The Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt is a limited production, factory experimental, drag racing version of the Ford Fairlane produced during the 1964 model year only. A total of 100 units were produced; forty-nine 4-speeds and fifty-one automatics, enough to secure the 1964 NHRA Super Stock championship for Ford.
108-539: Based on the standard two door post sedan Fairlane and named for a factory experimental Fairlane of 1963, the Thunderbolt combined the light weight of Ford's intermediate-sized body introduced in 1962 with a "high rise" 427 cu in (7.0 L) V8 engine with dual 4-barrel Holley carburetors intended for use in the much larger Galaxie . That engine as used in the Galaxie for NASCAR racing did well, but
216-805: A Hydramatic transmission. For the first time since the discontinuation of the Model K, Lincolns were produced with front-hinged rear doors. For 1956, the shared Lincoln-Mercury body underwent a redesign for the final time, with Lincoln adopting elements from the Mercury XM-800 and Lincoln Futura concept cars. Slotted above the Lincoln Capri, the Lincoln Premiere adapted features of the Continental Mark II, including its ducted air conditioning. During 1956, Lincoln-Mercury
324-415: A 195 horsepower (145 kW) version of the 289 with a two-barrel carburetor and hydraulic lifters was introduced. The two-speed Fordomatic continued as the automatic transmission choice for the 260 in 1964, while 289 V8s got the three-speed Cruise-O-Matic transmission option. All 1965 models featured 14-inch (360 mm) wheels as standard, in place of the earlier 13-inch (330 mm) wheels, and Fordomatic
432-475: A European-style ("Continental") car for his next Florida vacation, he commissioned Ford Chief Stylist E. T. Gregorie to design a unique body design, using a 1939 Lincoln Zephyr Convertible Coupe chassis. After sectioning the body 4 inches (102 mm), the running boards were deleted and a spare tire was mounted behind the trunk lid. Upon his use of the one-off vehicle in Florida in 1939, Edsel Ford attracted
540-401: A dispute with GM President William Durant regarding war production. Leland named Lincoln Motor Company after Abraham Lincoln, stating that Lincoln was the first President for whom he ever voted (1864). The company was financed by securing a $ 10 million contract to produce Liberty V12 aircraft engines ($ 237,818,182 in 2023 dollars ) for use during World War I . The Lelands broke ground on
648-605: A division, Lincoln structurally became similar to its major competitor Cadillac (within General Motors). As part of the change, several changes were made to the Lincoln model line. Following the positive feedback of the 1939 Lincoln Continental one-off convertible built for Edsel Ford, the Lincoln Continental was introduced as a Lincoln-Zephyr production model for 1940. For 1941, Lincoln revised its branding;
756-635: A factory body ($ 88,893 in 2023 dollars ), the Model K competed against the Rolls-Royce Phantom II , Renault Reinastella , Duesenberg Model J, Mercedes-Benz Typ3 630 and the Cadillac V-12 (and V-16 ). Largely overshadowed by the Lincoln-Zephyr, the final Model K was assembled during 1939. The company has since not developed a direct successor to the Model K line. During the 1930s, Lincoln expanded to two model lines for
864-440: A four-lamp system are selectable with a standard foot-operated switch. Though it was technically a street-legal vehicle , these modifications and deletions along with a final drive ratio of 4:57.1 for the four-speed cars and 4:44.1 for the automatics make the Thunderbolt impractical for street use. The Thunderbolt was not built on a regular Ford assembly line, but rather in conjunction with Andy Hotton of Dearborn Steel Tubing. It
972-484: A group of investors (led by Leland) forced Henry Ford from his second company, the Henry Ford Company ; the company was reorganized as Cadillac (deriving its name from the founder of Detroit). With the exception of the engine, the 1903 Ford Model A and the 1903 Cadillac Model A share nearly the same design. Prior to the introduction of the Model T, Ford designed several higher-priced vehicles, including
1080-525: A high amount of interest from potential buyers, often referring to its "European" or "Continental" exterior design. From the latter term, the one-off vehicle became known as the Lincoln Continental. For 1940 production, 404 vehicles were produced, with the first vehicle received by Mickey Rooney. Following the Great Depression, a number of American luxury car manufacturers were either forced into closure or reorganization; by 1940, alongside Lincoln,
1188-500: A high-riser manifold, ram-air through the openings left by deleting the inboard headlights, equal-length headers, trunk-mounted battery, several fiberglass parts (hood, door skins, fenders, and front bumper), acrylic glass windows, and other lightweight options, including deleted rear-door window winders, carpeting, radio, sealant, sun visors, armrests, jack, lug wrench, heater, soundproofing, and passenger-side windshield wiper. The cars wore Fairlane 500 trim, and were only offered with
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#17327915045321296-635: A hit with customers to the extent that the Ford outsold Chevrolet in 1957 for the first time since 1935. A new top trim level, the Fairlane 500 was added to the Fairlane model line and the Country Squire continued to be the luxury station wagon while the Country Sedan was now added to the Fairlane model line, while engine choices were largely the same as the year before. The big news for 1957 was
1404-523: A lightweight competitive car and includes certain fiberglass and aluminium components. Because of the specialized purpose for which this car has been built and in order to achieve maximum weight reduction, normal quality standards of the Ford Motor Company in terms of exterior panel fit and surface appearance are not met on this vehicle. This information is included on this vehicle to assure that all customers who purchase this car are aware of
