Vehicle Description
With a smooth and torquey 260 under the hood, a 4-speed manual
gearbox for fun, and a high-impact paint job, this 1963 Ford
Fairlane 500 is an affordable way to get some Blue Oval power in
your garage. The look screams performance and if you're a fan of
Ford's mid-sized Fairlane, this is a great way to hang out at all
the big car events without spending a ton of cash.
If you like the look of the purple paint, you'll be pleased with
the workmanship that created it. Finish quality is pretty darned
good, with smooth sheetmetal, good gaps, and decent surface prep
before the paint went on. The Fairlane looks sleek with its sloping
rear window, and there's a hint of 1950s cool with the small tail
fins out back. You also get a taste of the Thunderbolt with a faux
hood scoop up front and Ford's jet-inspired taillights are still
the coolest of the era. You'll also find a few ghost flames around
the body, all rendered in cool Mystic chromatic paint that changes
color as you move around the car, a very neat touch that you don't
see all that often. Most of the chrome and trim is original, yet
it's in good shape, with only the front bumper needing a bit of
elbow grease to polish it up. They also added hood pins, unique
headlight covers that simulate the "cat's eye" lenses of the '30s,
and a blacked-out grille that makes it look aggressive. This car
definitely has a great look.
It's a little less radical inside, wearing black vinyl on a pair of
bucket seats that are very nicely upholstered. There's also a
full-sized rear seat for passengers, reminding us that Ford's
mid-sized cars were big, comfortable cruisers as much as street
brawlers. A center console houses a Hurst shifter for the 4-speed
manual transmission and the original round gauges are big, bold,
and clear. A modern steering wheel adds to the performance feel,
but the rest is pure 1963 cool, including the chrome details
surrounding the instrument panel, the sliding heater controls, and
the nicely finished door panels. A Kenwood AM/FM/cassette stereo
lives in the original AM radio's spot, feeding speakers stacked on
top of the console. Embroidered floor mats protect the carpets and
the trunk is fitted with correct mats, a full-sized spare, and a
complete jack assembly.
Ford's 260 cubic inch V8 was a strong performer, even in the
Fairlane, and this one has obviously had a lot of attention
lavished upon it. The bright red engine is what Fords were wearing
in the early '60s, but the blue Moroso valve covers and air cleaner
give it a more traditional look, especially with the reproduction
decal on the air cleaner lid. There's an Edelbrock 4-barrel
carburetor underneath, plus a Weiand aluminum intake manifold, but
that appears to be the extent of the modifications. A chrome
alternator adds a bit of sparkle and it's nice to see power
steering here, something you don't find on Fords of this vintage
very often. The dual exhaust system uses glasspack-style mufflers
for a great rumble that never gets annoying, and there's an
oversized front sway bar to tighten up the handling. Air shocks on
the 8-inch rear end allow you to fine-tune the ride height just the
way you want it and Torque Thrust wheels and fat 205/60/15 BFG
radials are an excellent choice.
An unusual heavy cruiser with decent firepower and an awesome
interior. How can you go wrong with this cool Ford? Call now!