A noteworthy accomplishment for a model line that existed for a relatively little period of time. The early Fairlane, which was introduced to replace the Crestline, the brand’s main full-size vehicle, is arguably most known for its Crown Victoria Skyliner model, which has a translucent, tinted canopy.
The 500 Skyliner is another option, and it featured a power retractable hardtop at the time. In 1962, Ford decided to redesign the Fairlane into a midsize, leaving the Galaxie as its sole full-size offering.
And that’s when the company also began stuffing increasingly larger V8 engines in the car. Two years later, Ford created the Thunderbolt, a heavily modified, factory-built dragster powered by a 427-cubic-inch V8.
1969 saw the Fairlane get the 428-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) Cobra Jet, while 1970, the nameplate’s final year in showrooms, marked the introduction of the 385-series 429-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) V8. Yup, that’s plenty of beefed-up versions to choose from if you’re a fan of the Fairlane.
However, that’s only available as long as you want a midsize iteration.If you’re into the full-size variant (that’s three generations from 1955 to 1961), you’re pretty much stuck with Y-blocks and Thunderbird V8s.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, given that the range-topping 390-cubic-inch (6.4-liter) mill delivered 375 horsepower in 1961, but you won’t get more oomph unless you opt for a swap.
The color comes from the regular Ford palette, the car rides on steelies, and nothing suggests this Fairlane is more than just a family car. The same goes for the interior, which is as stock as they get and boasts a lovely two-tone finish in pastel green and blue colors that were popular at the time. Overall, it’s a car you’d find at a classic car dealership under “fantastic factory-spec restorations.”
And get this: it’s not a run-of-the-mill Cobra Jet. This engine was built by Holman-Moody, one of the greatest racing outfits of the era. Established in 1957, Holman-Moody was at some point one of Ford’s main motorsport partners and built dragsters, NASCAR racers, and even a few Ford GT40s.
Back to our two-door Fairlane here, there’s no info as to when this car was put together in its current configuration, but it’s a solid build that looks as good as a factory project. We also don’t know how much oomph comes from the 428 Cobra Jet mill, but we’re probably looking at more than a stock unit, which came with 335 horsepower on tap.
It’s the perfect sleeper.And here’s another cool twist. The owner likes to pretend the Fairlane is a moonshine hauler. Yes, this car was built almost 30 years after the Prohibition was over, but it’s probably the kind of vehicle bootleggers would have used to avoid the law if the production and transportation of alcoholic beverages would have been banned in the 1960s.
He even stuck a weathered wooden crate packed with jars and an old bag in the trunk just for kicks. Check it out in the video below and tell me it’s not the greatest Fairlane sleeper you’ve seen this side of a 1966 R-code special.
