The late 1950s were a time of tailfins and toothy grilles. Some of the most iconic designs from that era came from Ford. Even though the flagship vehicle for the 1959 Ford lineup was the new Galaxie, the Fairlane 500 was a popular model positioned just below it.
The Pick of the Day is a 1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Sunliner convertible listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in San Ramon, California. (Click the link to view the listing)
“You will be hard pressed to find a more beautiful Ford Fairlane in the United States,” the listing states.
The Fairlane first came out in 1955 as a replacement for the full-size Crestline model. Two years later, a refresh added subtle tailfins to the body design, and in 1958 the car received quad headlights and a new grille that was shared with the Thunderbird at the time. The Fairlane was a high-volume seller for the Ford brand, largely due to the vast number of arrangements in which it could be configured (coupe, sedan, convertible, station wagon, and coupe utility were among the options).
The body on this Sunliner looks clean and has been dressed up with generous high-quality brightwork for the hood ornament, moldings, dual sideview mirrors, skirts, bumpers, and exhaust tips. The tail end has an unmistakable rocket-booster look with the circular taillights in polished bezels. After all, this car came at a time with space-age car names and styling were starting to gain momentum.
“Completed full frame-off restoration,” the listing states. “Finished in Flame Red and Colonial White two-tone paint. California-kept its whole life.”
Torque comes from a 390cid V8 that was rebuilt by a performance shop in Pleasanton, California. The motor reportedly started out as a 352cid “Interceptor” small-block that was upgraded for additional power. Mechanical equipment includes a Petronix electronic ignition system, newer brakes, power steering, and an automatic transmission.
The seller states that the interior has been refurbished and the color scheme is tri-tone red, white, and black vinyl. The look works well. However, a word of caution on color combinations: While the listing states that the car has been redone in its original scheme, online trim tag decoders classify this as an original April Green car, based on the “G” code listed on the data plate. Do we have any Ford experts in the audience? Let’s hear your insight in the comments!
Regardless, it’s an incredibly well-presented drop top. The seller is asking for $68,500 or best offer for this Sunliner.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Source: www.classiccars.com