1512-542: A mandated $ 4000 reduction in price ($ 42,242 in 2023 dollars ), Continental adopted the body of Lincoln, expanding into multiple body styles for the Mark III (the nomenclature indicating the transition). Adding a feature of the Mercury Turnpike Cruiser , Continental adopted a retractable rear window across every body style (including convertibles) with a reverse-slant rear roofline. For 1959, the Mark III
1620-580: A prow-style front-fascia, the model line was sleeker than the Chrysler Airflow. In contrast to its competitors, the Lincoln-Zephyr was powered by a V12 engine (a design separate from the Model K). The model line was a success in the marketplace, selling over 15,000 units in its first year, amounting to a nine-fold increase over the previous model year. In the late 1930s, Edsel Ford began to consider American cars too boxy. In late 1938, to develop
1728-582: A recipient of one of the first ten cars) and an aluminum scatter shield designed to contain the clutch in case of disintegration under load. The claimed compression ratio was 13.5:1. Other weight-saving measures include the elimination of such street items as the sunvisors, radio, heater, wheel covers, passenger-side windshield wiper, arm rests, rear window cranks, mirrors, sound deadening material, carpeting , trunk mat, lug wrench, jack and spare tire. The front seats are either lightweight units from Ford's police package vehicles or rudimentary bucket seats from
1836-616: A reduction in size. For 1961, Lincoln consolidated its model lineup to a single model line, with the Lincoln Continental replacing the Lincoln Capri and Lincoln Premiere; as the Continental marque was withdrawn, the Mark V saw no successor. While only nominally lighter than the 1960 Lincoln, the 1961 Lincoln Continental adopted a smaller exterior footprint, shedding 15 inches in length and 8 inches of wheelbase. In an effort to streamline production, only four-door body styles were produced, with
1944-415: A small floor console. The trim level supplemented the Fairlane and Fairlane 500 trim levels (the 500 model had more decorative trim, such as a wider chrome stripe down the side and three bullets on the rear quarter panels). The Challenger 289 CID engine was introduced in mid-1963, with solid lifters and other performance pieces helping the engine produce an advertised 271 hp (202 kW); however, it
2052-458: A small number of Fairlane two door hard tops prepared for drag racing during the 1963 season. These cars were running the 289 and were set up at Dearborn Steel Tubing that built the special cars for Ford special vehicle operations . These soon evolved into the "Thunderbolts" for 1964. The racing Thunderbolt was a two-door post car, heavily modified to incorporate Ford's new 427 CID (7.0 L) V8 race engine with two four-barrel carburetors on
2160-409: A standard 428 CID V8 rated at 335 bhp (250 kW), while options included bucket seats, hood scoop, clock, tachometer, power disc brakes, and 4.30:1 rear axle gearing. "Regular" Fairlanes and Rancheros continued, all with bucket-seat options. Ford's intermediates grew again in 1970, now with a 117 in (2,972 mm) wheelbase. At the start of the model year, only the Fairlane 500 remained as
2268-556: A straight fender line (and low hood line) from headlamp to taillamp. In a carryover from Zephyr-based Lincolns, the 1949 Lincolns retained rear-hinged passenger doors. As a flagship model of Lincoln, the Lincoln Cosmopolitan was styled with its own rear roofline. As Lincoln entered the 1950s, Ford Motor Company sought to increase the differentiation between the Mercury and Lincoln model lines. For 1952, to add interest to
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#17327915045322376-467: A tri-color Ford crest on the hood, base Fairlanes had "FORD" in chrome block letters across their hoods. For 1961, all models got the block letters on their hoods. The big-block 390 CID V8 was available in 1961 as the top-horsepower option, as the "horsepower wars" in Detroit continued. The Fairlane name was moved to Ford's new intermediate, introduced for the 1962 model year, to bridge the gap between
2484-406: A year for their vehicles to be completed from the time of purchase. By 1922, the company was on the verge of bankruptcy and was placed in receivership. Under the influence of Edsel Ford, Lincoln Motor Company was purchased by Henry Ford for $ 8 million ($ 145,622,266 in 2023 dollars ) on February 4, 1922. While Lincoln was valued at $ 16 million, a $ 5 million bid by Ford was the sole bid received for
2592-402: Is derived from a badge introduced on the 1956 Continental Mark II ; the current version was introduced in 1980. The current product range of Lincoln consists of luxury crossovers and sport-utility vehicles. Throughout its entire prior existence Lincoln also produced luxury car-based vehicles for limousine and livery use; several examples have served as official state limousines for Presidents of
2700-470: Is the luxury vehicle division of American automobile manufacturer Ford Motor Company . Marketed among the top luxury vehicle brands in the United States, Lincoln is positioned closely against its General Motors counterpart Cadillac . However, beginning with the 2021 model year, they only offer SUV and Crossover vehicles. The division helped to establish the personal luxury car segment with
2808-584: The Crown Victoria Skyliner with a tinted, transparent plastic roof, the regular Crown Victoria coupe with much stainless steel trim, a convertible Sunliner, the Victoria hardtop coupe, and traditional sedans. All featured the trademark stainless-steel "Fairlane stripe" on the side. Power options were a 223 cu in (3.7 L) straight-6 engine and a 272 cu in (4.5 L) V8 . The 292 cu in (4.8 L) Y-block
2916-461: The Econoline van; the carpeting was replaced with a black rubber mat. The rear seat is a standard Fairlane unit. The high-beam headlights were eliminated as well and in their place are mesh -covered air intakes which run directly to a special air cleaner atop the 427. Like the street version, the Thunderbolt's outer high-low 5.75 in (146 mm) headlights of the type normally used with
