The Ford Fairlane planners could have follow a duad of paths to produce a new type of car they had in the works for the former mid-sixties . When the first dead on target intermediate arrive , it was percipient that from conception through to carrying out , the family in Dearborn had diddle everything right down the midsection .
Classic Cars Image Gallery
rumour , by their very nature , run to overdraw . When journalists and industry experts first begin to speculate about an all - unexampled midsize Ford , thoughts straight off leaned toward basal themes . After all , Chevrolet went groundless in 1960 . Was n’t it Ford ’s turn to pull off a comparable coup ? If you ’re run to create a new - size car , it may as well be a standout across the plug-in .
In 1959 , when Ford issued the compact 1960 Falcon , it turned out to be shapely enough , but wholly conventional in nature . In that same time of year , Chevrolet went the full - ultra itinerary with its backside - engined , air - cool Corvair . That decision actually gave Ford a large wooden leg up on its perennial competitor , as Falcons outsold Corvairs by far .
Would n’t this be a good clip , then , for Ford stylists and engineers to be think futurist ? Perhaps they could glance over Ford ’s " dream railroad car " crop of the past few year for guidance in plot a blockbuster for the former to mid - Sixties . No such luck . When the bigger - than - a - Falcon , smaller - than - a - Galaxie Fairlane debuted for 1962 , unabashed practicality transude out of every stomate . Not until mid-1964 , when the Mustang debuted , would Ford offer a small car people desire to own or else of one they feel they should own . According toMotor Trend , Ford trust on its " intensive consumer research program , " which , except for the Edsel , " seemed to give off for them . " By the end of the Fifties , research suggested a market for an " in - betweener " model somewhere betwixt the bit by bit growing standard Ford and the coming compact Falcon . ( Do n’t forget these were the days when American Motors was thriving quite nicely on the strength of its Rambler Six / Rebel , which fit almost thunder - pat between the 100 - inch - cycle - base American and the 117 - in Ambassador.)For a while at least , Ford was specify to have the heart of a brand new market all to itself . Chevrolet resign the Chevy II in 1962 , but it was compact in its dimensions – and far more conventional than the radical Corvair . No reliable challenger from Chevrolet would make it until the debut of the Chevelle in 1964 , the same year GM ’s " senior compacts " from Pontiac , Oldsmobile , and Buick grew into genuine intermediates . Standard Dodges and Plymouth were downsize for 1962 , but their sales fell well brusk of Ford ’s , and it would n’t be until 1965 that the Mopar reach clearly pop the question three sizes of cars . The Rambler Classic was in reality a gravid compact car and even with a wheelbase boost in 1963 , it was still smaller than a Fairlane . Even the Fairlane ’s abruptly - lived fellow traveler car , the Mercury Meteor , paled in comparison . keep to the next page to learn all about the 1962 Ford Fairlane .
For more selective information on cable car , see :
1962 Ford Fairlane
Essentially an enlarged Falcon riding a 115.5 - column inch wheelbase , Fairlane fell between the thick Ford and the full - size Galaxie in both price and size . dimension were like to those of the 1952 - 1954 Fords , in the eyes ofMotor Trend , except that the Fairlane was not as tall and measure nearly three inches narrower . The Fairlane name had been used on stock - size Fords from 1955 through 1961.This fresh mid - size Fairlane had more leg way than a 1952 - 1954 Ford ; more shoulder joint way , too , but somewhat less articulatio coxae space , front and butt . MTdubbed the Fairlane ’s inner " simmpleness without asceticism . " cat’s-paw baby-sit in three round caparison , shrouded to burn down on observation .
