Nov 9, 2018  •  For Sale  •  11 Comments

2-for-1: 1959 Ford Fairlane 500

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Barn Finder Rocco B spotted this deal for us, so I have to thank him for having such a sharp eye. We all like a 2-for-1 offer, and this one is an offer that gives the new owner a couple of options to consider. You will find this pair of Fairlanes listed for sale here on Craigslist. Located in Miami, Florida, the convertible is offered for sale with a clean title, while the 2-door hardtop has a lost title. The owner has set a price of $11,900 for the pair of Fairlanes.

The owner of this pair of Fairlanes had intended to complete the restoration on the convertible, using the hardtop for some of the parts that were needed. He then planned to restore the hardtop, but he has found that time and age have caught up with him. On the surface, the convertible looks to be in quite a reasonable condition. The owner doesn’t give us a lot of information regarding rust, but the surface appearance is quite good. The tinted glass is all present and in good condition, while the owner also appears to have new window seals for the car. The soft-top is pretty knocked about, and this will need replacing.

As with the convertible, the hardtop is a car that we can only judge on outward appearances. There are a few minor rust issues visible on the hardtop, with the section on the front fenders on both sides above the headlights looking like it might be the worst of it. The rest of the car looks to be complete and in fairly good order. The text in the ad is a little bit scrambled, and this makes it a bit hard to work out a few of the things that the seller has written.

The owner describes the condition of the interior of the convertible as being decent. I have to say that it doesn’t look bad at all. There are a few handles missing, but replacements could probably be sourced off the hardtop. The top of the dash is also discolored, but that should be a fairly easy fix. What we can tell from the photos is that the interior of the convertible is in better condition than the hardtop, but even the hardtop interior is not beyond help.

Unfortunately, we don’t get any shots of the engines in either car. What I can tell you is that the hardtop is fitted with an automatic transmission and that the engine is frozen. The convertible is fitted with a 352ci police interceptor engine, and this is backed by a 3-speed manual transmission with overdrive. The convertible runs and drives, which is not a bad sign. As part of the deal, the owner is also including a 1990 302ci V8 and automatic transmission with this pair.

So, the options here would be to complete the convertible and to use the hardtop as a parts car. The other alternative would be to restore them both because that does seem feasible on the surface. You could then choose to sell one of the cars to recoup some of the costs associated with the restoration, and you never know, you might actually turn a profit out of the deal. What would you do?

Comments

  1. Barry Aydt
    Nov 9, 2018 at 7:27am

    Cool old rides, doesnt seem like a bad deal, transport would be costly,but i do have a son in Fort Laudersdale, might be PAYBACK TIME SON!!! LOL

    Like 7
  2. Classic Steel
    Nov 9, 2018 at 7:45am

    The tail lights are so cool on these cars.

    Transportation is key 🔑 but this looks like someone could restore the vert and get the hardtop going to recoup much of the money 👍

    Like 3
  3. Rich Grandy
    Nov 9, 2018 at 7:48am

    Heck of a good deal. These won’t last long.

    Like 2
  4. Fred W
    Nov 9, 2018 at 7:48am

    Hardtop is too good to part out!

    Like 10
  5. Will Fox
    Nov 9, 2018 at 9:05am

    Both are very solid, given their age. Even if you rebuild the frozen engine, you’re still ahead with the overall condition of either car. The vinyl upholstery in the cvt. is not original, but SMS interiors offers the material to restore these. Me, I’d restore the cvt., and sell the hardtop. Take the bumper guards off the hardtop for the cvt. Any one of a number of sources can install a new cvt. top.

    Like 1
  6. Ikey Heyman
    Nov 9, 2018 at 9:57am

    The 1959 Ford won the Gold Medal For Exceptional Styling at the Brussels World’s Fair (Expo 58), for what it’s worth.

    Like 1
  7. Mountainwoodie
    Nov 9, 2018 at 10:13am

    A pretty good deal (finally) if you can negotiate the price…..lots of unknowns and luckily on the wrong coast…………Back in the early nineties I looked at a ’59 Ford convertible in turquoise that was absolutely original and perfect with the original plastic seat covers……..and didnt think it was worth the 11K ask ! I am soooo cheap and consequently sooo……. wrong…..lol

    Like 1
  8. TortMember
    Nov 9, 2018 at 12:38pm

    Great deal! Chevy guy but if I had not grown up in the fifties and just starting another project which I “promised” my wife is the last one I would jump on these two!

    Like 1
  9. Wrong Way
    Nov 9, 2018 at 6:59pm

    Restore both put that other drive train in the hard top, paint the same color scheme! That would look awesome!

    Like 0
  10. stillrunners
    Nov 9, 2018 at 7:13pm

    What they said…..maybe the buy of the week…..

    Like 2
  11. kenzo
    Nov 11, 2018 at 3:53pm

    Great vehicles and most are right. Finish them both and keep them both.
    What is the car peeking out under the tarp behind the hardtop. Looking at the pic’s he has quite a few projects.

    Like 0

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