PHIL’S PICKS

GO ON, YOU NEED ONE

BLACK BEAUTY

WHEN WAS the last time you saw one of these? I’m guessing for most the answer is never. What you’re looking at here started life as a top-of-the-range Ford Fairlane that was then sent to Tickford Vehicle Engineering. The boys at Tickford then set about fettling and beefing up the luxo-cruiser, turning the knob up to eleven and, in doing so, transforming the Fairlane into a luxo-bruiser! They called it the TL50 and just 58 were built, making this a ver y rare car indeed. Slotted under the bonnet is the venerable 4.9lt Windsor donk, which pushes out a meaty 200kW and 420Nm of torque. I reckon this thing would be perfect for interstate cruiser duties; plenty of luxury, plenty of shove and a package rare enough to justif y the price tag to the missus.