Overshadowed by the sensational Mustang and dressed in nondescript one-year sheet metal, the ’65 Fairlane is a forgotten Ford of the 1960s. Let’s see if we can jog our memories a bit.
In Blue Oval lore, the original 1962 Fairlane, Ford’s entry in the burgeoning intermediate category of the 1960s, was designed by executive Robert McNamara while he was sitting in church one Sunday morning. Using only a table of cost figures, no drawings or renderings, McNamara sketched out a larger, roomier version of the compact Falcon that shared many Falcon components, thus locking in low production costs and a comfortable profit margin.
Put another way, the Fairlane was essentially a Falcon with extra space between the parts to enable a fatter list price. Many buyers around this time had found compacts to be too small and plain, while full-size models had grown too large and expensive, especially for second-car use, and from that angle the Fairlane made perfect sense.
Propelled by the company’s excellent new small-block V8 (221, 260, and 289 cubic inches) the Fairlane was a solid seller from the start. For the fourth and final year of the first-generation product cycle in 1965, Ford treated its intermediate to a complete sheet metal makeover from the beltline down. While the ’65 Fairlane is based on the same basic Falcon-sourced unit platform as the previous ’62-’64 models, it has a look and flavor all its own—a bit of an oddball, it would seem.
We don’t know the theory behind the ’65 Fairlane’s styling, but it’s as if the Ford design team, led by studio vice president Gene Bordinat, took a look at all the round and oval visual elements of the ’62-’64 series and said, “Right, make them all rectangles.” Grille, headlamp surrounds, rear fascia, and tail lamps all share the squared-off theme, in part to mimic the ’65 big car line. It’s not an unattractive look, but it’s not very distinctive or exciting, either, many found. Motor Trend magazine called the ’65 restyle “indiscriminate.”
Under the blocky sheet metal, the Fairlane was much as before. Models included the base Fairlane and the deluxe Fairlane 500, the latter with a little more chrome and standard equipment. Powertrain choices included 170 and 200 CID sixes of Falcon origin, as well as the hot Challenger 289 CID V8 in 200 hp, 220 hp, and high-performance 271 hp varieties. Transmissions included three and four-speed manual gearboxes and the trusty Cruise-O-Matic.
While there were no convertibles in the first-gen Fairlane line, in ’65 or any other year, otherwise the body style choices were generous enough. For ’65 there were two and four-door sedans, a four-door station wagon (above) and a two-door pillarless hardtop that could be had in plain or Sport Coupe versions. The four-door post sedan accounted for the bulk of the sales—nearly half of the 224,000 units produced in MY 1965.
In 1964, the Fairlane had carried the Ford flag on the drag strips of America with the legendary Thunderbolt, but when the sporty Mustang arrived for 1965, the Fairlane body was kicked to the curb. Barely a handful of ’65 Fairlanes were campaigned in national competition, led by Downey Ford’s 427-powered entry from Los Angeles with driver Darrell Droke (below). Throughout the mid-1960s, Ford’s marketing effort was built around the Total Performance theme, but for some reason the ’65 Fairlane seemed to have no place in it. When a completely revamped Fairlane appeared in 1966, that would change.
In the early 1970s, my dad bought a well-worn 65 Fairlane station wagon with the 170 inline six and automatic transmission. When I think of driving that car, it makes me think of the old saying “wouldn’t pull a greasy string”, yada yada yada. The rear shocks must have been worn out, because going around even the slightest curve gave the sense that the rear end was swaying back and forth.
It had manual steering and brakes, and I recall enjoying the responsiveness of the steering. The paint was dull faded red with a white top. Dad paid someone to paint the lower part all white, and it was one of the worst paint jobs I’ve ever seen. The only options the car had were AM radio and it did have a heater.
It provided decent, cheap transportation, and it proved to be his last car, as he passed away in 1977. I guess it might be, for that reason, why I remember the 65 Fairlanes quite fondly. And, you’re right, they do seem to be the forgotten Fairlanes of the 1960s. It is a rare thing to see one at any car show.
I think they’re one of THE handsomest cars of the Sixties, hands down!!! They’re the Fairlanes I love!!!
I’ll second that, especially the 63 and I’m a GM and especially a Pontiac guy. Each make so different, fresh, original each year. Much has changed today when all cars look alike.
Interesting how our tastes change as we get older. Though I was a fan of FORD in the ’60s, I didn’t particularly like the styling of the ’64 Full size models, or the ’65 Fairlane. I have come to like the ’65 Fairlane much more in recent years, as much because it seemed to be an orphan in some ways, among car enthusiasts, as its styling which I have grown to appreciate. One small correction in engine specs. In ’65 289s were offered as 200hp w/2v, 225hp w/4v, and 271 w/slightly higher c.r. (1/2 point?) 4v, solid lifters, and dual exhausts. Thanks for featuring the “forgotten” Fairlane.
A reasonably popular model here in Australia, though I doubt Robrert McNamara would have sanctioned the one I saw recently in Gympie, Queensland- red, with wide whites, 427 crossed flag/ thunderbird on guards and exhausts exiting just before the rear wheels. Family transport…
… oh, and always 4 doors here mate…
I have never seen that body style here in Oz? Compacts from 62-65 and then we got our Falcon based ZA Fairlane in 66. There is quite a few US fastback 66 67 Fairlanes around. I feel a dealer may have imported and converted them here in the day.
As for wide whites etc the rat rod types love them. lets make the car as ugly as possible!!
I agree did not have this body in Australia. 66 ZA Aussie design based on Falcon but stretched.
McNamara’s plan worked for our family. Dad was mostly a Pontiac guy, but he bought a Comet in ’60. I didn’t pay much attention to it as I had my own first car to drive, but he didn’t like the lack of power and general fit and finish, so in ’63 he bought a white 2-door Fairlane hardtop. Don’t recall what engine it had, but it seemed to have plenty of power, and I liked its substantial appearance. I applauded his good taste! Too bad it leaked oil from day one.
The ’65 body style was popular at the local dirt track. In about ’68, ’69, guys who were building new cars were building ’66’s. The rest who were having trouble finding ’61-’64 sheet metal, or was looking for an “upgrade” found the ’65’s a perfect compromise of a fresher look, on their old chassis.
Beginning in ’63, Fairlane emulated the full size Galaxie look – so closely in some elements that swap meet scroungers need a tape measure to tell the grilles apart. The ’65 was an attempt to emulate the crisply folded Galaxie. It looked bulkier, but not a great thing on bitty 13″ wheels. There were at least two “Thunderbolts” built from ’65s, including the Darrell Droke 500 Sport Coupe running the Anglia in the pic at the top of the page. Fairly sure that later the Downey Ford Fairlane gained an SOHC 427 and won a few national events. Then Dyno rolled the first flip top F/C off the trailer….