3024-660: The Ford Five Hundred ). Following the introduction of the Ford Galaxie , the Fairlane 500 (and Fairlane) became Ford's base models, equivalent to the Chevrolet Bel Air and Biscayne respectively, until 1962, when it was repackaged as an intermediate-segment car (today, mid-size ) from 1962 to 1970. For 1971, Ford expanded the Ford Torino nameplate across its entire intermediate range, dropping
3132-494: The Lincoln Motor Company Plant in Detroit. Lincoln Motor Company acted as the final assembly point for the engines, with the company securing parts from other manufacturers; cylinders were produced by Ford, with other parts sourced from Buick , Cadillac, Marmon , and Packard . In total, Lincoln Motor Company would assemble 6,500 Liberty V12 engines by the end of World War I concluding production; by
3240-623: The Mercury Eight , the redesigned Lincoln model line (code-named the EL-series ) marked the first use of a V8 in a Lincoln since 1932. An all-new V12 intended for Lincoln was stillborn in development, leading the division to adapt a Ford flathead V8 (from the Ford F-8 conventional truck). As with the previous Lincoln Continental, the 1949 Lincoln dispensed with running boards completely, moving on to abandon pontoon styling entirely, with
3348-455: The 1904 Ford Model B , the 1905 Ford Model F , and the 1906 Ford Model K . Following its organization in 1908, General Motors began a rapid expansion of its automotive brands; by 1920, GM would outnumber Ford five to one. The purchase of Lincoln created a stand-alone luxury vehicle brand for Ford as Cadillac did for GM. Within the first few months, relations between Ford Motor Company and Lincoln management began to break down; on June 10, 1922,
Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt - Misplaced Pages Continue
3456-566: The 1940 Lincoln Continental . Lincoln Motor Company was founded in 1917 by Henry M. Leland , naming it after Abraham Lincoln . In February 1922, the company was acquired by Ford, its parent company to this day. Following World War II , Ford formed the Lincoln-Mercury Division, pairing Lincoln with its mid-range Mercury brand; the pairing lasted through the 2010 closure of Mercury. At the end of 2012, Lincoln reverted to its original name, Lincoln Motor Company. Following
3564-491: The 1946 Lincolns continued the use of the Zephyr chassis. 1948 marked the final year of the Zephyr chassis (dating to 1936) and (as of 2023 ) the use of a V12 engine in an American mass-produced automobile. After 5,322 were produced (as both a Lincoln-Zephyr and Lincoln), Lincoln ended production of the Continental. For 1949, all three Ford Motor Company divisions debuted their first postwar designs. Sharing its body structure with
3672-557: The 1966 model year, to better compete with the Cadillac Coupe de Ville and the Imperial Crown/LeBaron Coupe, Lincoln added a two-door hardtop to the Continental model line. After the 1967 model year, Lincoln ended production of the Continental 4-door convertible. At 5,712 pounds, the 1967 Lincoln Continental Convertible is the heaviest non-limousine car ever produced by Ford Motor Company; as of 2023 , it
3780-481: The 390 CID V8 in two- and four-barrel versions. The 390 four-barrel was supplanted mid-year as the top performance engine by the 428 cu in (7.0 L) Cobra Jet, developing 335 bhp (250 kW). There was also a 428 cu in (7.0 L) Super Cobra Jet. For 1969, the Fairlane 500 , Ranchero, and Torino GT/GTA were also offered with the new 351W CID with a two-barrel producing 250 HP and only in
3888-663: The American luxury-car segment largely consisted of Cadillac (who ended production of the LaSalle and V16 in 1940), the Chrysler Imperial (reduced to 8-passenger sedans and limousines), and Packard. To further secure the future for Lincoln, on April 30, 1940, Ford Motor Company reorganized Lincoln Motor Company as the Lincoln Division of Ford Motor Company. While previously operating as an autonomous entity, as
3996-531: The Continental Division, slotted above Lincoln as the flagship marque of Ford Motor Company. At its launch, Continental introduced the Continental Mark II as its model line, intended as a successor to the 1940–1948 Lincoln Continental personal luxury car. Offered as a two-door hardtop coupe, the Mark II broke from a number of American styling precedents of the time. While fitted with whitewall tires,
4104-515: The Continental becoming the sole mass-produced four-door convertible sold in North America; to maximize rear-seat egress, Lincoln returned to the use of rear suicide doors . In another requirement to ensure its survival, the model cycle of Lincoln was extended from three years to nine years. While largely dispensing with major yearly model changes, the decision established design consistency and shifting resources towards quality control. For
4212-478: The Fairlane (and Falcon) nameplates in North America. In South America, the sixth generation Fairlane was marketed through 1981; Ford Australia used the nameplate on its own version of the Fairlane (a long-wheelbase Ford Falcon ) through the 2007 model year. For the 1955 model year the Fairlane name replaced the Crestline as Ford's premier full-sized offering. Six different body styles were offered, including
4320-478: The Fairlane became a long wheelbase longer body version of the revised Falcon platform with the mid size wagon bodies common to both model lines. The appearance was changed to match the full-sized Ford Galaxie , which had been restyled in the 1965 model year, and adopted vertically stacked dual headlights. The XL, GT, and GTA packages were introduced, as well as a convertible to join the existing range of sedans, hardtops, and station wagons. The "K-code" 289 CID engine
4428-718: The Fairlane concept, now called the Ford Flex , debuted at the 2007 New York Auto Show, and entered production for the 2009 model year in summer 2008. Unlike the concept, the production model comes with seven seats. It is built on the Ford D3 platform , which is also used by the Ford Taurus , and Mercury Sable . It is intended to replace the people-mover capability of the Ford Freestar minivan. Lincoln (automobile) Lincoln Motor Company , or simply Lincoln ,
Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt - Misplaced Pages Continue
4536-513: The Fairlane was based on the American LTD II . At the 2005 Auto Show circuit , Ford revealed a new concept car with the Fairlane nameplate. The "people-mover" Fairlane crossover utility vehicle concept featured three-row seating for six passengers, and previewed the chromed three-bar horizontal grill design, which also appeared on the 2006 Ford Fusion sedan and 2007 Ford Edge crossover utility vehicle." A production version of
4644-543: The Falcon front end styling to the Fairlane front end design. The 289 CID small-block was the base V8, with a 200 CID six standard, with the 390 CID optional (with either two- or four-barrel carburetor, at 275 and 320 bhp (240 kW), respectively). The 427s were still available, either with a single four-barrel carburetor or dual quad carbs, developing 410 (W-code) and 425 bhp (R-code), 427s were available on XL models, but very few were built. Adapted across
4752-472: The Falcon, the Fairlane had a unibody frame, but the body incorporated an unusual feature Ford dubbed torque boxes, four boxed structures in the lower body structure designed to absorb road shock by moving slightly in the vertical plane. Suspension was a conventional short-long arm independent arrangement in front, with Hotchkiss drive in the rear. The Fairlane was initially offered only in two-door or four-door sedan body styles. The Fairlane's standard engine
4860-497: The Galaxie was simply too heavy an automobile in stock trim to be drag raced successfully; so-called "lightweight" 427-powered Galaxies were built both for stock car racing as well as drag racing during the 1964 model year, although these cars were not modified to the extent of the Thunderbolt. As installed in the Thunderbolt, the engine was rated conservatively at 425 hp (431 PS; 317 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 480 lb⋅ft (651 N⋅m) at 3,700 rpm of torque ; estimates placed
4968-621: The LTD "Elite" option was introduced as the most luxurious made in Argentina. By the end of production in 1981, almost 30,000 Fairlanes had been made. Ford manufactured the Torino in Venezuela marketed as the Fairlane and Fairlane 500. These cars were identical to the U.S. Torino through 1976 and both base Fairlane and upscale Fairlane 500 used the 1973–1974 Torino base model grille. For 1977–1978
5076-547: The Lelands were forced to resign. As Edsel Ford began to take a senior role in the management of Lincoln, multiple changes were made to both the Model L and its production. The Lincoln factory was redesigned and expanded (to nearly 1,000,000 square feet), with the components of the engine upgraded for increased reliability and performance. At its introduction, the Lincoln Model L gained a reputation for conservative (to
5184-503: The Model K offered both factory-designed bodies and coachbuilt designs. For 1932, Lincoln introduced its first "multi-cylinder" engine, introducing a V12 engine for the Model K. The next year, the V8 was retired, making Lincoln the first manufacturer in the world to produce vehicles exclusively with V12 engines. For 1935, Lincoln was positioned upward in price. While limiting sales, the move increased profitability per vehicle; at over $ 4,000 for
5292-473: The Sports Coupe got its own standard "spinner" wheel covers and extra exterior brightwork. Large "Sports Coupe" scripts graced the "C" pillars. The Fairlane Squire wagon was dropped, but the standard station wagon was continued. The 221 V8 was dropped after 1963, leaving the six as the base engine and the 260 as the base V8. The "K-code" 271-horsepower 289 V8 continued into 1964, gaining dual exhausts, while
5400-592: The Super Stock title (with Gas Ronda taking the honors ), and won the Manufacturer's Cup. The car as delivered was slightly too light to meet NHRA's 3200-lb (1451-kg) minimum weight unless it was raced with a full tank of gasoline, which would bring it to 3203 lb (1453 kg). NHRA rules at the time required a metal front bumper, so the cars began to be supplied with an aluminum bumper and previous purchasers were supplied with one. Thunderbolt production
5508-477: The Torino GT/GTA the 351W four-barrel with 290 HP could be ordered. The Ranchero coupe utility body style was available in standard, 500, and GT versions. The Cobra was introduced in 1969 as a competitor for Plymouth's Road Runner. Basic models featured the 302 CID V8 and three-speed manual transmission as standard. Options included the 390 CID and two 428 cu in (7.0 L) V8s. The Cobras had
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#17327915045325616-635: The United States. Today, this niche is filled from its crossover and SUV lineup. In 2017, Lincoln sold 188,383 vehicles globally. Outside of North America, Lincoln vehicles are officially sold in the Middle East (except Iran and Syria), China (except Hong Kong and Macau), and South Korea. The Lincoln Motor Company was founded in August 1917 by Henry Leland and his son Wilfred. Among the founders of Cadillac, Leland had sold Cadillac to General Motors in 1909; staying on as an executive, he left in 1917 over
5724-535: The Y-block V8, Ford developed a 430 cu in (7.0 L) "MEL" V8 as standard equipment for Lincolns (which was also available in Ford Thunderbirds and some Mercury vehicles). For 1959, Continental developed Town Car and Limousine variants of the standard four-door sedan. In place of extending the wheelbase, the reverse-slant roofline was replaced by a formal notchback configuration, allowing
5832-466: The actual output was close to 600 hp (608 PS; 447 kW). In standard form, the Fairlane is 12 in (305 mm) shorter than a Galaxie, rides on a 3.5 in (89 mm) shorter wheelbase and weighs approximately 700 lb (318 kg) less. Installing the Ford FE V8 in a vehicle intended for an engine no larger than a small block engine required major reworking and relocation of
