer when he paid the steep sum of $2500 for it in the summer of 1962! It didn't have factory air and had three speed on the column, but this was the car that I learned to drive with. Dubbed "Elizabeth" by my mother, this little car stayed in the family for 10 years.