Ford Fairlane


History
Part I
1955-1961






Introduction: Introduced in 1955 as Ford's fullsize model, the Ford Fairlane was reborn in 1962 as Ford's entry into the hotly contested intermediate muscle car market. With lighter weight than the fullsize Galaxie but with the same powerful engines, the Fairlane, and its spinoffs the Torino and Cobra, were a force to be reckon with on the street and the drag strip.


1955 Ford Fairlane





Comments: The Ford Fairlane, named for Henry Ford's Fair Lane mansion in Dearborn, was introduced in 1955 as the new top of the line fullsize Ford. The Fairlane was offered in six different body styles and flavors, from the rare plastic top Crown Victoria, to the convertible Sunliner and steel-top Victoria hardtop coupe, to finally traditional sedans. All body styles featured fine styling with the rakish "Fairlane stripe" side trim and optional flashy two-tone paint. Although over shadowed by the mid 50s Chevy's, the Fairlane were solidly designed (though sometimes sloppily assembled) and relatively quick in V8 form.

Production: 2D Club Sedan: 173,311. 4D Town Sedan: 254,437. Victoria 2D Hardtop: 113,372. Crown Victoria: 33,165. Crown Victoria (plastic top): 1,999. Sunliner Convertible: 49,966.
Engines: 223 I6 120 bhp. 223 I6 137 bhp. 272 V8 162 bhp. 272 V8 182 bhp.
Performance:


1956 Ford Fairlane





Comments: A new four door Victoria hardtop was added for 1956. Of bigger interest to performance fans was the introduction of two new V8s, a 292 cid and a 312 cid.

Production: 2D Club Sedan: 142,629. 4D Town Sedan: 224,872. Victoria 2D Hardtop: 117,735. Victoria 4D Sedan: 32,111. Crown Victoria: 9,209. Crown Victoria (plastic top): 603. Sunliner Convertible: 58,147.
Engines: 223 I6 120 bhp. 223 I6 137 bhp. 272 V8 162 bhp. 272 V8 182 bhp. 292 V8 200 bhp. 312 V8 215 bhp. 312 V8 225 bhp.
Performance:


1957 Ford Fairlane 500





Comments: The Ford Fairlane gained a new top trim for 1957, the 500. Sharing a new 118 inch wheelbase with standard Fairlane hardtops and sedans, which was two inches longer than the junior Custom/Custom 300 models and the new separate Station Wagon line. The new design was longer, lower, and wider in typical '50s style, with many styling cues from the 1955 Mystere show car. The Fairlane sported bigger, weightier new bodies matched by lower-profile "cowbelly" frame with dropped rear floorpan and kicked-up aft siderails permitting a two inch reduction in overall height. The suspension was improved via swept back front lower control arms and longer rear leaf springs. All engines were carryover from 1956, though tuned for slightly more power.
But the star introduction for 1957 was the new Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner which featured the world's first (and until the 1990s the only) production retractable hardtop convertible. It seemed like a great idea (and a typical '50s one at that), but it proved to be very complicated and somewhat trouble prone. It was also expensive, $400 more than the convertible Sunliner. Ford stylists designed the roof to be shorter than on other models and its front section was hinged to fold for more compact storage in the larger trunk area. But the Skyliner still ended up with a higher, longer rear deck and bulgier "bustle" rear panel. It also differed from other Ford Fairlanes with its standard V8, a relocated gas tank (behind the back seat instead of under the trunk floor), and little luggage space when the top was down.

Production: 2D Club Sedan: 93,756. 4D Town Sedan: 193,162. Victoria 2D Hardtop: 183,202. Victoria Hardtop Sedan: 68,550. Sunliner Convertible: 77,726. Skyliner Hardtop Convertible: 20,766.