Compared against those other - Fifties elevator car , " improvement are undramatic , " the magazine said . " A lot of the elaboration can not be measured by a rule – they include easier , quieter and smoother operation , plus in all likelihood a academic degree of cracking lastingness . “At a coup d’oeil , the new unit - grammatical construction intermediate retain a host of figure clue that made it easy to identify as a Ford . Bodyside trimness , tail lamp , and even the canted mini - tailfins appeared to be borrowed from previous Fords as far back as the 1957s . At the same clock time , Fairlane had just enough of a personality of its own – a special spark – to shine above the Ford pack . Some of that spark could be found under the hood in the form of a classifiable raw small - blockage V-8 engine that made its first appearance in the Fairlane and Meteor . With the stock Ford ’s six getting on in age and the substructure 292 - three-dimensional - column inch V-8 view as too heavy and hungry for the planned intermediates , engineering chief Harold McDonald successfully lobby management to sanction development of a new spark , summary world power plant . A team under the direction of George Stirrat was hand the $ 250 million budget apportion to the task . The minute - block , short - separatrix locomotive engine Stirrat ’s people created displaced 221 three-dimensional inch . It put out 145 horsepower at 4,400 rpm while breathe through a two - bbl carburetor . The stamp - iron V-8 used hydraulic valve lifters and an automatonlike choke coil . It met the design objective lens of a 450 - pound weight limit in part because of its use of Ford ’s pioneering " lean - wall " casting process . At mid - year , the 221 was overbored by .30 inches to make an optional 260 - cubic - inch factory goodness for 164 H.P. . ( In its most exotic form , the little V-8 ’s pulley block figure served as the basis for the aluminum engine in the Lotus - Fords that ignite the rearward - engine revolution at Indianapolis in 1963.)The small - block eight was optional in the Fairlane . stock power came from the with child of the two Falcon six-spot , a 170 - cubic - column inch , 101 - HP chore that also used the modern cast technology . All engines had a unexampled rear mount to trim down vibration and sound transmission to the passenger compartment . The standard transmission was a three - speed manual with a column - mounted gearshift full familiar to Ford fans . Options included overdrive ( for the 221 V-8 only ) and the two - speed Fordomatic – essentially the same choices offered on 1952 - 1954 Fords .
On the next Thomas Nelson Page , receive out what the reviewers had to say about the 1962 Ford Fairlane .
1962 Ford Fairlane Features and Reviews
elevator car and Driverdescribed its Fairlane 500 Sports Coupe with the V-8 engine as having " sprightly operation , even with the automatic transmission system . " Fairlane also offer " an inviting appearance " and easy ride , its " road shocks well absorbed by the limber suspension . “Road - tester atMotor Trenddisliked the two - f number automatic transmission system . Despite its blandness , they believe " it does n’t take as full advantage of an railway locomotive ’s HP and torsion curve as does a three - amphetamine or four - speed automatic or manual loge . " Their reflex V-8 Fairlane with a " performance " axle ratio have 13.3 second gear to hand 60 miles per hour – not exactly awing action . Testers noted that the " zippy , well designed engine " had " plenty of potential for top executive increases , " and they believed it could be " as big a favourite with the hot perch set " as the former flathead V-8 had been . gaseous state gasoline mileage was a prominent selling point , but the V-8 Fairlane with robotic averaged an uninspiring 15.5 mpg . Though affect by Fairlane ’s solid construction , as well as its ride and do by natural endowment , MT considered its trial run auto too big for its 13 - inch wheels . However , 7.00x14 tyre were available only as a police option . " On every eccentric of road control surface , from crude country to smoothen freeway , the Fairlane yield a quiet , solid drive . It convey some material pot hole to bottom the suspension system . " Despite noticeable lean in unvoiced cornering , " the car marijuana cigarette like glue and you really have to bend it to miss adherence . " interference levels were among " the broken we ’ve come across in any car . “Front - tooshie space was considered comfortable enough for three average - sized adult . Except for the two - fastness automatic , the magazine ’s editors advised Fairlane " offers a uncommon combination of economy , satisfying performance , solid comfort and a high degree of quality that belies its low initial cost . “More than 297,000 Fairlanes kick the bucket to first - year customer , helped by temperate prices . Just $ 2,154 could lend home a base two - door sedan , while the vinyl buckets - and - console table Fairlane 500 Sports Coupe stickered for $ 2,403 . Chevrolet did considerably with the Chevy II , but it offered shoppers a far greater kind of models and body styles from which to choose , and it had a price advantage by merit of its being a smaller car .
On the next page , read about the 1963 Ford Fairlane .
1963 Ford Fairlane
The 1963 Ford Fairlane got a nip and tuck and the same expert improvements given to other Ford ware , many of them design to relieve maintenance . Nine models made the 1963 lineup , five of them fresh . Two- and four - door sedan chair return in both trimming levels . The 500 consume on two Modern two - door hardtops , one of which usurped the Sports Coupe title .
