1966 FORD FAIRLANE 500 GT-X PROTOTYPE SHOW CAR

This prototype was built to introduce the new Fairlane design for the 1966 model year. It is powered by a 427ci V8 side-oiler medium riser engine with a 3-speed automatic transmission. The engine is entirely stock, and it retains all of its original and period-correct 1965 parts. It has a Ford 9-inch rear axle with 4.11 gears. A majority of the vehicle’s parts were produced in late 1964 and early 1965, and are unique to this prototype. The prototype parts carry an “XE” experimental part number marking, and many of the larger items on the car carry the “AAD” marking that denotes they were put together in the Automotive Assembly Division. The unit body was pulled from the assembly line and delivered to the prototype division. It was then hand-assembled (except for the parts on the driveline) and sent to Winfield’s Rod & Custom Shop, where it was finished and customized according to Ford’s detailed instructions. Three artist drawings are included with the sale. When the car was completed it was sent back to Ford and used as a show car. It made its national debut at the January 1966 Autorama Show in Detroit at Cobo Hall. It then toured the country along with other 'futuristic' Fords as part of the 'Custom Car Caravan.' It was also featured in the March 1966 issue of Car Craft magazine, as well as many other publications. It toured for a few months in 1966, very briefly in 1967 and then it was retired from duty. The car has now been restored back to its original show-car glory. It has 3,003 original miles and retains many of its original parts. Key custom features include a custom exhaust with both side cutouts and rear bumper exits, custom hood intakes, custom front grille and lights, custom fender, door and quarter-panel treatments, as well as custom-made moldings throughout the car. The interior is finished in a custom Peacock metal-flake Naugahyde, and was repainted in its original stunning white metal flake paint with NOS blue metal flake stripes by none other than Gene Winfield himself.

This Fairlane GT-X Prototype was hand-built at the Ford design studio. It was then commissioned by Ford to be customized into a show car by famed builder Gene Winfield. It's powered by 427ci V8 side-oiler engine with a 3-speed automatic transmission.