1962-1965 Ford Fairlane-Fourth Generation

1965 Ford Fairlane-Fourth Generation

Ford Fairlane production, driven by a new station wagon with almost 344,000 Fairlanes built, filmed in 1963. However, faced with a new competition for the first time in 1964 this had dropped to less than 277,600, then in 1965 became 224,000.

For extensive facelift in 1965, the rooflines were retained. The slight curvature of the body surface 1962-1964 were replaced by more angular, straight-edged panels that showed a hint of a mid-body beltline kick-up. The new front end featured horizontal grille bars above a thinner bumpers, headlights were incorporated into rectangular frames that matched the color of the body. Back to rectangular taillamps.

1962-1965 Ford Fairlane-Fourth Generation

Motor Trend lamented the fact that the style of the Fairlane was "so indiscriminate taste like character could capitalize on the Shelby Cobra and Indianapolis alliance and make this the most desirable bread and butter car of the year."

On the technical side, the wheelbase was even kicked a 116-inch 14-inch wheels became standard across the line. The 170 cubic-inch six and 260 cubic inch V-8 were withdrawn. The hub 200 and six now rated at 120 horsepower, was the pilot plant. The 289 top-end V-8 was still tied to 271 horsepower, but the two barrel version of the same engine was hiked to an even 200 horsepower.

1962-1965 Ford Fairlane-Fourth Generations

Among 225 horses was a new-289 had a four-barrel carb and a compression ratio of 10.0:1. Fordomatic was banished from the table of options, so Cruise-O-Matic became the exclusive option of automatic transmission. Even the high perf V-8 could be ordered with it. Overtaking the economy of the engine was obtained only with the softer V-8.

1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt-Fourth Generation Images

Where to go from here? Fairlane The first generation was designed as a new kind of sensible family car. By the time he began work on its successor, however, Ford was embarking on its "Total Performance" era. Report on the 1964 Chicago Auto Show, Automotive News quoted as saying Iacocca performance was "really the only way to prove the ability of cars," and adding that Ford was "deeply committed to the activities and performance of the race they could not withdraw gracefully even if they wanted. "

1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt-Fourth Generation

The Fairlane had to play its role in the overall scheme of marketing. Heat accelerates four 289s were all very well, but had bigger things in the near future. A run of 100 Fairlane Thunderbolts had begun to haunt the classes Super / Stock dragstrips in the country in 1964. Barely street legal, these bright Fairlane 500 two-door sedans were stuffed with powerful 427-cubic-inch Ford V-8 under its fiberglass front clip. Fairlane When the second generation came in 1966, did so with a hardtop roof more speedway-friendly and underhood room enough to easily accept big block engines.

Through the late sixties, the war in muscle strength between Ford, GM, Chrysler and continued to grow, and the weapon of choice more often than not was an intermediate car with a decidedly full-size engine. Ford was unwilling to leave their rivals eclipse of his reputation in history performance car without a fight.