1966 witnessed the debut of the fifth-generation Fairlane, and Ford decided it was the right moment to introduce several notable channels, beginning with the return of previously retired packages.
Returning to offer customers exclusive options, the XL, GT, and GTA models included an all-new SportShift Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission as standard on the GTA.
The 289 V8 engine was also dropped by the American automaker, while the vehicle was still offered with a 200 six-cylinder engine for fuel-efficient buyers and a more potent V8 for thrill-seekers. The 427, which comes with 425 horsepower and is offered on the R-code Fairlane 500, was this year’s top engine option.
A 1966 Fairlane recently received a second chance to return to the road after someone discovered it in storage and decided to post it online for more exposure. The car is looking for a complete restoration if a professional restorer is ready to take on a challenging job, though the best option is to inspect it personally, considering eBay seller clospenuf didn’t share too many specifics.
Described as a barn find, this Fairlane certainly looks like a vehicle that’s been sitting for a very long time. It flexes the typical barn dust, but it’s unclear if it also comes with rust and other metal problems. The rust damage is likely in the usual places, such as the floors and the trunk, but this depends on many factors, including how long the Fairlane has been sitting in the barn and the storage conditions.
It’s also difficult to determine whether the automobile is complete, particularly because the engine has already been taken out and it’s impossible to know what else is missing.
With a four-barrel carburetor, this barn find’s 390 V8 engine produced 335 horsepower when it went off the assembly lines as a Fairlane GTA. The seller claims that although the same engine is still in operation, they also have a backup 390 in case the buyer needs one. Before resuming driving the Fairlane, the buyer will also need to install the original mill or the replacement unit, as neither of the two engines are present in the vehicle.