A CAUSE OF ACTION

THE ULTIMATE FAIRLANE COMES WITH A 427 SOHC

- Eric Geisert

The Ford FE was introduced in 1958 (in an Edsel) and, in following years, various displacements (332, 352, 360, 390, 406, 410, and 427) with horsepower ratings increasing during Ford’s war with Dodge and Plymouth on dragstrips and NASCAR ovals.

In 1963 the 427 FE debuted as a top-oiler (and as a side-oiler two years later) but Ford, trying to conform to changing NASCAR rules, created the single-overhead-cam (SOHC) 427 in 1964, but it was soon banned by NASCAR.

Gary Spratling, a California based gearhead all his life, having drag-raced various FE-equipped models (including Thunderbolts) for a Ford dealership, loved the ’66 Fairlane as soon as he saw it. Fifty years later he wanted to create an SOHC-equipped ’66 Fairlane and, after finding a proper candidate, hooked up with Anton Lanesky of Anton’s Hot Rod Shop in Hiram, Ohio, to build an elegant race-inspired vehicle with tons of vintage style.

After the car’s disassembly and acid-dip, Anton ordered a Fast Track Stage III chassis from Roadster Shop. Roadster Shop utilizes their IFS/ IRS systems on the Stage III, and Anton’s incorporated Penske double-adjustable coil-overs and 1.250-inch antisway bar on both front and rear. A Flaming River rack-and-pinion went in, and the rearend uses a Strange Engineering differential, a 4.56:1 US Gear ring-and-pinion, and half-shafts from The Driveshaft Shop.

Anton’s used master cylinders and a racing pedal from Tilton Engineering, and Baer supplied 14-inch rotors and six-piston calipers used front and rear (coupled with an E-Stopp electronic parking brake). Rolling on 18x10 and 19x13 one-off wheels designed by Gary’s brother, Richard (who runs RS Design), they were milled from billet by Curtis Speed. The road wheels are wrapped in Pirelli PZero Corsa rubber; 295/30ZR-18 and 355/30ZR19, with the latter having a 12.5-inch footprint.