5940-498: The base or the 500 trim. Base hardtop sales more than doubled, to 44,683 units. The base engine was the 200 cu in (3.3 L) I6, with several optional V8s. Early production 1968 base V8 Fairlanes were equipped with the two-barrel 289 cu in (4.7 L), while later units came with the 302 cu in (4.9 L). The GTs were part of the Torino range, with the 302 CID V8 standard, with optional engines being
6048-530: The base trim model in what was now effectively the Torino series. The straight six-cylinder was the economy power, while largest engine was now a 429 cu in (7.0 L) with four-barrel carburetor and 360 bhp (270 kW). Different heads were optional and gave the Cobra 370 bhp (280 kW) and higher compression. Other options included the Cobra Jet Ram Air 429, though Ford quoted
6156-676: The brand, Lincoln returned to model names for the first time since 1942, with the Lincoln Cosmopolitan becoming the standard Lincoln model, with the Lincoln Capri becoming the flagship model line. In a return to (small) pontoon rear fenders, Lincolns shared a body with the Mercury Monterey . Mechanically, Lincoln differed from Mercury, as the Ford truck V8 was replaced by the Lincoln Y-block V8 with
6264-430: The car's front suspension components and the modification and strengthening of the suspension mounting areas. Fiberglass doors, hood , front fenders and even the front bumper on the earliest cars along with Plexiglas side and rear windows aided in weight reduction; the hood with its distinctive raised "teardrop" ram air scoop designed to draw hot air from the engine compartment was pinned in position, eliminating
6372-416: The cars they replaced. A fastback Sportsroof model was introduced in the Fairlane 500 series, as well as a more luxurious Torino model at the top of the intermediate range, contributing 172,083 of the Fairlane's 371,787 units sold that year. In a cost-saving decision, the station wagons carried over the 1966-67 bodies from the cowl back. The Ranch Wagon model name was deleted; Fairlane wagons had either
6480-658: The compact Ford Falcon and the full-sized Galaxie , making it a competitor for GM's A-body "senior compacts" , the Plymouth Belvedere , and the AMC Rambler . With an overall length of 197 in (5004 mm) and a wheelbase of 115.5 in (2934 mm), it was 16 in (406 mm) longer than the Falcon and 12.3 in (312 mm) shorter than the Galaxie. Wheel track varied from 53.5 in (1355 mm) to 56 in (1422 mm) depending on model and specification. Like
6588-525: The company (forced to be increased by the court). Following the purchase of Lincoln Motor Company by Ford Motor Company, Henry and Wilfred Leland remained at the company, with Edsel Ford given responsibility over it. While Ford had sought to expand its model range beyond the Ford Model T , the purchase of Lincoln held a degree of personal value, as the owners of Lincoln developed an automobile company from one that Henry Ford had been forced from. In 1902,
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#17327915045326696-530: The conclusion of the war in 1945, the structure of Lincoln within Ford changed again, as the Lincoln-Mercury Division was created, pairing Mercury and Lincoln together; from 1945 to the 2010 closure of Mercury, the two divisions were paired together within Ford. For 1946, Lincoln returned to production, ending the use of the Zephyr name. Code-named the H-series , non-Continental Lincolns were identified by their body style. Using slightly updated exteriors from 1942,
6804-424: The deluxe models and rectangular taillight lenses, a return to the 1962-1963 trunk lid, along with less chrome on the body and a small standup hood ornament. Australian and New Zealand models had longer cut-outs in the rear bumper to accommodate their license plates. Australian models had the "reverse light" tail light which was used for an amber rear turn signal. As the muscle car market took shape, Ford built
6912-410: The development costs of a vehicle platform that Lincoln shared with neither Ford nor Mercury (with the lone exception of the engine and transmission). By 1958, the future of Lincoln-Mercury was at risk, with Ford President Robert McNamara considering the reduction of Ford to its namesake brand. As a condition of allowing Lincoln to continue production, McNamara required the Lincoln model line to undergo
7020-466: The deviation from the regular high appearance quality standards of the Ford Motor Company. The Thunderbolt, as tested with a four-speed transmission at Lions Drag Strip in November 1963, ran a 1 ⁄ 4 mile (402 m) of 11.61 seconds at 124.8 mph (201 km/h). Thunderbolts faced off in the final of the 1964 NHRA Winternationals , driven by Butch Leal and Gas Ronda ; Ronda took
7128-532: The divestiture of Premier Automotive Group ( Jaguar , Land Rover , Aston Martin , and Volvo ) and the closure of Mercury, Lincoln remains the sole luxury nameplate of Ford Motor Company. Originally founded as a freestanding division above Lincoln, Continental was integrated within Lincoln in 1959. For 1969, the Continental-branded Mark series was marketed through Lincoln, adopting the Lincoln name for 1986. The Lincoln four-point star emblem
7236-430: The door glass and rear side glass, while the higher trim level Fairlanes were pillarless two-door hardtops, similar to the convertibles. A redesign was introduced for the 1968 model year, and continued the similarity to the Ford Galaxie series. The wheelbase remained at 116 in (2,946 mm), but it grew in other dimensions. They were about four inches (102 mm) longer and 200 lb (91 kg) heavier than
7344-529: The end of 1923. In 1924, a Lincoln Model L became the first state limousine used by a U.S. President on an official basis, supplied for Calvin Coolidge . By 1930, Lincoln had succeeded in only a decade in what its chief competitors had taken 30 years to accomplish. Serving as a direct competitor to Cadillac, the Model L had become equal to vehicles from established American brands including Duesenberg , Marmon, Packard, Peerless , and Pierce-Arrow . During