Engines: 223 I6 144 bhp. 272 V8 190 bhp. 272 V8 205 bhp. 292 V8 212 bhp. 312 V8 245 bhp. 312 V8 270 bhp.
Performance:


1958 Ford Fairlane





Comments: The Ford Fairlane received a facelift for 1958, with quad headlamps above a 1958 Thunderbird style front bumper and grille, broader side trim, scalloped rear deck, four oval taillamps, and longitudinal roof ribs (to strengthen those panels, a '57 weakness). Main mechanical advances were new "big block" 332/352 V8s, which replaced the old 292 and 312 V8s, and a more sophisticated three-speed Cruise-O-Matic self-shift transmission. The retractable hardtop Skyliner continued with the same changes as other Fairlanes.

Production: 2D Club Sedan: 34,041. 4D Town Sedan: 105,698. Victoria 2D Hardtop: 80,349. Victoria Hardtop Sedan: 14,713. Sunliner Convertible: 35,029. Skyliner Hardtop Convertible: 14,713.
Engines: 223 I6 144 bhp. 272 V8 190 bhp. 272 V8 205 bhp. 332 V8 240 bhp. 332 V8 265 bhp. 352 V8 300 bhp.
Performance:


1959 Ford Fairlane





Comments: Ford styling reached a high point for 1959, with a complete redesign of the 57-58 styling. Noticeably squared up lines featured bigger windshields, "gullwing" headlamp brows, and a "Flying V" back panel cradling large round taillamps. Still, the styling was somewhat tame compared to the "bat wing" look of the Chevrolet fullsize models. New for 1959 was the introduction of the Galaxie trim, which appeared mid-year as a pair of Fairlane 500 hardtops with rectangular, wide-quarter Thunderbird-style roof lines -- a design theme that Ford would use for several years and be widely copied by others. The Skyliner Hardtop Convertible and Ford Fairlane 500 Sunliner convertible also were officially part of the Galaxie series, even though they still wore Fairlane 500 script badging. The V8s were slightly detuned in deference to buyers made more economy conscious by the recession of 1958. Suspension tweaks improved ride at the expense of handling, but workmanship improved, and durability was served by no-wax "Diamond Lustre" enamel paint and long life aluminized mufflers. This was the last year for the Skyliner Hardtop Convertible.

Production: 500 Victoria Sedan: 9,308. 500 Victoria Hardtop Coupe: 23,892. Galaxie Victoria Hardtop Sedan: 47,728. Galaxie Victoria Hardtop Coupe: 121,869. Sunliner Convertible: 45,868. Skyliner Hardtop Convertible: 12,915
Engines: 223 I6 145 bhp. 292 V8 200 bhp. 332 V8 225 bhp. 352 V8 300 bhp.
Performance:


1960 Ford Fairlane





Comments: The fullsize Fairlane was redesign for 1960 and were six inches longer, almost five inches wider, and nearly 200 pounds heavier. Graceful styling helped to hide some of the heft, with a sloped hood, simple grille, straight A-pillars, clean chrome-edged fenderlines, and modest horizontal tailfins, noding to Chevy's 1959 "batwings." The Sunliner returned, but the new Starliner was a real surprise: a pillarless semi-fastback two-door hardtop which replaced 1959's square-roof version.

Production: Starliner Hardtop Coupe: 68,461. Sunliner Convertible: 44,762
Engines: 223 I6 135 bhp. 223 I6 145 bhp. 292 V8 175 bhp. 292 V8 185 bhp. 352 V8 300 bhp. 352 V8 360 bhp.
Performance:


1961 Ford Fairlane





Comments: The Ford Fairlane models were redesigned again for 1961 and were slightly shorter and lighter, and tastefully made over with a concave grille, reshaped hood, more rounded bodysides, and a return to large, round taillamps. Performance improved with the introduction of a 390 cid V8 option good for either 375 or 401 bhp.

Production: Starliner Hardtop Coupe: 29,669. Sunliner Convertible: 44,614
Engines: 223 I6 135 bhp. 223 I6 145 bhp. 292 V8 175 bhp. 292 V8 185 bhp. 352 V8 300 bhp. 352 V8 360 bhp. 390 V8 375 bhp. 390 V8 401 bhp.
Performance: