Fair tale of a fairlane

Nikked · 19-12-2012, 09:14 PM

So today at work this bloke of much older age of me dropped his G220 off for some repairs, and i gave a lift back to his son's buissness...

During the ride, he tells me of his 60 years of fixing up old jeeps, and the the fun you get with cars.

He soon started about is Fairlane...

"Not a bruise on it until this accident"

"Its a good car, nice big V8...does 10.8 liters...that's 21mpg, which is darn good"

"Its had an easy life, just done 120 thousand"

I commented that being a fairlane, that it still has plenty in it...

"oh yeah, barely run in yet"

It's nice to hear these sorts of things, most of these older types have their Peugeot's and Toyotas.

But this ol' chap has his big, V8 Aussie car, and sounds like he wouldn't have it any other way.

Kudos to him.

nstg8a · 19-12-2012, 09:52 PM

The owner of the industrial property where I work is at work a lot at the moment over seeing the extensions, real nice old guy, but kinda stereotypical well off old fellow. Until you get him talking.
He's still got his first new car he bought, a Holden brougham, and its still in its 80s guise, big block, raised in the rear, chromed diff. Hasn't been regod since the early 90s but he still takes it around the block every few months.
But you see him get out of his nice shiny new merc, wearing a suit that probably cost more than most cars ive owned and you so easily pre judge. Get him talking about the Holden and he'll talk for ever lol

Auslandau · 19-12-2012, 09:55 PM

Fairlanes were the choice for retired farmers. Country towns used to be full of them. I think that's where I started with Fords as my G'pa had a Black tank Fairlane. Loved that car and remember it well even though I was probably 5 or so. He hit a cow with it and left it on the farm. Probably still there!

He loved his Fords and his last pride and joy was a DL Fairlane. Spent (what seemed like) days showing me all the buttons and gizmos in it. I had to look impressed, even the 20th time I sat in it! He couldn't understand small cars ......

I think the Ford thing .... and big cars .... was drummed into me at an early age.

mik · 20-12-2012, 12:41 AM

not forgetting the Ltd`s and landau`s, i`ll never forget going up to see the daylesford stock cars in a zd fairlane with step dad, a great cruiser it was, also will never forget my first drive of a new Ltd silver monarch(rolls royce grill model) when i was a a young apprentice,
i had to deliver the Ltd to a customer after a service, the service department guy i was following was on a mission as it was knock off time, i had to give the thermo qaud(mighty roar) a bit of a kick down to keep up, i had a smile on my face for about 2 weeks afterward .

Buntz · 20-12-2012, 02:23 AM

Down in the South West here of WA... plenty of old folks have these B series Fairlanes/Fairmonts. Wouldn't trade them for all the shuffle boards/bingo nights, and tea in China.

Just goes to show that wisdom comes with age. Those of us who have one now... we're just wise before our time. (I can't include myself... though I still pine for an AU Fairlane.)

ZGM86 · 20-12-2012, 09:35 AM

Both my Fairlane and my previous DAII LTD came from old blokes who appreciated good cars.

The Fairlane came from an old country bloke who also had a 351 ZD Fairlane and an old F100. The wife ordered him to sell all 3 as he wasn't using them, but you could tell he loved them. The LTD was a similar story, he wasn't using it anymore as he had a Pajero (for his boat) that he drove more often, so the wife told him to sell the LTD so she could start parking in the garage. He didn't really want to let it go though.

mik · 20-12-2012, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZGM86

Both my Fairlane and my previous DAII LTD came from old blokes who appreciated good cars.

The Fairlane came from an old country bloke who also had a 351 ZD Fairlane and an old F100. The wife ordered him to sell all 3 as he wasn't using them, but you could tell he loved them. The LTD was a similar story, he wasn't using it anymore as he had a Pajero (for his boat) that he drove more often, so the wife told him to sell the LTD so she could start parking in the garage. He didn't really want to let it go though.

i`m betting it was a close call going through the the old fella`s mind, ...........hmmm the Ltd or the wife, the Ltd or the Wife, .................lucky for you he weakend

.

RedHotGT · 20-12-2012, 11:27 AM

Must say i've always enjoyed driving Fairlanes.

And maybe thats the thing that the masses forget - you really 'should' enjoy driving.

I've driven nearly every model of Fairlane - and there is just something about them. Not sure if it is the room, the almost lazy feel of the drive, the comfort of the luxury appointments, it just has that little bit of special about it.

