In 1983 my late wife (then my fiancee) bought a 1978 Mercury Zephyr 4-door with 75K miles on it from the original owner. It had the 3.3L (200 ci) I-6 and 3-speed manual trans with floor shift (fairly rare engine/trans combo). Power steering was the only power accessory. Manual brakes and non-AC. Super plain jane. Fairly rare color: Medium Jade metallic - one repaint in 1992 (same color). Was a daily driver until the early/mid 1990s. In 1999 I converted it with a 1989 Mustang GT 5.0L HO SEFI engine, T-5 5-speed manual trans, 8.8 trac-loc rear with 3.25:1 gears, full dual exhaust, and full heavy duty V-8 suspension, brakes, wheels/tires. I also did the interior over with bucket seats, power windows, and tinted glass. Full instrumentation. We still own it (41 years) and its in excellent condition.
Always enjoy your videos. I come from a Ford family - and we owned just about every Ford model - except this one. But I did work for a guy who owned a Fairmont wagon - which I got to drive now and then. Another co-worker had a Mercury Zephyer.
Fun but relaxing video with lots of great pictures and music. nice work. I picked up a white 80 futura from an abandoned car tow company auction on a whim for 40 bucks. the thing came with the keys and it drove me right home. It had been slightly vandalized, I had to replace a couple of windows and patch up the tail lights. Turned out it only had 68,000 original miles. The mustard yellow plaid interior looked like new. I had it for 2 years and passed it along. really was a good running car but I had a short attention span.
I got a one owner 1983 Fairmont Futura hardtop in 1989 with about 47K miles on it. 200 cid straight 6, automatic, AC, two tone silver with red interior in nice shape. Duraspark ignition problems, but otherwise reliable. Would like another one! Great video!😁🔧👍
I have long had a soft spot for the Fairmont. From my childhood with a Hot Wheels playset that included a blue Fairmont Futura to the past decade-plus that I've watched a gentleman named Martin Pond build and race a trio of autocross cars ranging from a silver Fairmont boxtop 2 door sedan, to a brown Zephyr wagon and a blue Fairmont Durango pickup. My most recent Foxbody experience was my friend's SN95 Mustang GT. It's really amazing to see what people can do with the chassis.
This unassuming car formed the basis of Mustang from 1979-2004. I love it. Little words like the LTD LX w tge High Output 5.0, the Lincoln Mark 7, the various T birds, including the Turbo coupes. Lots of fun from humble beginnings.
I will never forget the ford fairmont growing up as a kid in the mid 90’s mom and dad had 3 mom had a burnt orange 79 fairmont squire wagon (that car made me love cars and wagons) dad had a 78 silver fairmont sedan and after that got rear ended he bought a 83 futura sedan we also had a blue wagon parts car on the side of the house I’d play in and pretend I was driving all were the 200ci six cylinder those cars will always hold a soft spot in my mind and my heart
I think this is one of the best Car Tales ever made, besides Saturn and Taurus. How do you make the cars look so polished and MOVE at the same time? It’s really beautiful. Very underrated channel. The Ford Fairmont looked great, one of the last giant boxy cars that “The Deuce” Henry Ford II wanted…before the 1983 Thunderbird and 1986 Taurus, however those were also based on the Fox body platform just like Fairmont was!
Awesome content as always:) my dad has nothing but fond memories of his Fairmount. Factory ordered v6 (with the handling package) 4spd manual, black with tan interior. He's always said it was damn near taxi spec but he loved it.
As mentioned before, the first car in my custody was a brown 1978 Ford Fairmont Futura, with the 200 CID 6 and automatic. It got the job done, and carried me through my high school and early college years.
You've done it again, another great video on a car that people don't usually give respect for. Thank you for all the work you put into these. My first experience with this car, was a forgotten auto-repair videogame called "Gearhead Garage". It was a wagon and you could repair/sell the car, which is the way to win the game. Now I have to make my own effort: gotta 3D model a Futura coupe and wagon.
Tofer your videos are great 😊 ! The Ford Fairmonts were very popular back in the day . My parent's drove a 76 Dodge Aspen sedan which was a good car but the Fairmont was night and day compared to the Aspen/Volares . Keep up your great work Tofer .
My '79 Zephyr ES makes for a great "what is that?" car to bring to shows, yet almost all the Fox Mustang performance parts fit, and I've swapped all the running gear for aftermarket Mustang stuff. When I was a kid around 1981, I remember we wanted a Fairmont wagon in the worst way. We couldn't find a used one we could afford though.
