For Sale: 1963 Ford Fairlane 500 in Lithia Springs, Georgia

Wow, when was the last time you saw one of these? 1963 Ford Fairlane 500s aren't exactly common these days, especially not in a cool color combination like this. Add a sweet-running 260, a 4-speed, and you have a great runner that's bound to generate more than its fair share of double-takes on the street and an easy car to upgrade to take it to the next level.

I liken the early '60s Fairlanes to the industrial-strength Mopars of the same period: lots of power without a lot of excess baggage. The lines are clean but very subdued, the roofline is formal but stylish, and there's only enough trim to make a statement. Painting it charcoal gray helps keep it under the radar, and with the paint being only a few years old, it still looks quite good. There are a few signs of use, so it isn't a trailer queen by any means, but that dark paint gives this a very serious look indeed. Admit it: if this car rolled up next to you at a light, you'd think twice about punching it when the light turned green, wouldn't you? Who knows what kind of evil lurks under that long hood? Fortunately, there's enough chrome to lighten the mood a bit, and all of it remains in great shape, particularly the angular side trim that matches the forward-canted angle of the roof. And I think Chrysler owes Ford an apology, because that concave rear window looks awfully familiar, don't you think?

Personally, I think light interiors are a great choice no matter what you're driving. The bench seat setup in this car has a luxurious yet sporty look that matches the car's personality and remains bright and airy. The seat cover, door panels, headliner, and carpets are all in great condition and you can tell at a glance that this one was built to cruise. No radio, auxiliary gauges in the dash, and a matching center armrest with cup holders all make it ready to hit the next cruise night. Actually, aside from a heater and defroster, this car is pretty light on options, so you know it was ordered and built to do just one thing out on the mean streets. The back seat is big enough for three friends (or "ballast" as we used to call them) and with a giant trunk, road trips or excursions to the track don't mean you have to leave essentials behind.

A 260 cubic inch V8 lives under the hood, and gives the Fairlane the moves of a much younger machine. Rebuilt in 2004 and bored .40 over, it offers low-end torque to get out of the hole quickly and the 260's penchant for high-RPM excursions comes via an Edelbrock aluminum intake and 4-barrel carb, Comp Cams camshaft, Pertronix ignition, as well as a set of Hooker long-tube headers that were ceramic coated for long life. It's actually quite nice under the hood, with satin black inner fenders, finned aluminum valve covers, and nice details like the original generator, Ford script hoses, and even a solvent bag hanging by the shock tower make it look correct. The transmission is a 4-speed manual, which is how this car came from the factory. A recent dual exhaust system with Flowmaster mufflers sounds fantastic at, say 5000 RPM, and the vintage Torque Thrust wheels wear 205/65/15 radials that add the perfect performance look.

This is a two-time National Fairlane Show placer and it comes with a ton of build receipts and photos so you can buy it with confidence. A little unusual and a lot of fun. Call today!