Converting production cars to drag strip duty has been a thing ever since World War II veterans began racing hot rods at decommissioned aircraft bases in the 1940s. Come 2023, and it's still happening, and some rigs are downright impressive. This 1967 Ford Fairlane, for instance, is much more powerful than its road-legal status suggests.
Finished in metallic green and topped by a matte black roof, his Fairlane is anything but unassuming. It looks like a proper pro touring build, and you wouldn't be wrong in assuming that it packs more than 600 horsepower. But you wouldn't be farther from the truth, as this beefed-up classic hides a monster of a Coyote engine under the hood.
Sure, Ford's 5.0-liter Coyote isn't the first V8 you think of when talking about uber-fast drag racers, but this lump is not your regular FoMoCo build. Redone with high-performance components made by various shops and racing outfits and strapped to a pair of massive turbochargers, this Coyote packs more than 2,000 horsepower.
The proud owner isn't exactly sure how potent it is. He has yet to dyno the mean-looking Fairlane. But based on the car's quarter-mile times and curb weight, he estimates the mill generates somewhere between 2,500 and 2,700 horses. Yup, we're looking at a road-legal muscle car that hits the asphalt with 2.5 times more oomph than the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170. "Insane" doesn't even begin to cover it.
So how quick is this Fairlane down the quarter-mile? Well, as you'll see in the video below, it runs the distance in less than eight seconds regularly. And according to its owner, its best run sits at 7.5 clicks at around 180 mph (290 kph). That's quick enough to turn it into the car to beat in the NMRA series.
Purchased in 2016 as a pro touring car, this fantastic dragster is based on the fifth-generation Fairlane. A significant redesign compared to its predecessor, the fifth-gen Fairlane shared many styling cues with the full-size Galaxie. The intermediate also had notable changes under the hood, including a 390-cubic-inch (6.4-liter) "Thunderbird" V8.
This generation also marked the introduction of the GT and GTA performance packages. Both were powered by the engine mentioned above, rated at 335 horsepower, while the GTA also featured the then-new "SportShift Cruise-o-Matic" transmission. Moreover, the fifth-gen Fairlane spawned the rare and iconic R-Code version, powered by a 427-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) "Cobra" V8 good for 425 horsepower.
The R-Code was equipped with the company's "Top-Loader" four-speed manual transmission, which was added to street-legal cars for NHRA Super Stock homologation purposes. While this 1967 two-door is not a rare R-Code car, it's definitely one of the coolest fifth-gen Fairlanes I've seen in a very long time. Check it out in the video below.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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