1959 Ford Fairlane - Suggestions?

[fordfairlane]

Hi All. New member here. My father has a 1959 Ford Fairlane that has sat in his driveway for the past 20 years. It used to run when I was young, I remember taking rides in it every summer after he would tune it up.

I'm here trying to get some insight or suggestions as to what to do with it. All original parts, but I can't imagine it's ran since the early 90s. I hate to see it continue to sit and rot when someone could be doing something with it. He never wants to let it go, but also hasn't touched it in decades, so I'm trying to resolve it. Any advice on what direction to go with it would be great! Sell it for parts? Sell it as a whole to someone? What kind of value is in it?

Thank you! Pictures are attached.

 

[miker98038]

I don't have a clue what it's worth, or if it's salvageable. But it would help if it would start and move. I wouldn't take it out of the driveway with old brakes, tires, etc. but in general a car you can drive onto a trailer is worth a lot more than one you can't.

 

[dmsfrr]

Is there a chance fixing it for your dad could be a family project?

If he 'never wants to let it go'... is getting it drivable again a realistic option?
I think we all understand 'the car we wish we hadn't sold' feeling, but.....
It looks pretty rusty and at the least will need: a new gas tank, all new brakes, battery, tires and repairing whatever else left it dead in the driveway.
Even if all that is done the body is still pretty well used up.

On a personal level I don't recommend parting it out from his (or your) driveway. You'll have a very sad looking picked over shell staring back at you every day for a long time.
Even watching it sit where it is and get worse isn't as bad as when parts are gone.
It's much better to remember the car on those good ol' summer trips, and not as a pile of scrap parts.

If it could be sold as-is to someone that might be the better option.
miker98038 is right too, if it runs (even a little) it's worth more.
If your dad isn't ready to let it go you may just have to wait.

.

 

[rowens55]

Hey, the fuzzy dice must add SOME value??

 

[scicala]

The Hagerty Insurance website is supposed to have a good price guide based on selling prices for old cars.

Sal

 

[paul2748]

Number one, its a 4 door. Not the most wanted body style. Two, its rusty so fixing the rust would cost more than it's worth if the rust is extensive if you can't do it yourself. Third, lots of parts need to be replaced - brakes, fuel systems, etc.

Since it it has been sitting 20 years, apparently your dad is not interested in it enough to do anything with it, assuming money is not the reason.

It's probably is good parts car and nothing else. The rear by itself is probably worth a couple of hundred and it has good bumpers which are worth something as well as the trim pieces.

My opinion, others may differ.

 

[bobss396]

The trim looks intact, a big plus for someone looking for a parts car. If the floor and trunk are in bad shape, the car is worth maybe $1500-2000 to someone needing a parts car.

 

[fordfairlane]

Great, thank you everyone for the replies here. Some very helpful info. I kind of assumed it is only worthy of parts and good point @dmsfrr, would be rough to watch it sit and go piece by piece. Would love to make it a family project to fix up, but last time I looked into it the rust was bad enough where it would more than likely end up costing more to repair than to just find a fairlane in better shape haha. Appreciate the direction and help here!

Any suggestion as to where to go to post listing for sale/interested buyers? (Aside from the ebay/craigslist world). Located in South Jersey about 20 minutes from Philadelphia.

Thanks!

 

[19Fordy]

Paul2748 advice is the best. Being a really rusty non-running 4 door reduces its value to the point that it's not worth restoring. It's definitely a parts car. You could join FORD websites and advertise it for sale. You might want to donate it to a local high school auto shop class. That way it's tax deductible. Your dad might like that. If it continues to sit and rust away in your driveway, it may become a code enforcement issue as some cities won't permit unlicensed vehicles to be parked in driveways. At that point, you'll probably have to have it hauled away for scrap. Many junk yards will haul it away free of charge. Try contacting your local Antique Automobile Club of America (AAA) and other car clubs to see if they have members who may want it. Also, go to local cars shows and spread the word. Advertise it for sale on Fordbarn. Since it has a Y-block v-8 engine advertise it on the Y-block websites. https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=y block websites
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=1959 ford websites Good luck.

 

[scicala]

I didn't see in any of these posts that fordfairlane said it was a 6 cyl., 292, 332 or 352 V8. Also I don't think there are many cars that can be restored and then be worth more than you're investment. It's about the love of the hobby and sentiment too.

Sal

 

[CarlG]

I didn't see in any of these posts that fordfairlane said it was a 6 cyl., 292, 332 or 352 V8...

59 Fairlane 500 came with either the 332 or 352 v8 (no 6cyl)

 

[scicala]

"59 Fairlane 500 came with either the 332 or 352 v8 (no 6cyl)"

I have to disagree with some of this. The 223 6 cylinder was actually standard in 1959 on all models except the Skyliner Retractable. That came standard with a 292. I'm not saying you will ever see a Fairlane 500 or Galaxie with a 6 cyl., but they were possible.
Also, all V8's were available in all models.

Sal

 

[Bleach]

Sal is correct. This particular model was available with a six.
http://www.automobile-catalog.com/m...ford_5gen_fairlane_500_4-door_sedan/1959.html

 

[46ford]

I've seen worse on the road. If you part it, the hood, trunk "v" and hubcaps are worth a few hundred at least. PS I love my four door.

 

[rick55]

It's incredible the difference a few time zones make. That car would be a restorer in Australia as there just arent that many good survivors left these days. In Oz in that condition it could be worth anywhere from $3000 to $6000 depending on how good the mechanicals are and what configuration they are. It wouldnt be viable to ship it nowadays though as the days of cheap shipping and exchange rates have put paid to that. I bet a few of the Aussie and Kiwi viewers of this forum will be sighing about now. Surely as a complete car it must be worth between$1000 - $2000. But then the buyer always sets the price.

 

[bobss396]

There's still lots of solid cars in the US, so unless you like to do rust repair, best bet is to get a better car. I got lucky with my '59, it had a minor floor patch done that was hard to detect.

 

[RCM]

The trim looks intact, a big plus for someone looking for a parts car. If the floor and trunk are in bad shape, the car is worth maybe $1500-2000 to someone needing a parts car.

When I saw this I thought, I'm gonna pass it on to bobss, he will have an informed opinion... but you got here before..

 

[mercman from oz]

I can't speak for the USA, but I bought this Fully Imported Canadian 1959 Ford Country Sedan that came with the Mileage Maker Six and Three Speed Manual Transmission back in 1972. So the Six was definitely available in the Fairlane Range in Canada. I also saw an imported 1959 ford Galaxie Sedan here, and it also had the Six in it. These models were sold in Australia in Custom 300 4 door Sedan and Fairlane 500 4 door Sedan. Ford Australia also offered the Ranch Wagon. All were powered by the 332 V8 and no other engine was offered. The Custom 300 and Ranch Wagon were available with a manual 3 speed or optional Automatic, while the Fairlane was only available with the Automatic. Our 59 was a great car until it was totalled when a semi powered into the rear of it. To view pictures of this car after the accident, click onto this Link. http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=159489&page=2

 

[estout81]

The front fender emblems with round ball indicate a six cylinder or 292 Y-block.

 

[mercman from oz]

Regarding our 59 Country Sedan in the above post, it was a fully imported model. Ford Australia did release a full size Station Wagon for the first time in the 1959 Ford Ranch Wagon, which was based on the Custom 300. As you know, the Country Sedan was based on the Fairlane 500. Ford Australia never released the upmarket Country Sedan Wagon here, nor did they offer the Six Cylinder Engine here. So, for someone to import the upmarket Country Sedan into Australia with the 6 cylinder engine is very unusual.