Radiator split a seam and overheated the engine when coolant steamed from the radiator. Otherwise this little car was almost indestructible. Almost. Hurricane Camille actually "totaled" the car, & that wasn't the car' fault.
This 4-door sedan car was extremely well designed for its time (of development).
The "new in '62" 221 cubic inch displacement, 2V aspirated engine rated by Ford @ 145 horsepower was quite a magnificent performer in torque, acceleration, fuel economy (using "regular" gasoline), and smoothness through its complete RPM range. Current technology engines should perform so well.
A rear stabilizer bar would have appreciably helped cornering stability (rear stabilizers as we know them today were not available "back in the day."). "Brown" stabilizer would do the trick (if you could afford the $125.00 cost in the mid-to-late '60s.
The car would comfortably carry six passengers on long trips. Just don't expect it to accelerate as quickly carrying that extra 1,000 pounds of people & luggage.
The manual "3-speed" column shift transmission was the "first of its kind" produced and installed in domestic (US made) automobiles. It was a "fully synchronized" (could be shifted into low/first gear without having to "stop" the car to shift into low/first gear) transmission allowing the driver to down-shift into first gear without having to bring the car to a standstill.
The "little" 221 cu. in. displacement engine evolved (by cylinder boring) into the 260, then mighty 289, 302, and with more modifications, the Windsor 351. What a track record! Similar to the Chevy 265, 283, 327, etc.
Ah, I love to see this review! It makes me very nostalgic! Thanks for the memories.
My dad had a 1962 Fairlane with this small V8 engine, and what a fabulous car it was. I went with him to the dealer when he paid the steep sum of $2500 for it in the summer of 1962! It didn't have factory air and had three speed on the column, but this was the car that I learned to drive with. Dubbed "Elizabeth" by my mother, this little car stayed in the family for 10 years.
The Fairlane was an OK car for its time: the 1960's.
Can't think of any compelling reason to own one now, though, other than as a hobby piece.
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