Minneapolis Street Sighting: Ford Fairmont

Ford has had its fair share of shit cars, be it by reputation, or by choice. In the Malaise-era, carmakers were scrambling to produce low-cost cars-for a low cost. Platform was nothing new to Ford, and during the Malaise-era, the blatant rebadging of Fords to Mercury was ever apparent. Billed initially as a low-cost medium-sized car, the Fairmont was the result of slipshod engineering--and build quality. I've never seen two Fairmonts with identical panel gaps--even in commercials. And the styling was.. well, for Christ's sake just look at it! Squares here, squares there, squares everywhere--except the wheels obviously.
To add to the Fairmonts not-all-that-redeeming characteristics, it was a choice as a baddie car in car chase movies--and it gained a starring role in many an episode of "Dukes of Hazzard". But not all was bad.
Since it shares its platform with the Mustang (and quite a variety of other cars), pillaging some junkyard speed parts should be no issue; fitting them shouldn't be a hassle either. Fixing the ever-so-common rust however... no one makes reproduction parts for these cars, and that's a shame because I'd hate to cut up a clean car to save a shit one. On second thought, just start with a clean car in the first place--well.. okay, maybe not. I have a thing for the two-door; it's a nice, cleanly designed (for its time) simple little car that be force-fed quite big power numbers. Any big engine will fit in the bay, and the addition of stickier rolling stock only sweetens the deal.. But what about the four doors?
Often overlooked by enthusiasts and hot-rodders, the four-doors were Ford's bread and butter vehicles. Available only with the six cylinders, they were common with criminals, detectives, and other markets where fleet sales mattered, and engine output did not. But is that the point of the Fairmont four door? Probably not. Vynil seats, monotone paint, and black stock wheels (because steelies sounds too boring, right?) mark this sedan as a basic, likely ex-fleet or rental car. It'd be a good bad-guy car, too, or maybe even a good sleeper.. Or maybe I'm reading too much into this plain-jane sedan.








On the surface, this Fairmont appears to be a beater in awful shape; but considering the lack of surviving Fairmonts, this example is one of the cleaner ones I've seen--that's pretty sad in itself.
Tired brown paint compliments the rusted steelies well; with the addition of the broken trunk badge, this four-door seems like it'd be the perfect "cheap used car" about ten or so years ago. Today, this thing could pass merely for a "beater". Not a good fate for what used to be a popular car.
I like the overall appearance of this old Ford even if it is a bit messy; it obviously could stand a bit of a clean up, but what for? In this shape, it's destined to be scrap metal before long. Ironically, even though this is the Maverick's successor, I see way more Mavericks than any Fairmont. Maybe the Maverick was a better built car?
I don't know, but one thing's for certain; I'm glad I shot this turd when I did. It's not quite the most exciting I've shot, but in a city where classic cars often succumb to horrible modifications if not rust, a good spotting is a good spotting.