Original, low-mile '80 Fairmont wagon

In Orange County, Calif......
40.000 miles, $2,499

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/1374898616.html

 

I'm in love! Man is that nice!

 

As Chico used to say,"Looking good!"

 

Big dash crack though.......

 

That tells you it's stock!

 

big dash crack...BIG DASH CRACK...man,that's a hairline fracture...

 

If I didn't already have one, I'd be getting a plane ticket to Orange Co. Man, that is clean!!

 

it IS clean... so clean that I just had to have it

I've been looking for a clean wagon for a long time, and they're always in California or Florida. I swore off buying a vehicle from across the nation after a few long treks, but I just had to have this thing.

the first hot rod I ever really "built" was an 81 Fairmont wagon... straight 6 automatic. I put a 302/T5 combo in it, and used to tear up the dfw street races w/ it. I road tripped it up through Santa Fe, NM and up into Creede, CO one summer. It's the one car I wish I still owned. It went 12.67 @ 105 NA w/ the E7 headed 302, and the guy I sold it to went 11.95 @ 111 NA w/ the GT40 headed combo.

here's a pic of the old car:



I flew my dad into Santa Barbara, and he drove the white car all the way to DFW, and this past weekend, I had my boss fly me into DFW instead of back to Houston so that I could drive it home.

it'll probably end up with an LSx powertrain eventually.

I pulled the fender lips, put some dog dishes on it, and charged the AC





that smog levels sticker has been in place since it rolled off the assembly line!

ever seen a power bench seat in a squaremont?!?!? the car is really neat. I'm stoked

 

What a great find, with only 40,000 on it. Not only a power bench seat, but pw too I see. I'm thinking that's probably pretty rare for a non-squire to be loaded like that. Best of luck with your new ride.

 

yup power windows, tilt column, power bench... very strangely optioned car based on all my previous fairmonts.

I wish it had a roof rack, but for the color combo, options, and how clean it is, I'll deal with it

it's probably going to end up with a 5.3/4L60E combo at first... would like to turbocharge the 5.3, but not sure if I'm going to have the time for all that. Main thing is to just get a good running combo in it ASAP

 

Whats with the nitpicking about a dash crack? Who gives a rats hairy posterior about a crack in the dash, just look at that beauty!

Norm and Handy are gonna hate you for doing that.

I love it, even with the 200 six. You could make them little 6 bangers scream as good as a mild built V8.

Its your car, and you are allowed to do anything you wish to it. I will love it either way! Just a dang sweet little ride.

 

Amen! Am I glad you're stoked! It's in good hands.

There was a real minty white 1983 Marquis woodie wagon on EBay about a year ago, with 43,000 miles on it that went for $26,000. You got a bargain.

Before you haul out that I6, you should visit the fordsix.com site and ClassicInlines.com (only Ford Sixes goodies). Lots of guys doing amazing things to their small ford sixes, and making V8's look bad.

I had a Mexican 302 in mine and swapped it for a fresh I6 200 CID. The six is quicker with 60 HP less! No mods, all stock.

I want to go even smaller to a 195 HP 2.3L 1988/89 Tbird turbo Super Coupe engine, with a T5 behind it. I kept the I4/V8 crossmember for that exact purpose. More oomph, better mileage, almost the same durability. Better than the Hi-perf 302 anyway.

 

that banana wagon you see above had an E7 headed 302, then an EFI 2.3t/T5 combo , then a GT40 headed 302

I've looked at the I6 stuff, and I've thought about it, but for less than what just an aluminum head would cost me, I can buy a good running 5.3/4L60E combo

actually, my initial plans were a Duramax swap (I'm a huge turbo diesel guy... I'm on my 8th and 9th Cummins trucks), but the cost and logistics of the Dmax just isn't possible for me right now

but the little LSx combo is dirt cheap and makes great power... ol' Carrol Shelby taught me there's nothing wrong w/ taking a great engine and tranny and swapping them into a different brand of vehicle when he dropped a 289 in a little brittish roadster

the dash pad doesn't bother me a lick. you can get covers cheap that look OEM. It's all the interior plastics and stuff that you just can't find in perfect shape these days

 

Sounds like fun. Give her lots of TLC! And don't forget the progress pics. Us fox guys need to drool and strut our stuff too.

 

Nice pick. The power equipment was what attracted me to it initially when I made the original post.

And the dash crack.....ok I wa nitpickin'....