Even as a passenger you feel it - particularly in the back seat of some of the late model 'lanes. There is just so much damn room! I'm not a tall guy - but I reckons even a 6 footer / 130kg bloke in the back seat will be more than comfortable.

I'm about due for another old clunker.... LTD/Fairlane in my sights.....

makattkd · 20-12-2012, 11:27 AM

I know a Doctor who has ONLY had Fairlanes and would update regularly. When they cease production he wasn't sure what to do.. So he kept his 2007 G8!

**Full Noise** · 20-12-2012, 12:52 PM

I’ve always been a big fan of Fairlanes. I still have a BA as a daily driver and love it.

last fairlane · 20-12-2012, 11:59 PM

Many many Fairlanes just check my user name

Ford_The_Win · 21-12-2012, 12:11 AM

I've always loved Fairlanes, from spending many hours in my granny's ZG. It was such a cool car, with the '70s letterbox speedo and the column shifter, plus the freezing cold AC unit underneath the dash. It was so big and comfy, like a limo. Fairlanes always have such a smooth ride and comfy seats... I'll buy one eventually I'm sure.

My poor XF · 21-12-2012, 09:45 AM

There's something about the AU2-3 Sportsman Fairlane that really speaks to me. I want one.

66FAIRLANE · 21-12-2012, 10:35 AM

It all started for me in about 1970 in Port Lincoln. I was about 4 years old. Dad had just been transfered and the company GM picked us up from the airport in what I think must have been a 69, 70 Galaxie. All I remember is being in a huge white sumptous car with maroon leather interior and as a 4yo being mighty impressed.

Had a brief period where I didn't like the big barges.....but that soon passed.

Bossxr8 · 21-12-2012, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loftie

Must say i've always enjoyed driving Fairlanes.

And maybe thats the thing that the masses forget - you really 'should' enjoy driving.

I've driven nearly every model of Fairlane - and there is just something about them. Not sure if it is the room, the almost lazy feel of the drive, the comfort of the luxury appointments, it just has that little bit of special about it.

Even as a passenger you feel it - particularly in the back seat of some of the late model 'lanes. There is just so much damn room! I'm not a tall guy - but I reckons even a 6 footer / 130kg bloke in the back seat will be more than comfortable.

I'm about due for another old clunker.... LTD/Fairlane in my sights.....

There's something about rocking a LWB that makes the driver feel a sense of superiority over the peasants in their SWB's

Quote:

Originally Posted by makattkd

I know a Doctor who has ONLY had Fairlanes and would update regularly. When they cease production he wasn't sure what to do.. So he kept his 2007 G8!

Same here, the old Dr always complains to me that they don't make the Fairlane anymore and has stuck with his BF.

sharky1 · 04-03-2013, 09:44 PM

i have recently bought a zd fairlane , limelight green , green vinyl roof , k code
went over to perth to get it . and still comed home every night just to check it out .
carnt wait to restore her to better than new !!

**janddbone** · 16-03-2013, 12:02 AM

We were in Jeparit in 2011, in our ZL, while on holiday. Town was basically deserted, but boy was it nice to slip in to a parking spot along with a ZJ, another ZL and a NL... Only other thing about was a cruiser. Felt right at home! (Lake Hindmarsh needs to be seen full of water, absolutely amazing!)

sharky1 · 19-03-2013, 08:39 PM

after seeing the name jeparit after nearly 20 years , wow brought back some memories
will have to go back for a drive in the zd when shes done !

**janddbone** · 19-03-2013, 10:38 PM

Sounds good to me mate, the ZD will feel right at home out there. Hopefully there is some water in the lake too, a sight to see when its full!

kinksta · 19-03-2013, 11:14 PM

My dad was always Fairlane/LTD until 2001, and has been a Caprice since. Still big and roomy, V8 and very comfy.

I love the G6ET, but there is a certain feeling you get driving a V8 barge.

**Elks** · 19-03-2013, 11:47 PM

Love them.

My 1st car was a ZC 351w, then a ZA, 2xZG, a ZH Marquis, and now my ZF. I even brought a BA ute ute brand new and had it converted to Fairlane grille , lights, lower valence mirrors, before I picked it up.

If love a TL50 one day, whilst technically not a Fairlane, it is in spirit and/or a BF Fairlane Ghia.

Agile · 20-03-2013, 09:45 AM

I know its not a Fairlane [ it,s the big brother ] but getting around in the P6 LTD is just a delight. On any trip ,be it around town or out on a road trip, it NEVER fails to impress. Dont even think about driving hard through corners, it aint guna do it. But when the road straightens out and you squeeze the loud pedal, she kick,s down and takes off with the most magnificent roar. Is there a better noise?
And then you look around and everyone in the limo is smiling.