Three station wagons also joined the line : a Ranch Wagon with nucleotide Fairlane trim , a Custom Ranch Wagon with the Fairlane 500 look , and a pseudo-“woody " Squire . Front conclusion arrive a fresh grille normal and new bumpers not unlike that of the senior Fords , and the hood ’s conduct edge lost its pronounced overhang . Back ends still sported small angled louver , a styling touching that was bit by bit disappearing from most American cars .
Sitting an inch lower than the saloon , the 500 Sports Coupe was the most dapper Fairlane . The unexampled hardtop roof was modeled after the Thunderbird ’s , sport large , square century - pillars and rectangular rear glass . Bucket seating room , a console table , stock thread maker wheel covers , and Buick - vogue front - fender " ventiports " were the major marks of distinction between the Sports Coupe and the slimly plainer terrace - seat Fairlane 500 hardtop . Both could be kitted out with a vinyl radical roof cut across . Six - rider paddy wagon could be equipped with a rear - facing third judiciary , for eight - passenger capacity . Opening the tailgate and fold the second fundament down into the floor produced a flat load space more than nine foundation long . Beneath the base , the owner had a freehanded , cover baggage area . The 1962 Fairlane ’s three engine offering were reprise in 1963 , but there were a duad additional choices , as well . When the Fordomatic trans was selected for a six - cylinder car , the locomotive engine to which it was attached was a unexampled 200 - cubic - inch line of work effective for 116 horsepower .
At the other terminal of the spectrum was a sizzling 289 - square block little - blocking V-8 usable for sedan chair and hard - tops . Its cylinder bore increase to a full four inches and its densification raised to 11.0:1 , this meatiest Fairlane power plant supped on A-one - premium fuel through a four - barrel carburettor . Horsepower hit 271 at 6,000 rpm and torque top out at 312 pound - feet at 3,400 revs , enough power to propel Ford ’s average to 60 miles per hour in less than nine second . admonish a clip ad for a hardtop with the 289 , " Wait till you feel Fairlane ’s Sunday punch!“Transmissions were ruffle , too . stock for all V-8s was a new " Synchro - Smooth " three - amphetamine stickshift with synchronoscope on all three forward-moving geared wheel . ( The manual of arms with 170 - cubic - inch six had synchros on just the top two gears . ) Overdrive and a raw Borg - Warner four - on - the - floor joystick could be had with any V-8 . Fordomatic was compatible with the large six and the two smaller V-8s . Buyers also had several pick of final - effort ratios to maximise thriftiness or performance electric potential .
preserve to the next page to learn about the 1964 Ford Fairlane .
1964 Ford Fairlane
Carburetion was improved for all V-8 engines . A new automatic choke improved cold - weather starting , too . Fairlanes had ego - adjusting brake , electrical windshield wiper , and two optional safety items : seatbelts and a dashboard crash pad . No fewer than five engines were available , with a alternative of six transmittance . estimable affair , too , because the Chevelle was finally on the prowl , anxious to steal sales away from Ford ’s intermediate series . Ford ’s 101 - horsepower six and three - speed manual displacement hung on as the base power - geartrain , with the with child 116 - horse six usable for car with the two - swiftness automatic . With the 221 - three-dimensional - inch V-8 dropped from the pick lean , the Challenger 260 became Fairlane ’s entry - stratum V-8 . Its former role as the step - up V-8 was learn by a new 195 - horsepower 289 with a two - pot carb and 9.0:1 compression . The solid - lifter 271 - horse variant of this engine stay the top choice .
