Eric Waples
Car: Ford FD Fairlane 500 Hometown: Albion Park, NSW What is it? “The last of the so-called ‘compact’ Fairlanes released by the Ford Motor Company into Australia – and to my knowledge assembled at its Homebush factory – during
1962, ‘63 and ‘64. Model pre xes were FB, FC and FD. All were tted with Ford’s small block Windsor V8s which ranged in capacities from 221ci through 260ci to 289.”
When did you buy it?
“It came to me as an inheritance when my parents passed on. But because of my late father’s premature death soon after he purchased it new, I became involved with the care and maintenance. My mother used it sparingly for many years till aged 80 when she handed in her driving licence. It then sat in a lock-up garage about 200km further down the South Coast where she resided. I was able to go down periodically and take it for a run, and get rego checks done, etc.”
Why did your dad buy it?
“It was the last opportunity my dad had to purchase a new vehicle after driving used ones all his life.”
What do know of its history?
“My parents purchased it from Ronald Mackellar Ford in Wollongong in July 1964. It had two trips to Adelaide, then became a bit of a shopping trolley, as well as a means for my mum to get to bowls each week. The routine maintenance has always been done by myself, with a couple of workshop jobs done in the Illawarra. One of these was to replace the front lower control arm bushes; the other to t a new spring leaf on the rear. Radial tyres were tted years ago and the
rst set was replaced, not because of wear, but because of age. An aftermarket exterior rear view mirror has been tted, but the vehicle is basically original and rust free. No restorations, no rebuilds. It has now clocked up around 50,500 miles.”
How does it go?
“It still performs like the Modern Motor magazine road test car did back in the day. They used the words, “hairy local Ford gives rubber burning performance” and backed that statement up with a pic of black lines left on the bitumen from the rear tyres. On a recent outing there was even a chirp from the rear as it changed from rst to second gear. Of course, it’s no GT, but for the day it was no slouch either. Brakes? Not one of its strong points.”
Anything you would like to add?
“I consider myself fortunate to have this vehicle and all the relevant purchase documentation and owner handbooks. As a family car from day one its heritage and provenance is a given. Unbelievably back then, opting for the 289 3S auto over the 260 2S auto was a cheaper choice than specifying the tment of a radio! My dad was over the moon when he took delivery of the vehicle and couldn’t get over how instantly that little short stroke motor sprang to life. He had me under the bonnet the rst time we went to visit. He was 56 at the time but sadly never saw 57.”