I’m still checking Craigslist daily for a replacement for my hapless Ford Focus. I’m clicking the “manual transmission” checkbox and clicking Search to see what comes up. Pickings are slim. A handful of manually shifted cars appear new each day. Most of them are work trucks, Mustangs, and compact cars, but a few are Curbside Classics like this 1961 Fairlane 500 with three on the tree and the 292 engine.
In 1960, Ford relegated its formerly top-line Fairlane 500 to the second rung beneath the new Galaxie, as Chevy had done to the Bel Air in 1958 with the Impala. But in 1962, Ford would break from Chevy’s tradition by reassigning the Fairlane name to the new intermediate cars. GM would ape this move, but not until 1982 when Pontiac downsized its big Bonneville onto the mid-sized A platform.
This one looks really clean. The ad (see it here) says that there are a couple of rust spots but they have to be pointed out, and that the interior is almost perfect. Not bad for a car that has just rolled past 100,000 miles.
It’s startling to see this all-blue interior and be reminded how it used to be: when you stepped below the top of the line, interiors became mighty basic. At least this blue is cheerful; imagine this car being all black inside.
Oh baby…
The very first car I ever purchased was a 1961 Ford Fairlane, in the summer of 1968. The exterior of mine was fairly close to the color of this one. I am still working on my first COAL on the Ford and hope to have it ready for submission after the first of the year. The only other thing I’m going to say now is that the one I had, 45+ years ago, was not in as good shape as this one is now.
Hmmm, a 292 with a tach? I wonder…..
This would be just the ticket for a guy who likes to explore old highways as it would help set the mood for the adventure.
The ’61 is a great looker, much more so than the ’62 or ’64 is to me. This being a Fairlane two-door sedan – with a three-speed, no less – does add a definite extra bit of intrigue to the mixture.
Great color and a new front bumper would make for a knock-out.
I crack myself up – I never noticed the missing bumper until you pointed it out.
Okay this is Next impossible to say this but this is true 1961 Fairlane 500 2 door 3 on the column six-cylinder was my very first car also if you had this car today 2018 and it was in very good shape what would the value of this car be worth I’m just curious.. please reply
Good looking car .
The advert link is broken .
-Nate
Fixed. Sorry!
The very first car I ever remember was our ’61 Galaxie 500 4-door sedan. This exact same baby-blue color. Dashboard is a flashback, big-time. I think the main trim difference between Fairlanes and Galaxies was the Galaxie had a fancy trim panel between the trunk lid and back bumper, where the Fairlane was plain paint.
I will always love the front end and the back end of the ’61s…to my eye they were the most attractive of all the early ’60s big Fords. The round “Jet Age” taillights and the mini-fins with just the right “kick” in the angle…yeah!
Cool looking car, and a 2 door to boot.
I wonder if the reason why it’s becoming harder to find a car for sale with a manual transmission is that so many ads fail to mention the transmission? To make matters worse, dealers are “mis-labeling” the transmission in ads when the included pictures clearly show that the automatic is a manual, and vice versa.
You are correct on the mislabeling of cars in dealer inventory. Plus as one who works at an organization that owns dump trucks, there is a sizable phobia about driving manual transmissions – which is unfortunate.
Manual, it’s the way to go. Jim is your Focus an auto? Mine’s a 5-speed which is one of the reasons it’s still going at 140,000 miles.
Nice Fairlane btw. Since it’s a 2-door can’t be made into a Mayberry police car, thank goodness!
Auto. One that seems to be having a hard time whether to be in 4th or 3rd. Which is a reason why I’m looking to replace it.
Yeap, I’ve read elsewhere that a Focus auto doesn’t go much past 100k.
Ours is getting grumpy in the winter, very slow gearchanges when cold (despite regular fluid changes) but once it warms up it’s fine.
Nice but not as nice as a Starliner.
True, but it appeals to my minimalist side 🙂 .
