Fairly Lane?

"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
03/03/2015 at 15:56 • Filed to: None

So I went & looked at this '66 Fairlane last night. Not bad, but far from perfect. For $2600 it's awfully tempting though.

Note: Rock in picture is not a wheel chock. E-brake works fine.

The good:
Patina'd original paint (with some surface rust & buff-through) still holds a shine, good chrome, all there. The 200ci 6 runs great, starts on half a turn with no pump, no smoke, minimal leaks. Lots of new bits underhood. The Cruise-O-Matic shifts great. Manual steering is as tight as can be expected. Everything (which isn't much) works. Owner says he gets 20mpg+, and with the small carb I don't doubt him. It's been a semi-local CA car all it's life. I love the look.

The bad:
A little more rust than I had hoped for, from a spoiled CA perspective. A bit of rust through the front floors that needs to be patched, rust in the drip rails where paint has peeled that isn't through metal but needs to be sanded & sealed, and some rust around the rear wheelwells inside the trunk that needs the same. Rust starting around lower corners of rear window, minor at this point, though I'm sure more lurks beneath trim. Center grille trim broken. Right taillamp bezel dented, as is fender behind it. Front shocks gone because the car is lowered. Front seat stuffing gone. Upholstery shot, rubberized OEM floor liner shot.

Still, it cruises great at 60mph, with a great view over the hood. Makes you feel good. I want a daily driver classic of some kind, and this could work while giving me a little of the Galaxie style I really want without ruinously expensive fuel economy. I don't need to haul ass, so the 200 is just fine. The rust isn't catastrophically bad, and with a little work the surface stuff could be done in a weekend without affecting the overall patina. The floors are serviceable, but something I'd want to address before cruising my family around in it.

What say you, Oppos? Hard to go wrong on one hand, potential pit on the other.

DISCUSSION (21)

Cherry_man1 > RallyWrench
03/03/2015 at 16:01

It has potential, but the floors for a 4-door are hard to find really.

I would look for the Coupe or maybe look for a Torino.

Cé hé sin > RallyWrench
03/03/2015 at 16:01

The Fairlane is called after Fair Lane. Do you know where that was?

vondon302 > RallyWrench
03/03/2015 at 16:03

As a person who has lived his whole life in the rust belt. BUY IT !!! That would go for 5000 in michigan

505Turbeaux > RallyWrench
03/03/2015 at 16:08

looks good, for that price you cant lose

RallyWrench > Cherry_man1
03/03/2015 at 16:09

I've love a coupe or Torino, but they don't exist in my budget for a daily. Whatever I get basically needs to be covered or close to it by whatever I can sell my Subaru for, maybe 3500. The floors are such that I'd just fab some patch panels & weld them in, not too bad.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > RallyWrench
03/03/2015 at 16:10

I'd say do it, but that's a very predictable response from me - both being an old FERD man in general and not being in the least intimidated by any kind of rust. Other people may be more sane.

newsmctado > RallyWrench
03/03/2015 at 16:10

My mother and uncle shared a 4-door fairlane (not sure of the model year, but probably early 60s) throughout high school. I don't think either of them realized at the time how cool of a classic it was. And I still don't think they realize that today.

RallyWrench > Cé hé sin
03/03/2015 at 16:11

Henry Ford's estate. I'm ashamed to say I didn't know that until I started looking at them more seriously.

Cherry_man1 > RallyWrench
03/03/2015 at 16:12

Ah gotcha, I would be wary of a classic on that kind of budget though. If you can get a little mote money behind you get something in the 7-8 range if you can. Cause usually those will be running and driving reliably

RallyWrench > Cherry_man1
03/03/2015 at 16:17

This is sorted out mechanically, the guy drives it every day and takes it out of town all the time. It really runs nicely, I was pleasantly surprised at that. The running budget is another thing, I just want to break even on purchase, mostly so as not to piss off my wife (too much). If I could get away with 8k, I'd have bought a bitchin' bagged '65 Galaxie 500, 352 2 door that was over in Bakersfield a couple of weeks ago.

JGrabowMSt > RallyWrench
03/03/2015 at 16:30

Find one of the super rare factory Cobra Jet two door sedan bodies with 4 speed manual instead.

One of them has to have survived.

RallyWrench > JGrabowMSt
03/03/2015 at 16:35

Somewhere, I'm sure, but I am a man of simple means. That would be a 6 digit car.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > RallyWrench
03/03/2015 at 16:42

Sounds good to me. Go for it. If things go south, well, you'll have a nice shell for a hot rod build later.

RallyWrench > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
03/03/2015 at 16:44

I've had that thought. I mean, I'm going to have to drop a V8 in it some time, right? It's what you do.

JGrabowMSt > RallyWrench
03/03/2015 at 16:52

I don't think there is another one actually.

How do I know it exists? My dad was the original owner. Not sure if the car was wrapped around a pole or not way back when or if it actually survived through the years.

RallyWrench > JGrabowMSt
03/03/2015 at 16:55

Wow, that must have been a hell of a machine. I wonder if you could look up the Marti report or figure out if there were others that way. Do you happen to have any record of the VIN?

Cherry_man1 > RallyWrench
03/03/2015 at 17:12

Ah gotcha well just know it won't be worth much more then what you will buy it for. Unless for some reason like the classic market dries up and 4 door cars are the last things. also if you can get rid of the 200 and get a 289

Cé hé sin > RallyWrench
03/03/2015 at 17:21

That's half the story. The estate was called after what's now called Wolfe Tone Street, which is right here . You'll see it extends south from Fair Hill and continues on to Cattle Market Avenue. Cattle and other animals used to be brought to a fair green and then down Fair Hill to the market for sale,There are historical reasons behind this - Henry Ford's mother's family lived there.

So there you have it.

RallyWrench > Cherry_man1
03/03/2015 at 18:18

Oh yeah, I don't expect it to be an investment, just a classic cruiser. I consider a classic car well sold if you get what you paid for it after having enjoyed it for awhile. If my record is anything to go by, values increase right after I sell things. If I kept it long term, I'm sure it'd gain a couple cylinders.

Cherry_man1 > RallyWrench
03/03/2015 at 18:50

Gotcha

MM54 > RallyWrench
03/03/2015 at 23:44

For $2600 I'd have already bought it :)