Throughout the prime time of the station wagon (Height Wagon in America was available in either 1964 or 1977, when auto customers might pick in between 47 various wagon versions), Ford proclaimed itself to be the Wagonmaster in its advertising and marketing products. In 1979, Americans might acquire Ford-badged longroofs in three sizes (4, if you count the Econoline-based Club Wagon as a real wagon, which I do not), from the little Pinto on approximatelythe mighty LTD Country Squire In in between those 2 came the midsize Fairmont wagon, which resided on the new-for-1978Fox platform as well as therefore was brother or sister to the same-year Mustang. Below is among those Fairmont wagons, currently staying in a Denver self-service wrecking yard.
The door tag informs us that this auto was birthed at the Kansas City Assembly plant as well as gotten via the Denver Area Sales Workplace. The initial engine was the 200- cubic-inch (3.3-liter) straight-six (which was offered in the Mustang via 1981, think it or otherwise).
Recognizing exactly how Fox Fords obtain engine swaps like some individuals alter their socks (i.e., every couple of years), we can not make certain this is the initial200 It was ranked at 85 horse power if it is. The base engine in 1979 was the 2.3-liter straight-four from the Pinto, that made 3 even more steeds than the 200 (remember that the 200 defeated the 2.3 on torque, by a fair bit: 154 lb-ft versus 88 lb-ft).
An optional 302- cubic-inch (5.0-liter) small-block V8 was offered. Established for transverse-mounted usage in the Tempo/Topaz a couple of years later on if you chop two cylinders off this 200, you get the Ford HSC four-cylinder.
Due to the fact that it was marketed brand-new a mile up (really at 5,518 feet up, the altitude of Lakewood), the engine setups were readjusted for the thinner air.
A four-on-the-floor manual transmission was base tools, yet I have actually never ever seen a Fairmont wagon so complete.
The Mercury-badged double of the Fairmont was the Zephyr, as well as obviously you could buy a wagon version.
This auto hasthe bucket seats in “wicker-weave” vinyl If you obtained the hand-operated transmission in your Fairmont, you had to obtain the container seats (Ford quit placing three-on-the-tree column-shift manuals in US-market automobiles after the 1977 Maverick/Comet, though Ford marketed three-on-the-tree F-Series pick-ups via 1986).
Kerr Ford disappears, yet it shows up to have actually been a car dealership in Lakewood, simply outside the Denver city limitations. This auto will certainly be crushed regarding 14 miles from the area at which it was marketed brand-new.
Due to the fact that the Fox-platform automobiles were light-weight as well as had rear-wheel-drive (as well as, most importantly, due to the fact that the 1979-1993 Ford Mustang was a Fox), with bolt-on components interchange in between all the versions, they are preferred amongst modifiers as well as drag racers. I have actually listened to that it’s almost difficult to discover Fairmonts as well as Breezes at sensible costs in some components of the nation, yet I still see these automobiles in Front Range Colorado wrecking yards.
Auto fanatics enjoy Ford Foxes as well as they enjoy wagons, yet this set is a battered straight-six/automatic auto in two-tone guide paint therefore could not discover a person to save it.
In the nick of time for the 1979 Oil Crisis!
America’s very successful wagon in 1978, according to Ford.
Unfortunately, today’s Junkyard Gem never ever reached do this.
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