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1965 Ford Fairlane

The Ford Fairlane model was a part of the company lineup from the mid-1950s to 1970. Its name was derived from Henry Ford's estate, Fair Lane, near Dearborn, Michigan. When introduced in 1955, it replaced the Crestline as Ford'spremiere full-sized model and was offered in a vast array of six different body styles. It grew even longer, lower, and wider for 1957, highlighted with modern styling, a sleek new appearance, and low tailfins. Another major restyling appeared in 1960, and in 1962, the Fairlane was moved to the intermediate body size, positioned between the compact Ford Falcon and the full-sized Galaxie. It utilized a unibody frame, like the Falcon, but with an unusual feature that Ford called 'torque boxes' - the lower body structure had four boxed structures designed to absorb road shock by moving slightly in the vertical plane. Body styles initially included a two- or four-door sedan. The standard engine was a 170 cubic-inch six or a new optional lightweight Windsor V8, initially displacing 221 cubic inches. Mid-year, a 260 CID 'Challenger' version became available with an advertised 164 horsepower.

The sedan was soon followed mid-year by a Sports Coupe body style, complete with bucket seats and a floor console. Trim levels included the base and the 500, distinguished by three bullets on the rear quarter panels and wider chrome trim traversing the side of the body.

In mid-1963, the Challenger 289 cubic-inch engine was introduced, featuring solid lifters and various other performance enhancements helping to boost power to 271 hp. Cars with this engine received fender-mounted 'V' badges that proclaimed '289 High Performance.' Also in 1963, a station wagon (dubbed the Ranch Wagon and Ranch Custom Wagon) joined the body style lineup, along with a pillarless hardtop coupe.

The 1965 Ford Fairlane continued to be offered in both 'base' and '500' trim levels. The 'base' Fairlane was offered as a 2- and 4-door sedan, and a station wagon. The 500 Series included the same body styles as the 'base,' plus a hardtop coupe, sport coupe, and station wagon. The Fairlane Squire wagon was no longer offered. Prices ranged from $2,225 to $2,515 for the base six-cylinder Fairlane, while the six-cylinder Fairlane 500 ranged from $2,300 to $2,600.

Both the 'base' and the '500' Fairlane had chrome windshield moldings, a chrome horn ring, front and rear armrests, and came standard with an overhead-valve, 200 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine with a Holley single-barrel carburetor, seven main bearings, and delivering 120 horsepower at 4,000 RPM. Optional 289 CID V8s boosted horsepower to 200 to 271 hp, depending on the setup.

The name 'Ford' appeared in block letters along the rear escutcheon panel, along with two chrome strips between the taillights and a Ford crest positioned in the center of the panel. The base Fairlane had vinyl floor mats while the 500's received carpeting. The Sports Coupe had its own standard 'spinner' wheel covers, additional exterior brightwork, and 'Sports Coupe' scripts on the 'C' pillars.

14-inch wheels were standard, replacing the earlier 13-inch wheels, and the Ford-O-Matic and 260 CID V8 were no longer offered.

Styling features for the 1964 Ford Fairlane included a new grille and headlight bezels, slight modifications to the side chrome trim, the shape of the trunk lid changed, and the tail fins were removed. Mild changes continued into 1965, with new body-color headlight bezels for the deluxe models and rectangular taillight lenses. The hood carried a small stand-up ornament, and there was a return to the trunk lids of the 1962/63 models.

Production of the 'base' 1965 Ford Fairlane reached 52,972 units while the Fairlane 500 had 170,980 units built.

NHRA D/Stock
Ford built two examples of the Fairlane 500 with the 289 HIgh-Performance engine for the D/Stock Automatic drag racing, ordered through Ford Transportation Services with seam-sealer delete. One example was sold to Les Ritchey's Performance Associates for $1 and then campaigned out of California's Mel Burns Ford as part of Ford's drag team that also included Connie Kalitta and Gas Ronda. The Fairlane driven by Ritchey captured the D/SA-Class championship at the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, California, in April 1965. The car's success resulted in its use in Ford and Shelby advertising.

Fairlane Thunderbolt
The Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt was a specially prepared lightweight drag vehicle tuned to run in the low eleven-second bracket. They received the 427 cubic-inch single overhead camshaft engine with dual four-barrel Holey carburetion, unique ram air induction system, tubular headers, 12 to 1 compression ratio, aluminum scatter shield, heavy-duty brakes, trunk-mounted battery, electric fuel pump, revised drag suspension, and special wheels and drag tires. The interiors had special gauges and a tachometer. Lightweight features included Plexiglas windshield, fiberglass doors, radio and heater delete, rubber floor mat, lightweight bucket seats, and ultra-light hood and front fenders.

Approximately 100 examples were built by Dearborn Steel Tubing, subcontracted by the Ford Motor Company to modified the small-block chassis to accommodate the large 427 engine. The four-speed examples were priced at $3,780 and the automatic at $3,990.


By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2020

Related Reading : Ford Fairlane History

The name Fairlane came from Henry Fords Fair Lane mansion location in Dearborn, Michigan. The Ford Fairlane was introduced in 1955 as Fords full-size model and was available in six different body styles. The vehicle could be assembled as a 2 door club sedan, a 4 door town sedan, a Victoria 2 door hardtop, a Sunliner convertible, a Crown Victoria, or a Crown Victoria with a plastic top. There....
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Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

1965 Fairlane
$2,620-$24,400
1965 Ford Fairlane Price Range: $2,180 - $2,620

Compare: Lower | Higher | Similar

Other 1965 Ford Models
$1,975 - $2,660
$2,370 - $2,612
$2,625 - $3,425
$4,392 - $4,850

Fairlane

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
297,116
115.50 in.
6 cyl., 223.00 CID., 138.00hp
8 cyl., 221.00 CID., 145.00hp
8 cyl., 292.00 CID., 170.00hp
8 cyl., 352.00 CID., 220.00hp
8 cyl., 390.00 CID., 300.00hp
8 cyl., 390.00 CID., 340.00hp
8 cyl., 406.00 CID., 385.00hp
8 cyl., 406.00 CID., 405.00hp
$2,155 - $2,505
343,887
115.50 in.
6 cyl., 170.00 CID., 101.00hp
8 cyl., 221.00 CID., 145.00hp
8 cyl., 260.00 CID., 164.00hp
$2,153 - $2,885
379,012
115.50 in.
6 cyl., 170.00 CID., 101.00hp
6 cyl., 200.00 CID., 116.00hp
8 cyl., 260.00 CID., 164.00hp
8 cyl., 289.00 CID., 195.00hp
8 cyl., 289.00 CID., 225.00hp
8 cyl., 289.00 CID., 271.00hp
8 cyl., 390.00 CID., 300.00hp
8 cyl., 390.00 CID., 330.00hp
8 cyl., 427.00 CID., 410.00hp
8 cyl., 427.00 CID., 425.00hp
$2,180 - $2,600
223,952
116.00 in.
6 cyl., 200.00 CID., 120.00hp
8 cyl., 289.00 CID., 200.00hp
8 cyl., 289.00 CID., 225.00hp
8 cyl., 352.00 CID., 250.00hp
8 cyl., 289.00 CID., 271.00hp
8 cyl., 427.00 CID., 425.00hp
8 cyl., 427.00 CID., 616.00hp
8 cyl., 427.00 CID., 657.00hp
$2,180 - $2,620

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