1964 Ford Fairlane Ranch Wagon

Description

If it's attention you crave, this 1964 Ford Fairlane Ranch Wagon will get you more than you ever bargained for. It's actually very cool to take a mundane machine like a station wagon and give it an eyeball-popping makeover, and the juxtaposition of the two makes this a ride that everyone loves. Add in a strong-running 289 and a comfortable interior and you get a car that's at home just about everywhere it goes.

No, it's not subtle but it is beautifully done. You can see the hundreds of hours of work that went into the build everywhere you look and this is not some quickie paint job on an old beater. No, this is professional-grade work that cost cubic dollars and rightfully deserves to be out winning trophies just for being pretty. Of course it helps to start with good base stock, so a clean, rust-free wagon was the starting point and it was rebuilt from there. The paint is vivid bright orange, which, all by itself would have been arresting. But they added beautifully done airbrushed flames that are expertly rendered somewhat in the style of Dave Lavalee. The white top adds just the right touch, reminding us that this is a '60s station wagon after all, and most of the original trim remains in place, including the sweeping side moldings that make it look sporty, not frumpy. A clean grille, jet-exhaust taillights, and stock window trim all make this Fairlane instantly recognizable, even with the paint job.

The interior is a bit more sedate but no less beautifully done. Two-tone tan and brown vinyl is a great choice with the bright orange bodywork, allowing it to be both more OEM in appearance yet subtly custom without going over-the-top. Three rows of seats are a familiar sight in '60s wagons and we love that they kept the rear-facing third row, which makes everyone smile. The original Ford dash is intact, joined by a set of white-faced gauges down low that work rather well with the Ford's original dials. The most noteworthy modification is the custom B&M shifter, but otherwise it's largely as Ford built it in 1964, right down to the original AM radio in the dash. There's a slightly oversized steering wheel on the stock column and the flame theme continues on the dash and door panels. Tan carpets were used throughout to give it a more plush feel and with the rear seat folded, it's still a wagon, so it'll carry just about anything you can throw at it.

Just for fun, they installed a solid-lifter Hi-Po 289 cubic inch V8. It's got a wicked small block snarl that's more Mustang than station wagon, and that's all part of the fun. Finned Cobra valve covers have orange faces to go with the bodywork, but otherwise the engine bay looks quite stock, from the chrome air cleaner to the black painted engine block, which was correct for 1964. It's a tidy engine bay, clean but not over-done, again in stark contrast to the bodywork, which I think was the intention. It's linked to a C4 3-speed automatic transmission and the original rear end and exhales through a great sounding exhaust system that's still muffled enough to make this wagon a top-flight highway cruiser. The stance is lowered just enough to give it a bit of a rake and it sits on Mustang-spec 16-inch wheels with 225/45/16 front and 225/50/16 rear Kumho radials.

If you dig wagons, this one will probably really light your fire. Beautifully done, fun to drive, and always the center of attention, it's everything cool about hot rods with a dose of practicality mixed in. Call today!