Introduced in 1955 as a replacement for the Crestline, the Ford Fairlane remained in showrooms until 1970. Initially a full-size car, the Fairlane joined the emerging midsize market in 1962. The company's bread-and-butter automobiles for 15 years, the Fairlane spawned many iterations and even joined the muscle car segment in the mid-1960s.
Available with beefed-up V8 engines like the 427-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) FE-series, the 390-cubic-inch (6.4-liter) Thunderbird, and the 428-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) Cobra Jet, the Fairlane was among the most potent intermediates of its time. It also joined the drag-racing wars with the incredible Thunderbolt in 1964.
The factory-built race car was born from Ford's need for a lighter quarter-mile rig. With the Galaxie unable to defeat the Chevrolet Impala Z11 and the Pontiac Catalina Super Duty, the company decided to drop a big V8 in a midsize car.
Devoid of convenience features and stuffed with the NASCAR-spec 427 V8 by the Dearborn Steel Tubing company, the Thunderbolt emerged with a massive teardrop-shaped bulge on the hood and over 500 horsepower to the rear wheels. And it was nearly too light for the Super Stock class.
The Thunderbolt debuted with a win at the 1964 Winternationals. Then, it went on to take the NHRA Top Stock crown and the NHRA Manufacturers' Cup. Ford built only 100 units, so the Thunderbolt became a rare, highly desirable, and very expensive classic. And it's a vehicle you won't see very often at car shows.
The turquoise two-door coupe you see here is by no means a Thunderbolt, but it reminds me of Ford's Super Stock monster thanks to an identical teardrop hood bulge. And the fact that it's a 1961 Fairlane makes it even more interesting.
Far from being an accurate tribute, this rig is more like a period racer. In addition to the massive scoop and quick-release pins, it also packs fatter rear tires and side-exiting exhaust pipes. The roll cage is yet another hint that this Fairlane was built with quarter-mile runs in mind.
There's no information about what's under the hood, but the second video below provides a closer look at the V8. It appears to be a more modern powerplant of the crate and custom variety. It's quite massive, too, and I have a feeling it cranks out way more oomph than the 427 V8 in the Thunderbolt.
I wish we'd hear it run and see it charge down the quarter-mile strip, but none of the videos show the V8 running. That's a shame, but it's still a cool vehicle to drool over. And yes, unlike the Thunderbolt, this Fairlane is a full-size car. 1961 was the final year for big Fairlanes. Hit the play button below for the full walkaround.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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