7452-506: The end of the war, Lincoln would employ 6,000 workers. On January 26, 1920, Lincoln Motor Company was reorganized as an automobile manufacturer, retooling its Detroit factory to produce automobiles. On September 16, 1920, Lincoln Motor Company produced its first automobile, the Lincoln Model L . Lincoln Motor Company had struggled with the transition from military to automobile production, with some customers having to wait nearly
7560-476: The engine/transmission combination for NHRA and IHRA Super Stock racing, they were white and had fiberglass hoods with a forward-facing hood scoop which ended at the edge of the hood. The Fairlane Squire wagon was reintroduced for 1966. Minor trim changes were introduced for 1967 as the Fairlane was mildly facelifted. For the 1967 model year the Ranchero pickup based on the same platform switched from using
7668-478: The entire range of Ford models for 1967, Fairlanes included a number of federal government-mandated safety features, including a new energy-absorbing steering column with a large padded steering wheel hub, soft interior trim, four-way hazard flashers, a dual-chamber braking system, and shoulder belt anchors. The convertible had a tempered safety glass rear window. Two different two-door coupe models were offered. The lower-end Fairlane Club Coupe had pillars separating
7776-468: The exterior was fitted with minimal chrome trim on the body sides; tailfins were left off of the body completely. In place of the bumper-mounted spare tire of the original Lincoln Continental, the trunk lid of the Mark II showcased the design element, with a large imitation spare tire bulge (which fit over the actual spare tire inside the trunk). The Mark II was largely hand-built, with extensive quality testing done on each engine and transmission before leaving
7884-459: The factory or coachbuilt, yearly styling changes would not properly accommodate its customer base. For the 1931 model year, the Model L was replaced by the Lincoln Model K . An all-new design (on a longer, lower chassis), the Model K introduced upgrades to the carburetor, brakes, and suspension. Competing against the Cadillac 355 , Chrysler Imperial , Duesenberg Model J , and Packard Eight ,
7992-499: The factory. In place of establishing a separate sales and service network for Continental, the Mark II was marketed through Lincoln (the Mark II used a Lincoln engine and transmission). At $ 10,000 in 1956 (equivalent to $ 112,069 in 2023 ), the Mark II was the most expensive car produced by an American automaker at the time, rivaling the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud in price. On July 18, 1956, the Continental Division
8100-477: The first time. Coinciding with the shift in market position for the Model K, Edsel Ford introduced the Lincoln-Zephyr as a sub-marque within Lincoln for 1936. Designed as a competitor for the (Cadillac) LaSalle and Chrysler Airflow , the Lincoln-Zephyr was priced between Ford and the Model K. The Lincoln-Zephyr was the first Ford Motor Company vehicle to use unibody construction; while designed with
8208-603: The hyphen was removed from Lincoln-Zephyr, making it a Lincoln. As a replacement for the expensive Model K, an extended-wheelbase Lincoln Custom variant of the Lincoln Zephyr was developed. Following the development of proper tooling, the Lincoln Continental began production on the assembly line, replacing hand-built construction. After the entry of the United States into World War II, as with all U.S. auto manufacturers, Lincoln ended automobile production as Ford Motor Company concentrated on wartime manufacturing. Following
8316-507: The introduction of the Fairlane 500 Skyliner power retractable hardtop , whose solid top hinged and folded down into the trunk space at the touch of a button, while the Ford Ranchero 2-door coupe utility was also introduced. Another facelift for 1958 had fashionable quad headlights, a grille that matched the 1958 Thunderbird , and other styling changes. New big-block FE V8s of 332 and 352 CID (5.4 L and 5.8 L) replaced
8424-551: The latter available up to 225 bhp (168 kW; 228 PS), were introduced. The Lifeguard safety package was introduced. The two-door Victoria hardtop featured a new and slimmer roofline. A one-year only two-door station wagon, the 1956 Ford Parklane , featured Fairlane-level trim. It was marketed to compete against the Chevrolet Nomad . For 1957, a new style gave a longer, wider, lower, and sleeker look with low tailfins . The new proportions and modern styling were
8532-491: The mag wheels and teardrop hood that were included in original releases. Ford Fairlane (Americas)#Fourth generation (1962–1965) The Ford Fairlane is an automobile model that was sold between the 1955 and 1970 model years by Ford in North America. Taking its name from the Dearborn, Michigan estate of Henry Ford , the Fairlane nameplate was used for seven different generations of vehicles. Through its production,
8640-500: The model line would be marketed in a wide variety of body styles, including two-door and four-door sedans, two-door and four-door hardtops, station wagons, and both traditional and retractable-hardtop convertibles. Initially introduced as the flagship of the full-size Ford range, the Fairlane marked the introduction of the Crown Victoria and 500 nameplates, both later becoming stand-alone full-size model lines (the latter, as
8748-489: The need for a hood hinges and a latch . Later cars have aluminum front bumpers in place of the fiberglass units due to racing regulations. Racing equipment includes tubular exhaust headers , an electric fuel pump , altered rear suspension with heavy-duty traction control bars and asymmetrical leaf springs , trunk-mounted heavy duty battery , locking differential , auxiliary gauges, special drag race wheels and tires supplied both by Goodyear and Mickey Thompson (himself
8856-409: The point of outdated) design. As a response, Edsel Ford introduced the Model L for 1923 in a custom-bodied form directly from Lincoln; in line with a Duesenberg or a Rolls-Royce , customers could also purchase a Model L with coachbuilt bodywork. For 1923, Lincoln produced 7,875 cars (nearly 45% higher than in 1922). After struggling to deliver cars before 1922, Lincoln was operating at a profit by
