Car: Ford Fairlane GTA Convertible
Year: 1967
What makes it special: Ford’s Fairlane was revised in 1966. Minor trim changes were introduced for 1967 as the Fairlane was mildly facelifted. The appearance was changed to match the full-sized Ford, which had been restyled in the 1965 model year. The front end featured vertically stacked dual headlights. The XL, GT, and GTA packages were introduced, as well as a convertible to join the existing range of sedans, hardtops, and station wagons. The “K-code” 289 CID engine was dropped this year.
What made it famous: The Fairlane GT featured a 390 Cu in FE V8 as standard, while the GTA also included the newly introduced the SportShift Cruise-o-Matic automatic transmission. The GT/GTA 390 cu in engine developed 335 bhp with higher compression, and had a 4-barrel carburetor. The 1967 Fairlanes also included a number of federal government-mandated safety features, including a new energy-absorbing steering column with a large padded steering wheel hub, soft interior trim, four-way hazard flashers, a dual-chamber braking system, and shoulder belt anchors. In addition, the convertible had a tempered safety glass rear window.
Why I would want one: I’ve had the base-model Fairlane 2-door hardtop model, naturally I’d love the convertible for the feel of being in the wind.
Fun fact: Over time, the name referred to a number of different cars in different classes; the Fairlane was initially a full-sized car, but became a mid-sized car from the 1962 model year.
