Keep your first car: 1966 Fairlane GT 427 Test Drive with Trickflow Heads Howard’s Roller Cam

Do you ever think about those cars you sold and wished you hadn't? I sure do.

In 1991 at the ripe old age of 15, I found this Candy Apple Red 1966 Ford Fairlane GT in a want ad in the paper (yes, an actual paper). I called the number, and it happened to be the number for a local salvage yard. The grumpy gentleman who answered the phone said he would take a very specific $975 for the beat up old Fairlane. His reasoning for the oddly specific price was that he had that much in the 4X4 parts that the previous owner had traded the car for. I begged my dad to go look at the car, and i fell in love with the ratty musclecar on the spot. I drove the car home, but it needed everything before I could make the journey to high school.

30 years later, I still have my trusty Fairlane. I have to admit, she has faired better than I have with age. She has alot more power, better looks, and has been faithful to me the whole time despite my constant flogging and gear jamming.

The latest upgrades have modernized this vintage often-overlooked Ford musclecar. I upgraded the top end of engine with the new FE Trick Flow® PowerPort® 175 Cylinder Heads for Ford 390-428 heads. After trying a flat tappet (that super-failed). We replace with a hydraulic roller from howard’s cams (.560 lift , 234.6 @ 0.050” intake and 240.6@ 0.050” exhaust). The new Demon carb and cam combo worked great.

The Fairlane may be ready to take on another 30 years of hot rodding, I sure hope I can keep up!!!

#fairlane #trickflow #gassers #musclecars

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[tomschlitter]

Great car with noteworthy history with you. Congrats. You killed it on the stance with the bigger wheels/tires. That 427 sounds awesome. Gives me goosebumps. In my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful designs to come from Ford during the '60s. Still looks timeless today.
I believe that the Fairlane GT models in both 1966 and '67 came standard with a three speed manual transmission, not the 4-speed as you stated. I saw one years ago when I lived in Denver. It's hard to imagine anyone would order that. Because the C-6 transmission was new this year, Ford really promoted it, so it's no surprise that most GTs were GT/As.
Can you please show us some of the other cars in your stable? I noticed the '57 Custom and the '56 Ranch Wagon - two of my all-time favorite Fords of the '50s.
Thanks for sharing your sweet Fairlane. It made my day.

[b.l.secret]

I had a 63 ford fairlane with a built 289. It was bad ass. I wish I had it back.
Now I got stopped 5 times in 2 months for loud mufflers.
I out ran a couple of them trying to turn around on me. Back then you could. Old memories!!

[b.nunn.]

Absolutely love the car! My dad had the 66' GTA he bought in 67' so this was the family car till about 79' I remember one time my brother and I and a friend of ours was riding with my dad in this car. He pulled out to pass a slow moving car, and all of a sudden a car traveling fairly fast was meeting us oncoming! My dad's response was to hustle it up and get on out of the way! It was the first time we heard that 390 really open up!! I still remember to this day the dual exhaust and a really mean induction sound with that 4 barrel wide open!!! Our friend told EVERYBODY he seen after that about how fast that car was! Of course we were about 9 to 11 years old! Pretty easy to impress!! Good memories!!

[JacobsDad]

Spitin' image of brother's '66 red GT -- only had the factory 390 but still a very good performer. One of our family's favourite cars ever. Great story and history. Brings many memories back.

[scottguthrie]

We had the 66 Fairlane with the 289. Ran like a top the whole time we had her! Grandparents had the GTA convertible. Great video, great car!

[williampetsch]

Great car, great story. My biggest regret is not pursuing my dream car like you did, and having it. Still

[bradduffield]

Brings back memories of my drag racing days.

[brianpauley]

Bought my '66 Fairlane 500 in 1985 for $800 390cid 2 door, sold in 92 to raise emergency cash. In 2023 I can honestly say I've grieved every single damn day of her loss. My fav car of all time.Your's is fantastic, congratulations and build job well done .

[danieltaylor]

Awesome car! Loved those 66 and 67 Fairlanes.

[Mike]

Great car & even greater story! Around the mid 70's, for a short time I owned a '67 Fairlane, it was a factory 427 drag car. It had the dual 4's, 4 speed & 5.67 posi. Ladder bars were attached at the front underneath the front seat. It came with a title & stated it couldn't be licensed for the street. It also had the optional fiberglass lift off hood. I ended up parting the car out. It's been too many years, I can't remember how much I payed for it, or the total amount I sold it for. I do remember I sold the heads, intake, dual 652 Holleys & the oval air cleaner for $500. Another one I let get away!

[Biglug]

That's a great story and a great Fairlane!

[timmotel]

Good day. I'm 72 years old. This is another of the cars from that era that I loved. Great Times for Cars. I have owned a few of them. I was a MOPAR guy back then. Thanks & Best Regards. Beautiful Car.

[kirbygates]

Awesome fairlane I've always loved those cars I will get one one day I've built lots of models of them... keep looking after that gem 💎

[darrellmallorca]

Awesome is an understatement! well done and the story behind it is even better! Impressive, gorgeous and bad ass are some of the superlatives I can express yet still doesn't do your ride justice. Keep enjoying getting offers from folks that would want to own her, because that will never stop. Geez, amazing fairlane

[treetoppa]

Love the lines on the 66. I was born in 53 and when we were in high school it was all GTO’s, SS 396 Chevelle, 442’s, and Road Runners. Nobody had one of these Fairlanes that I knew. I don’t remember seeing one around but this is a beautiful example of an era of machines I wish I had a warehouse full of.

[heathstevenson]

Love a hairline, like the story. I too have had my 69 fastback since 1992. Becomes a part of your life..and families life!

[dougdrummond]

Keeping your first car. That is so awesome. When I was in 6th grade A friend of ours had a red GT Fairlane like yours with the 390 and I didn't know that till right now and you explain the two scoops for the 390 on the hood. I could have swore you had a dual carbs because the air cleaner was super long like yours

[richardmodglin]

Nice! I had the 66 GT Fairlane 390 back in the 70's. My first car. Yellow with black stipes. I liked the interior and large bucket seats. Loved it. Always regret getting rid of it.

[briankorner]

Beautiful car and cool that you have kept it all these years. 👍

[earniethomas]

Great story. Mine is very similar I bought my 67 fairlane when I was 15 in 1989. Drove it to prom also along with graduation soccer games etc... I still have it and just did a complete restore on it. I did a similar hood from crities. I kept the car it's factory color frost turquoise with silver gt stripes. I'm in the process of installing a t5 in her. This car will also go to my son one day . I've been through many muscle cars but I'll always keep my first one. Thanks for the great story