8964-468: The premium Edsels (prior to the latter's demise), Lincoln and Continental adopted a common body structure, shifting to unibody construction. With a 131-inch wheelbase, the new platform would be among the largest vehicles ever built by Ford Motor Company; they are the longest Lincolns ever built without 5 mph bumpers , a regulatory mandate which went into effect in September 1972. As a replacement for
9072-443: The previous largest V8s, and a better three-speed automatic transmission was also available with a steering column transmission gear selector lever. A new top-level full-sized model was introduced at mid-year 1959, the Ford Galaxie . The 1959 Galaxie displayed both "Fairlane 500" and "Galaxie" badging. Full-sized Fairlane and Fairlane 500 models were restyled for 1960 and again for the 1961 model year. The Galaxie series continued as
9180-422: The problem and introduced two pillarless hardtop coupes for 1963, in Fairlane 500 and Sports Coupe trim. For 1963 and later Sports Coupe models, the center console, which had come from the Falcon parts bin for 1962, was changed to be similar to that of the Galaxie. Sports Coupe models got a floor-mounted shift lever for the center console when Cruise-O-Matic or 4-speed manual transmissions were specified; however when
9288-526: The production of the Model L, Lincoln did not adopt the common American automotive industry practice of yearly model changes. While the company had made minor revisions and upgrades to the model line to the chassis and powertrain, the body was largely left alone over its 10-year production, a business model shared with the Ford Model T . Lincoln found that customer interest was accommodated by the purchase of multiple Lincolns (or other luxury vehicles) in different body styles; as many Lincolns were custom-bodied from
9396-456: The rear seat to be moved rearward several inches. Among the rarest Lincoln vehicles ever produced, the Town Car and Limousines were only offered painted in black. From 1958 until 1960, Lincoln would lose over $ 60 million ($ 617,952,756 in 2023 dollars ). Following the recession economy of the late 1950s (a factor that would play into the demise of Edsel), Ford Motor Company was forced to recoup
9504-515: The same power output, and the Drag Pack rated at 375 bhp (280 kW). However, the 1970s were slower than the 1969s, and race teams were forced to run the older models. The Falcon name was transferred from Ford's now discontinued, in the US, compact to a basic, even lower-trim version of the intermediate platform as a "1970½" model on January 1, 1970. This series included a two-door sedan which
9612-450: The so-called solid lifter "K-code" 289 hi- performance engine . "427" emblems replaced the normal "260" or "289" emblems, and the "Fairlane 500" script on the upper front fenders was deleted. Given the special nature of the car, Ford riveted a metal plate to the inside of the glovebox door of the Thunderbolt and other race-only models with a disclaimer relating to fit and finish. The plate reads: This vehicle has been built specially as
9720-413: The top-of-the-line full-sized Ford. Fairlane 500s demoted to mid-level in the lineup and were equivalent to the Chevrolet Bel Air . Fairlanes were primarily sold as base level trim models for fleet use (taxi, police). Two bodystyles were available, a 2-door pillared sedan (Club Sedan and Business Sedan) and a 4-door pillared sedan (Town Sedan). While the 1960 de luxe Galaxie and Fairlane 500 series sported
9828-629: The two-door sedan body. This special model, of which 111 to 127 total were made (sources disagree), delivered 657 hp (490 kW) at 7,500 rpm and was known as the Thunderbolt . Racing in NHRA Super Stock (which required only fifty cars be available to the public ), on 7-inch (180 mm)-wide tires, the Thunderbolt was based on the midlevel Fairlane 500 two-door pillared sedan, and in 1964 set elapsed time and top speed records at 11.6 seconds and 124 mph (200 km/h). took
9936-674: The two-speed Fordomatic was ordered, the shift lever was installed on the steering column (and the console was the same without the shifter). Front-end styling for the 1963 models mimicked the big Galaxie models, but the rear end retained the small tailfins and "pieplate" tail lamp styling cues. The Squire wagon (a fake woodie ) was available for 1963 only, including one model with front bucket seats. The "Swing-Away" steering wheel became an option in 1964. The 1964 and 1965, Fairlane ranges consisted of similar body styles: base Fairlane and Fairlane 500 two-door coupes and four-door sedans , and Fairlane 500 and Sports Coupe two-door hardtops. As in 1963,
10044-463: The win, with a pass of 11.78 seconds at 123.40 mph (198.59 km/h). Ronda's Thunderbolt would go on to claim NHRA's national Top Stock crown that year. Miniatures of the Thunderbolt are currently manufactured by Hot Wheels and the Ertl Company . Revell makes a 1/25 scale plastic model kit of this car. Later releases include a stock hood and factory small dish hub caps in addition to
10152-472: Was built in Argentina from 1969 to 1973 and the 1969 body style from 1973 to 1981 under the Fairlane name with three equipment packages: Standard, 500 and LTD. The car was similar to the American model except the engines. The two options were a 221 CID 6-cylinder with 132 hp (98 kW), and the old 292 phase I (1969–1971) CID "Y-block" V8 which had been last used in the 1964 F-Series truck; it
10260-617: Was closed after 1952; subsequent Lincolns were produced alongside Mercury Montereys and Mercury Montclairs. For the 1957 model year, Ford opened Wixom Assembly in Wixom, Michigan , as a facility to specialize in Lincoln production. From 1957 until 2007, the facility produced Lincoln vehicles nearly exclusively, along with the Ford GT and several generations of the Ford Thunderbird . For the 1956 model year, Ford Motor Company created
