Two 390 V8s: 1966 Ford Fairlane GTA Roller
Ford entered the mid-size muscle car market full bore in 1966. The Fairlane Intermediate had been reworked, sporting stacked headlights for the first time. If you want performance, you ordered either the GT or GTA, the main difference being the transmission (manual vs. automatic). The seller’s father bought this ’66 GTA some time back to restore but he has since passed on and the project will be up to someone new. Located in a garage in West Burlington, Iowa, this dusty roller is available here on eBay where the first bid of $5,500 has yet to be cast.
General Motors got into the muscle car game in 1964-65 and offered plenty of choices. The Chevy Chevelle SS 396, Pontiac GTO, Oldsmobile 4-4-2, and Buick Gran Sport 400 gave the competition a run for the money. Focused on the new Mustang in those same two years, Ford muscled up the Fairlane in ’66 and it would be a comparable performer when ordered with a 390 cubic inch V8. The 390GT had an 11.0:1 compression ratio and a 4-barrel carburetor that was rated at 335 hp. The GT/GTA would be modestly successful, with 37,300 copies sold in 1966 and just 20,800 units the following year (the Fairlane would get another redesign in 1968).
The buyer for this ’66 will get two engines and it seems they’re both 390s. The seller isn’t certain which one of them came out of the car, so the buyer can take one, both, or none with the deal. Whether the automobile is mechanically complete looks like an unknown. He/she inherited the Ford along with a Plymouth GTX and both vehicles are on the chopping block.
We’re told the body is mostly solid (there is some rust) and the photos seem to agree. The bronze paint is original and will need to be redone as will both bumpers that have dents in them. The interior may need new parts as we don’t see a back seat though a pair of buckets are there that need recovering. Compared to period Chevies and Mopars, the Fairlane GTA is a lesser-seen car. That means you’d likely be part of a minority at muscle car shows by showing up with a restored version of this Ford.
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Comments
The 390 shown in the picture is a 2bbl engine.The correct one would be a 4bbl engine with 10:1cr making 335hp,the same as the T-Bird for that year.The 2bbl engine should be 9:6.1cr and make around 280hp.Looks like a solid vehicle, needs a hard wash at the self serve….
These cars were insane with the 390. I really lusted for one back in 1972 when dinosaurs roamed the earth. People will disagree but I’ve driven one hard. A convertible in 1972. Test drive. That car scared me. Weight distribution was non existent scary brakes. Bias tires.
Ditto, Memphis- one of the guys that worked at a gas station where we hung out had a black GT that was a bit beyond stock. That’s the one I lusted for in ’72 ;)
Right you are Memphis! I had a buddy in highschool who had a gold one of these, with a 390 4speed, and he took great pride in his smoke shows, effectively striping all of the local two-lanes in the area. In another reference to the ‘beer barn’, an old barn on Sprinkle’s Creek where ne’er-do-wells used to gather in their hotrods and copiously swill the bubbly stuff before lighting up the surrounding roads with beautiful billowing clouds of tire smoke.. ahhh, the memories! My buddy, Curtis, who unfortunately is not with us anymore, broke his shifter in that old beast during a flurry of speed-shifting one evening, and did what all gearheads do, he improvised, and turned the shifting duties over to a long, yellow handled screwdriver, which he kept handily on the dash. I well remember the time we were riding the bus home one day, and here comes Curtis up beside the bus, frantically grabbing for his ‘shifter’ to get a gear. He finally got it, just in time to get 2nd(presumably) and smoked the whole bus out as he careened on past us and whipped it back in the proper lane, narrowly missing an oncoming car. I have to smile, remembering the glorious sound that car made as it disappeared up and over the hill, hints of white smoke still wafting out from under the rear wheel wells.. yeah I might be a contender for this ride, I need another project like I need 4 more holes in my head…
A friend of mine had a black ’66 GT 390 4spd back in ’69. I’ve never seen another one since. Your’s brings back fond memories of Joey and his family.
I’m a bit disappointed both 390s aren’t in the car. It’d be wild if it actually had two engines. Should we take the fenders off and mount them side-by-side, or put them in line and drive from the back seat?
You, sir, are a madman! We should definitely hang out… Talk about a smoke show!
One of my bucket list cars. Had an uncle who had a 66, small block but was a nice car. He crashed it, ran over a farmer’s bush hog that had became detached from the tractor. Only had liability insurance so it got junked out. I think the farmer paid his ER room bills, but that was about it.
This one needs lots of love. Rust in rear quarters, probably other places as well. Too far for me to go get, and don’t really have room for another project.
I would rather have the 57 Chevy in the background of one of the sellers pictures but not bad for a clean slate project car you can do a lot with it
bought a new 1968 Torino gt same body as a Fairlane had 390 4 barrel 4 speed great car traded a 1967 Vette for it got car plus some cash
wife was pregnant so Vette had to go
I owned a 66 1/2 year sport coupe and not the GTA. Yes, this is a great project vehicle to save from the junk yard! I can envision this vehicle in its glory days and it was one of many super cool vehicles to have on the road.
2 unkown motor statistics? one thing is for sure, the stock 390 and GTA in this case are quite different. Block water jacket thickness, cylinder wall compression ratios, exhaust manifolds, intake and stock carb are all detuned and completely different in nature and design. Just to name a few differences I surely remember when choosing the rebuild to work on. I believe both tranies were C-6 without a shift kit? Worth investing if it doesn’t have it.
It’s a GT….the four speed hump is still there where the auto shifter has been placed and the clutch pedal has been removed.
Hmm, I don’t see the console? That auto shift is not original!
Mr Seller, do you want to sell this? Roll it outside and power wash it. Then post new pictures. I for one love these!
I had a 66 Cyclone gt,same car…..4 spd 9 in etc,put a Isky roller cam in it,blew it up,so put in a 427,any fe will fit this,lots of possibilities, first you must upgrade the brakes….trust me I know
there were special cast iron exhaust manifolds on these…..don’t see them
I had those special cast iron exhaust manifolds on a Galaxy I owned. The only difference was I had the 406. The 406 was one great motor.
Mom & Pop’s first new car was a Raven Black ’66 Fairlane 390 4v non-GT 4-speed. Some of my earliest automotive memories are of being young enough lay down on the package tray in the rear window while blasting down the Florida highways roasting alive because the car had no AC.
Bought a 67 GTA when I discharged in 71, dark green/tan. Beautiful Fairlane. Loved the quick shift C-6. It would hang in there with most big block muscle.
Makes me sad to see one that needs this much work
Impressed with condition of the floors, solid and still holding paint. Wasn’t expecting that after the first photo.