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Ford built exactly 57 of these R-code Fairlanes in 1966, not for showroom sales, but to satisfy a NASCAR homologation rule requiring a minimum production run. Every one wore the same white-over-black color combination and hid a 427 side-oiler under a stripped-down interior. Only about 25 are believed to survive. Here is the story behind Ford’s rarest mid-size muscle car.
The Ford Fairlane, inspired by Henry Ford’s estate, hit the roads in 1955, replacing the Crestline with a lineup flaunting stainless-steel flair. Under the hood, options ranged from the no-nonsense straight-six to the thunderous 292-cubic-inch V8. By 1957, the Fairlane got sleeker, sporting a Skyliner model with a retractable hard-top—perfect for those spontaneous drive-in theater escapes. The ’58 Fairlane’s Thunderbird-esque front and quad headlights screamed, “I’m here for a good time, not a long time!”