10368-752: Was dropped this year. The GT featured a 390 CID FE V8 as standard, while the GTA also included the newly introduced the SportShift Cruise-o-Matic automatic transmission. The GT/GTA 390 CID engine developed 335 bhp (250 kW) with higher compression, and had a four-barrel carburetor. Mid year, Ford produced 57 special Fairlane 500 two-door hardtops with "R-code" 427 cu in (7.0 L) V8 engine rated at 425 bhp (431 PS; 317 kW) at 6000 rpm and 480 lb⋅ft (651 N⋅m) at 3700 rpm of torque , equipped with Ford's "Top-Loader" four-speed manual transmission. Built to qualify
10476-806: Was ended due to NHRA rule changes for Super Stock competition, requiring 500 vehicles be built to be entered in that class. Ford had been losing $ 1500 to $ 2000 on each Thunderbolt sold at the sticker price of $ 3900. The first 11 Thunderbolts were painted maroon (known as Vintage Burgundy in Ford literature), the rest white; 99 had manual transmissions. Many are still raced. About 50 similar Mercury Cyclones were also produced by Ford in 1964, destined to be modified to represent Ford in A/FX competition, which they dominated, as well. These vehicles varied greatly in wheel track due to customer options for varying suspension and wheel/tire combinations. Front tracks from 54 to 56 in and rear tracks from 53.5 to 55.5 in were common. For 1966
10584-499: Was equipped with single exhaust like the less powerful engines. This engine was coded "K" in the vehicle identification number . Exterior identification was by fender-mounted "V" badges that read "289 High Performance". That same year, station wagons arrived, called the Ranch Wagon and Ranch Custom Wagon. All 1962 Fairlanes had "B" posts despite the popularity of the pillarless hardtop and convertible styles in that era. Ford saw
10692-501: Was finally phased out, leaving the Cruise-O-Matic as the only automatic available for the Fairlane. The 260 was also dropped after 1964, leaving the two-barrel 289 as the base V8. Styling-wise, in 1964, a new grille and headlight bezels were introduced, the tail fins were dropped, some chrome decorating on the side was changed, and the shape of the trunk lid changed. Styling features for 1965 included body-color headlight bezels for
10800-498: Was improved with a new admission very similar to that of the small block 289, 302 pistons maximum compression with lomo brand Buxton were used, raising the compression at 8 to 1, allowing the engine erogue 185 HP at 4500 rpm, another improvement were leaks with individual manifold runners, eliminating the original American system of a manifold connected to another in series, used in trucks, in cars they were always individual. Distributors are different in coupling, calling FASE II . In 1978,
10908-401: Was integrated into Lincoln which continued to manage the Continental brand as a separate marque. During the 1957 model year, the Mark II was withdrawn, largely as a consequence of its hand-built construction; each unit was sold at a loss of over $ 1,000. Subsequently, the 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham overtook the Mark II as the most expensive American-produced vehicle. For 1958, as part of
11016-472: Was not available in the higher trim lines. For 1971, the Falcon and Fairlane 500 names were dropped, as all of the intermediate models took the Torino name. The Falcon and Fairlane names continued to be used in Australia through to the 21st century. The Fairlane name continued to be used in Venezuela through 1978 on corresponding Ford Torino and LTD II models. The four-door sedan of the 1968 body style
11124-479: Was offered as an option and was called the Thunderbird V-8. The Fairlane 4-door Town Sedan was the most popular sedan Ford sold that year, having manufactured 254,437 with a listed retail price of US$ 1,960 ($ 22,293 in 2023 dollars ). Few changes were made for 1956; a four-door Victoria hardtop and two new, more powerful V8 options, of 292 cu in (4.8 L) and 312 cu in (5.1 L),
11232-525: Was rated at 185 hp (138 kW), in 1971 the Ford Motor Company Argentina decided to make an improvement on the 292, was started by the covers mainly the problem of spark plugs was solved by giving an inclination towards the front of the engine that allowed an easier extraction in the car, changed the opening order and exhaust cam, valves larger intake (of the 292 heavy duty American) were placed, fuel lines making them more direct
11340-653: Was renamed the Mark IV, becoming the Mark V for 1960. In 1959, the Continental marque was formally brought to an end within Lincoln; for 1960, the Mark V was brought to production as the Lincoln Continental Mark V , ending the model cycle alongside the standard Lincoln model line. For the 1958 model year, the Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln (M-E-L) division adapted new bodies across its vehicle lines. In addition to Mercury sharing its bodies with
11448-456: Was reorganized slightly, following the creation of the free-standing Edsel and Continental divisions, Lincoln-Mercury was changed to Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln (MEL), with Edsel slotted alongside/below Mercury and Continental above Lincoln, as the flagship of all of Ford Motor Company. By the end of 1959, Continental was integrated into Lincoln, and Edsel was withdrawn. The Lincoln Motor Company Plant, built in Detroit, Michigan, by Henry Leland in 1917,
11556-402: Was the 170 CID (2.8 L) six , but as an option, it introduced Ford's new, lightweight small-block Windsor V8 , initially with a displacement of 221 CID (3.6 L) and 145 hp (108 kW); a 260 CID (4.2 L) "Challenger" version with an advertised 164 hp (122 kW) was added at mid-year. The Sports Coupe option débuted mid-year and featured bucket seats and
11664-419: Was there that partially built Fairlane bodies in top-of-the-line "500" exterior trim were combined with the 427 and either a heavy-duty Lincoln automatic transmission or a Borg-Warner four-speed manual transmission . The first eleven cars were painted in Ford's "vintage burgundy" while the remaining eighty-nine cars were painted "Wimbledon white." The engine code reflected not the 427 on most cars but rather
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