1963 Ford Fairlane 500 Restomod

Description

This 1963 Ford Fairlane 500 shows you the right way to build a resto-mod. Outside, you have a clean, sharp, and very 1960s Ford Fairlane hardtop. Inside, however, you have a fuel injected 5.0, an overdrive transmission, and 4-wheel disc brakes. This is the car that does everything well: resto-mod done right.

Code B Peacock Blue is this car's original color, and now that you've seen it in person, why would you choose anything else? It's the ideal color for an early '60s car with vestigial tailfins and perfect for the guy who wants to keep a low profile. Well, actually, it's quite striking, so you're going to get noticed, but few will expect the modern powerplant living under the hood. It's been restored to a very high standard, with great gaps and all the original trim still in place, and there's simply no angle from which this car doesn't look great. The simple grille doesn't need any extra ornamentation and the hardtop roofline makes it look aggressive without being too obvious about it. The 500 was the top-of-the-line, so luxury was the theme as much as performance, but it does look racy doesn't it? The strip of contrasting white inside the side trim makes the Fairlane look a mile long and the jet-inspired taillights are a Ford tradition that works especially well with the twin tailpipes underneath.

The handsome blue bucket seat interior further blurs the line between original and modified, with comfortable buckets and a custom center console. The shifter is from a late-model Ford, and that's a neat touch, while the steering wheel is a Grant GT piece that adds some heft to the steering. Original gauges and an under-dash A/C unit keep it in tune with the 1960s, and thanks to modern hardware working behind the scenes, the system blows ice cold. It also offers a tilt steering column, a Kenwood AM/FM/CD stereo system that sounds pretty darned good, and custom embroidered floor mats protect the blue carpets. The back seat looks almost completely unused and the large trunk is fully upholstered in black carpet for easy maintenance.

You could get a Fairlane with a 260 cubic inch V8 in 1963, and as a result, the late-model 5.0 liter V8 slides right in like it was born there. This particular 5.0 comes from a 1998 Ford and as such enjoys the benefits of years of development, not the least of which are a full roller valvetrain, distributor-less ignition, and a set of factory GT40P heads, which were standard equipment. The familiar intake helps build torque and if you need more power, well, there's a massive catalog of upgrade parts just a phone call away. A massive aluminum radiator keeps things nice and cool and they tried to keep everything look as OEM as possible, including the air intake. Underneath there's an AOD 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive, so this is a fantastic highway car that actually gets decent fuel economy and there's a wonderful soft burble from the dual exhaust with Flowmaster mufflers; everyone is going to recognize the sound this one makes, that's for sure! The front suspension is upgraded with Mustang II rack-and-pinion steering and disc brakes, while the 8.8-inch rear end offers its own discs as well. It's clean and well-engineered underneath and sits exactly right on staggered Torque Thrust wheels and 225/55/16 front and 245/45/17 rear performance radials.

This is a very cool car. Turn the key and the 5.0 starts instantly, idles properly, and always delivers the goods. The Fairlane has awesome good looks. It seems like a match made in heaven. Call today!