A few things about this car set off my long dormant street racer radar. The missing front bumper with tabs for flat towing, I see both inner headlights are missing (air ducts?), it has a tach and the JC Wintney metalflake steering wheel. It may have a 292 now, but I bet something a little more potent may have lived under that hood at one time.
I love a good well executed sleeper, and something like this would make a good one. Looks like a nice place to park a 428 CJ, though I suspect a few folks around here would see me horsewhipped for even thinking about it!
Nice find.
waa waa waa don’t make it a street racer! I am with you on the horsewhipping opinion. Some kind of big FE lump belongs in there with a Top Loader and 9″ rear. All praise mother Ford!
I’ll supply the whip.
I’ll take the heat off you. I’d put an lsx motor in it with a 4bbl carb on top.
And I’d horsewhip you. GM engines belong in GM vehicles. Period.
You’d try. LSX engines belong in anything that they can fit in. They are…glorious.
I always enjoy spotting US styling cues that later turned up on European Fords. There’s something here about the rear three-quarter view – the light (of course), the finette and, to a certain extent, the C-pillar, that says “Giant Mk I Cortina” to me.
+1 there were some great British Fords around then unlike todays FWD jelly beans
Dinky Toys made a nice (apx) 1/43 scale model of the ’61 Fairlane two door post sedan – this car. Dinky’s was in a pale//pea green, rather than this blue, but just as appropriate for a base car. As I remember it was also one of the first Dinky Toys with “steering”. One pressed on the left or right front fender, the suspension (unrealistically) leaned into the turn and you pushed the car the direction you desired.
I still have mine.
Bumpsteer 🙂 ???
for a very basic stripped older car, the only thing shines is the bumper. at lease this one has few more chrome trims. Wait, where is the front bumper? :O
Blue interior is another reason I prefer older cars. Usually for a basic model comes with vinyl interior, it comes in color anyway. but nowadays we have plenty of W-Body Impala with all black plastic inside 🙁
Nice but I think I would prefer a 1963 Fairlane. A column shifter takes away a lot of the appeal of a manual trans, unless all the joints and bushes have been renewed so it doesn’t jam up etc.
My brother still kicks himself over not buying a 63 V8 2 door because it was more expensive than the 62 6 cylinder 4 door.Nothing wrong with manual column shifters,I had a Vauxhall Cresta PC with 3 on a tree and it was my favourite car
Column shifters do work, but the last one I drove was a 1957 Hillman that would drop out of 3rd gear unless you held the lever up, another one that comes to mind was a mate’s early 70s HQ Holden ute that you had to take your time changing gear. I have seen but not driven a 5 on the tree in a Nissan van. A floor shift is much nicer to use and doesn’t go wrong as often.
Got to be tempted, surely?
“In 1960, Ford relegated its formerly top-line Fairlane 500 to the second rung beneath the new Galaxie, as Chevy had done to the Bel Air in 1958 with the Impala.”
Ford actually did that in 1959, IINM, which was essentially when Chevy did it as well. The ’58 Impala was only available in two body styles and was technically a subseries of the Bel Air; ’59 was its first year as a regular, full-line model.
My Dad used to say this was the best looking Ford he’d ever seen and toyed with getting one as a second car. One loaded Galaxie and another [Custom ?] with column shift. He felt like it wasn’t tracking well and had been in an accident. Brown with a grey interior.
Love 3 on the tree. I’ve had a 63 Valiant with manual for over 30 years. The weakest part of the car, though, and until I had the more stout 67 and up “Z” bar replaced was always a problem.
Even in 1963 our month old 63 Dart Wagon had to be towed from the driveway because the shift linkage cocked up.
Wish they’d offer something new like this Fairlane. I’d be all in for rubber floormats, color-keyed interior and a “console delete” option. Roger: I’m with you on minimalist mtoring. But I’d still like a front bumper. ;-}
I am interested in purchase. Please reply with a price, and location of the vehicle. Truly a nice vehicle from the photo I seen,
Thank You,
Gary Miller
Greenville, Ohio