Bugger it, I'm gunna take the day off and go for a drive. See Ya.

2011G6E · 20-03-2013, 10:17 AM

After my uncle died and my aunt remarried some years later (the old girl is in a home now after outliving husband number two...dementia), her "new" husband had a Fairlane I remember well.
It was a ZF that he had ordered brand new back in '73 or something. He was driving it right up until the took his licence away because he too unfortunately had dementia and died a while ago. I believe the family sold it fairly cheap, something that ****ed me off.

It was, wait for it, purple, with a white leather interior. It also had a "continental kit" with the spare wheel mounted on the rear bumper...no idea where he got that done, but it was like that since the seventies. He got the car resprayed a few years before he died, and that thing looked great...as long as you didn't mind purple.
It had a 351, power everything, air con, the lot. I always wonder where it ended up. They lived in Kingaroy.

The brides car at our wedding was a mates 1979 ZH Fairlane Marquis...351, FMX auto, 9" diff, four wheel discs, power everything...it was a great car.

barra240t · 20-03-2013, 11:24 AM

Fairlane has to be one of the most iconic Ford's in my opinion. Total bargin these days for what you get as a used car.

**janddbone** · 20-03-2013, 11:32 AM

I was looking at the prices last night, good and bad depending how you look at it!

FAT245 · 20-03-2013, 11:40 AM

Always had fairlanes in the family.

Parents first Family car was a ZD Fairlane which was given to them as a wedding present,
Then they upgraded to the ZL Fairlane with Injection, Mum used to drive it like a Bathurst race car, she was known around the neighbourhood with her driving styles .. haha

This sat in the garage when she had her accident at work in 1990. car sat unused, unstarted and in the garage until her experimental spinal surgery in 1998. She tried driving it a few times but she couldn't handle it anymore due to her muscles deteriorating over the 8 years of being bed ridden.

We tried to traded it in for the Gold S1 AU Fairlane we have now, Ford wanted to give us $800 for the car, but one of the service guys at Thompson Ford bought the car from my mum for 5 Grand.

The AU has been in the family since new and everyone have driven it. Now i am rebuilding it haha

OzJavelin · 20-03-2013, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Auslandau

Fairlanes were the choice for retired farmers. Country towns used to be full of them. I think that's where I started with Fords as my G'pa had a Black tank Fairlane. Loved that car and remember it well even though I was probably 5 or so. He hit a cow with it and left it on the farm. Probably still there!

He loved his Fords and his last pride and joy was a DL Fairlane. Spent (what seemed like) days showing me all the buttons and gizmos in it. I had to look impressed, even the 20th time I sat in it! He couldn't understand small cars ......

I think the Ford thing .... and big cars .... was drummed into me at an early age.

My old man was a mechanic in Harcourt (Vic) years ago and all the apple farmers had Fairlanes and Galaxies.

My wife came from a rural area in Vic and the school dropoff was typically done by one of the parents in a Fairlane carting six or seven kids plus the driver. Wife ended up buying a ZB Fairlane when she got her license.

I remember when I first got my license that travelling though rural towns the streets were full of Fairlanes .. good times!!

2011G6E · 20-03-2013, 12:29 PM

One of the "ones that got away" in my car history was a Fairlane. I was working at an irrigation shop in Bundaberg. It was early 1986, and across the road was a small used car lot linked to a Nissan dealership. I saw a gold/brown ZC Fairlane for sale there, and went for a look.
It had a 302, was just out of rego, had the old under-dash air con that had just been refurbished, and was fairly good inside and except for a big caved in dint in the rear left quarter (which started just in front of the tail light and went forwards, no big deal), it was great.

Price? $250. Yes, they were really only worth that much back then...

barra240t · 20-03-2013, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

One of the "ones that got away" in my car history was a Fairlane. I was working at an irrigation shop in Bundaberg. It was early 1986, and across the road was a small used car lot linked to a Nissan dealership. I saw a gold/brown ZC Fairlane for sale there, and went for a look.
It had a 302, was just out of rego, had the old under-dash air con that had just been refurbished, and was fairly good inside and except for a big caved in dint in the rear left quarter (which started just in front of the tail light and went forwards, no big deal), it was great.

Price? $250. Yes, they were really only worth that much back then...

That's like finding a AU for $1000 now roughly?