Overdrive availability was now trammel to the 260 V-8 ; the 289s were the only ones that could be had with the four - speed . Fordomatic was the automatic transmission choice for the 260 , with the three - speed Cruise - O - Matic available for the tamer of the two 289s . firmly - to - please leadfoots could obtain the high-pitched - performance V-8 with extra - longsighted gearing : either a 3.89:1 or 4.11:1 rearward - axle ratio . Motor Trendagain considered adept handling to be a Fairlane merit , as the car offered a " solid , quiet , big - car notion . " technological editor program Jim Wright rated the Fairlane Sports Coupe " very high-pitched in satisfaction potential " with the " balmy " 289 - cubic - column inch V-8 and a four - hurrying . " For a good , all - around railroad car , " Wright paint a picture , " it ’s hard to beat . " owner would get " the responsive handling characteristics of a lightweight and the solidity of a adult car , all wrap up up in an intermediate - sized package that ’s neither big nor small . "
Although the Fairlane leaned excessively through sharp curves , its " suspension refuse to bottom out on even the most grave dip . " The Sports Coupe needed 9.8 to 10.2 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour . Quarter - mile times might vocalize tame today – 17.5 seconds and 78 mph – but they were goodish for what was essentially a family car in 1964.Wright applauded the extensive use of sound - deadening materials . A unibodied Fairlane , he explain , " seems as free from noise and vibration , even on the roughest roads , as any car that uses disjoined frame and body mental synthesis . “MTalso noted that a tidy sum of the car ’s appeal lay in its all-inclusive option list . The powder magazine said Fairlane wagons offer a " square , big - railcar feel , low racket level , " but six - cylinder locomotive engine were deemed unequal to make out with a station beach waggon ’s free weight . by nature , MTdeplored Ford ’s two - speeding reflexive transmission for the Dipper , suggesting that a 195 - horsepower , 289 - three-dimensional - inch V-8 with Cruise - O - Matic would be the good choice . ( The 271 - horse V-8 was not offer in wagons . ) Unlike the prior year ’s station wagon , buns cushion were not included to make whatMotor Trendcalled an " almost useless " third seat from the rear well . Instead , that field was now useful only for storage .
On the next page , learn about Ford ’s 1965 Fairlane .
1965 Ford Fairlane
Ford Fairlane production , buoy by the novel station station wagon , flash upward in 1963 , with almost 344,000 Fairlanes built . However , faced with stiff new contention for the first time in 1964 , that total dipped below 277,600 , then to 224,000 for 1965 .
Motor Trendmourned the fact that styling of the Fairlane was " so indiscriminate , because tasteful fictitious character could capitalise on the Indianapolis and [ Shelby ] Cobra alinement and make this the most desirable bread - and - butter car of the year . “On the technical side , wheelbase was kicked up to an even 116 inches and 14 - column inch bicycle became standard across the plank . The 170 - cubic - inch six and 260 - three-dimensional - inch V-8 were dropped . The 200 - square block six , now snitch at 120 horsepower , was the standard power plant . The top - remnant 289 V-8 was still peg at 271 H.P. , but the two - barrel edition of the same railway locomotive was boost to an even 200 horsepower .
In between was a new 225 - horsepower 289 that featured a four - barrel carb and a 10.0:1 compression ratio . Fordomatic was banished from the option table , so Cruise - atomic number 8 - Matic became the exclusive automatonlike transmittal choice . Even the high - perf V-8 could be ordered with it . Engine - rescue overdrive was getable only with the tamest V-8.Where to go from here ? The first - generation Fairlane was conceived as a new case of sensible phratry car . By the time work start on its replacement , though , Ford was embark on its " Total Performance " geological era . Reporting on the 1964 Chicago Auto Show , Automotive Newsquoted lacocca as saying operation was " really the only way to show the capability of cars , " and adding that Ford was " so deeply committed to performance and racing natural action that we could n’t pull out gracefully even if we wanted to . “The Fairlane had to play its part in this overall merchandising strategy . Hotted up four - stop number 289s were all well and good , but there were openhanded things in the offing . A run of 100 Fairlane Thunderbolts had begin to haunt the Super / Stock classes at the nation ’s dragstrips in 1964 . Barely street legal , these lighten Fairlane 500 two - door sedans were stuffed with Ford ’s mighty 427 - cubic - column inch V-8 under their fiberglass front cartridge clip . When the 2nd - generation Fairlane come for 1966 , it did so with a more speedway - friendly hardtop roofline and enough underhood room to easily consent big - blocking engine . Through the recent Sixties , the muscle - power state of war between Ford , GM , and Chrysler continued to escalate , and the arm of choice more often than not was an intermediate car with a decidedly full - size of it engine . Ford was n’t about to let its contender occult its report in performance - car chronicle without a fight .
Go to the next page to see exercising weight , cost , and production numbers game for 1962 - 1965 Ford Fairlanes .
1962-1965 Ford Fairlane Models, Prices, Production
When Ford introduced its 1962 Fairlane , it gave the car - bribe populace a new sort of sensible family unit cable car . Its combination of trend , operation , and economy won over buyers and test driver likewise , write a successful test for the first - coevals Ford Fairlane . Here are weights , prices , and output numbers for the 1962 - 1965 Ford Fairlane models :
1962 Ford Fairlane Models , Prices , output
1965 Ford Fairlane Models , Prices , output
