1964 Ford Fairlane 500 review from Australia and New Zealand
"Power, timeless styling and robust reliability"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
I replaced the original, but seized 289 cu. in engine with a fully overhauled 302 Windsor from an XY Falcon.
Rather thn overhauling the original air sucking 4BBL carby., I replaced it with a new Holley 350.
The original "Fordomatic" 2 range auto trans, too costly to overhaul has been replaced by a C4.
Two cylinder-head rockers snapped which I replaced cheaply.
The after-market power brake booster needed overhaul.
The drivers side window winding mech is busted so badly the door really needs to be replaced.
General comments?
The power to weight ratio on these old Compact Fairlanes is fabulous. They really answer the question both down low and at higher speeds.
Plenty of space both in the front and back bench seats, it is a true "six seater".
Popular with many US Highway Patrols and Sherriff's Departments in the '60s for their smaller footprint, snappy performance and robust build quality, many were still used in law enforcment well into the 1970's.
An immediate predecessor to Lee Iacocca's sporty 1964 1/2 Mustang, this old Fairlane shares many parts and some styling components with its even more compact little brother.
Even though this Fairlane is an official Australian assembled RHD Compact, many body parts are devilishly hard to find here.
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| Big, expensive beast |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model Year | 1964 |
| First year of ownership | 2005 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 289 V8 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 9/10 |
| Reliability marks | 9/10 |
| Comfort marks | 7/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 4/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 125000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 128000 miles |
| Previous car | Holden Commodore |
| Date of Entry | 20th February, 2006 |