This Raw NASCAR-Inspired Ford Fairlane Proudly Flaunts Its Patina
Restoring classic cars takes a significant investment of time, effort, and money, often resulting in a rewarding project with a rich backstory. However, sometimes the true charm of an old vehicle lies in its originality—and that weathered look, or patina, deserves to be preserved. This 1963 Ford Fairlane, built with inspiration from vintage NASCAR racers, is a perfect example. Though it shows some roughness, it hides a potent powertrain beneath the hood.
Owner Joe was driven by nostalgia, recalling the old, abandoned race cars he admired as a kid. “Ever since I was a little kid I would see old abandoned race cars out in the field… and I always wanted one just to drive,” he says. With that vision, Joe focused more on driving performance than flashy aesthetics. Even so, over 1,200 hours of work went into fine-tuning the build.
Powering this classic Ford is a 289-cubic-inch V8 originally from a Galaxie. Joe had the engine rebuilt by RNR Speed Shop, featuring a Comp Cams valvetrain, Edelbrock heads and intake, and a Holley 4150 double pumper carburetor. While exact figures weren’t confirmed, Joe estimates the output to be around 470 horsepower.
To handle the upgraded engine, the Fairlane is paired with a four-speed Ford Top Loader manual transmission, which Joe regards as “the strongest factory transmission ever manufactured.” However, the rear end remains stock, with the original eight-inch setup and 28-spline axles, so there’s no tire-shredding action—just a glorious soundtrack. That sound comes courtesy of a custom exhaust system featuring eight-inch straight-through resonators, a crossover tube, cherry bombs, and dual outlets.
Wanting the car to resemble a forgotten race car found in a barn, Joe preserved its natural patina. He treated the rust with Permatex to keep it from spreading and used dark walnut wood stain to give decals a weathered, oily look before sealing everything with Krylon flat clear.
Despite its aged exterior, the Fairlane hides a fully built performance machine underneath. Joe added door x-bars, Speedway Motors sportsman seats, and Autometer Sport Comp gauges. It now rides on a Speedway Motors Mustang II front suspension with double A-arms, coil springs, rack and pinion steering, and disc brakes. At the rear, modified stock Fairlane leaf springs and an old-school anti-hop setup round out the chassis upgrades. The result? A restomod that may look worn, but is anything but outdated.
