I have two project cars in mind. One is pops '63 Ford Fairlane and the other is my first car a 1980 Celica. Pop's '63 calls for a body off restoration with all the goodies, disc brakes, built motor... probably a $45K+ ordeal. The Celica would be about $15K. Both are sentimental and I'd like to keep them both but I only have a 2 car garage.

What might you consider?

 

i guess it all depends what you want to do with the car after restoring the car back to its glory and then some.

if you want a cruiser...the Ford definitely.

a fun car...Celica.

personally, i'd probably keep the Ford. classy and pimping. they do not make cars like that any more.

 

$45K+ to restore a Fairlane!!! If it is a Boss Mustang.... I am not a big fan of early Celica, I would pick the Fairlane.

 

THE 63 FAIRLANE( 2 door i hope)....Easy 4 wheel disc conversion /.....5.0HO with paxton supercharger .........and some other goodies all for under $25K.....................parts are very cheap ...buy a 1989 Lincoln LSC and you get everything you from it / even the front seats and air suspension.

I happen to be a expert on a 89 Lincoln LSC!

Celica=Sell

 

Definetly sell the Celica and PIMP the Ford!

-Anthony

 

I'd keep the Fairlane....

 

The uniqueness of the Fairlane lends itself to a nice revision. Independent suspension with disc brakes, supercharged 5.0 or 4.6, some 17" billet wheels, shaved door handles along with modern creature comforts

I've heard of several 30's Fords using Lexus V8 powerplants...that would be a hoot in this '63.

 

My vote would be for the Ford...if for no other reason than it was your dad's. I'm real sentimental when it comes to family. My stepdad has a 56 Ford that one day I hope to baby as my own. I'm by no stretch of the imagination a fan of domestics, but it's the bond that matters. Now I just have to find out how to stuff a 1uz under the hood.

 

what does a Fairlane look like? Never heard of that car before.

 

With the largest assembled intellectual resource known to man located at your finger tips... that's kind of a silly question isn't it?

 

For sheer memories and nostalgia, of course the Fairlane would be more fun and would turn more heads. But keep in mind that even restored to factory standards, those early-60's vintage cars could be a pain in the *** to own and drive. The fade-prone drum brakes, recirculating ball steering, primitive suspensions, carburators, breaker-point ignitions, slab-seats, etc....made for very poor driveability compared to a modern car. The twist-frames gave many squeaks and rattles. Many had just an AM radio...or none at all. You may have to add a lead-substitute in the gas. The suspension and steering systems underneath had to be greased with every oil change. The steering wheels were all hard plastic, uncomfortable, and dangerous in a crash. Many had no seat belts either. So...I'm not saying don't do it......restoring old cars can be fun. But .......just also be ready to accept the not-so-good things about these cars along with the American-Graffiti and Beach-Boys era fun you will have.

 

I also noticed you mentioned possible disc brakes for the restoration. DEFINITELY go with the discs if you can get them to fit. The drum brakes of this era......especially the non-power ones standard on many compacts / mid-size cars like the Fairlane....were marginal at best, and could be a real hazard on a long downgrade, though downshifting helps.

 

I'd definitely do a major suspension re-vamp. The drum brakes on this monster are quite a chore and coupled with the leaf springs...ugh. I don't have the car available so I duuno if I can graft in a new the front and rear or if a complete frame swap is possible. I told pop what I had in mind and he smiles. He drives it now and then to the Post Office but it mostly sits around.

 

Fairlane

Murph

 

Fairlane. Drop in a new crate motor, update the suspension and brakes, customize the body and whatever else you want. You'll have pimp ride with sentimental value too. And, if you do as much work on it yourself as you can, it doesn't have to cost 45K. If you want to drive it regularly, you don't want to spend 45k.