My first new car purchase in 1978 was the 1978 Ford Futura. I was only 18 years old but had been working for two years, saving as much money as possible. My parents actually offered to meet my savings dollar for dollar as they really thought it best that I buy a new car with a factory warranty, instead of a used unknown problem car. So with cash in hand, I walked to the local Ford dealership where I found my Futura in all its glory on the showroom floor. Black exterior with red interior. I was very happy that this Futura had the 302 2bbl V8, which sadly had, I think, maybe 125 hp? Hahaha 😁 Anyway, I purchased the car with cash, which saved me as I was able to get a discount for buying cash only, giving me enough money left after the purchase to fill the gas tank 😅😅 Pretty decent car. However, it was cursed with electronic ignition issues and carburetor problems as well. The car was at the service department many times during its first year! Good car when it worked, but unfortunately, many times, it just really never ran that good. That 302 V8 was so dogged with smog devices, and even after I had a dual exhaust system installed on it after it was out of warranty, it still never ran that good. After two years, I finally traded it in on another new car in 1980. That car was a 1980 Chevy Camero and much better running car than the Futura. But the Futura holds a special place in my heart as my very first new car purchase.
I used to own a 1980 Ford Fairmont I loved that Wagon. I Hooked Up Mustang Five Star Wheels on and it was pretty Fast. The Ex Owner had hooked up a 89 Mustangs 5.0L eng. With a 5 speed tray and mustang rear differentia. It was so reliable I drove to NY from Florida Many times I never had it towed 😊❤❤❤
So glad to see a Tofer's Car Tales video in my feed! I had a '78 Ford Fairmont, it was underwhelming basic transportation and showed all the signs of a rush job. Those were challenging times for Ford and the U.S. Auto Industry.
Thanks for This Video and Thanks for All Your Creative Work Just Awesome. For My Self I Foxbody Cars I Owned a 1979 Mustang 4 cyl. and Then a 1979 V8 Mustang L then a 1982 Mustang GT 5.0L with Sunroof Then got a 1984 Mustang GT350 with the 2.3L Turbo eng. After that got a 1987 Mustang GT Conv't. Kept it for 31 years the most reliable car i ever owned. Also had a 1980 Ford Fairmont Wagon V8 5.0 and a 1981 Ford Thundetford Foxbody Coupe ❤❤❤🚗🚕🚗😊
Your videos are always a treat. My mother got in an accident with our ‘75 Maverick, and the insurance company got her a brand new Fairmont as a loaner car. Automatic, 4 door, AC, with green metallic paint. I was sad when we got our candy apple red lead sled back.
As always top notch job thank you for great videos. The Futura is my favorite. Love how you listed all fox body models launched from the beginning of fairmont
here's my memory of those cars" yep that's as fast as it goes" and always have a large screwdriver or best to stock spare starter solenoid and power steering fluid at all times
I've read that Hal Sperlich originally proposed the Fox platform be FWD, but HF II and Iacocca demanded it remain RWD. Fairmont was outdated as soon as the GM X cars debuted.
I owned a couple of these, a 78 and and 82. I had the "boat anchor" straight 6 - probably 26 mpg or so on the highway. As I recall, I paid about $7200 (plus tax, title, fees) for the car.
What about the little LTD sold between 83 and 86? I was born in 94 so I wasn’t around at that time, but I guess I always thought the little LTD was also based on the fox body platform because I remember a motor week retro thing I saw on UA-cam that did an 86 lineup of the Ford vehicles for that model year and they talked about theFord LTD being sold alongside the Taurus so I guess I always figured the LTD was like a continuation of the Fairmont, but maybe I’m wrong on that. And if so, wouldn’t the little LTD be an even more overlooked vehicle than the Fairmont itself?
they just changed the front , back ends and the interior and called them LTD till the Taurus came out and the Panther LTD changed to Crown Victoria which turned out to be the only thing Ford made that was really solid back then and sold that platform for many years.
Well, the problem with that gen Fairmont is its "son" - the Taurus, which proved to be very radical for its days. So its predecessor was "destined" to be forgotten (unfortunately; compared to GM A/G cars Fox body sedans and wagons proved to be superior in handling and never had so many quality issues). One major error in this video - Fox body had not Cortina, but Granada steering and suspension components. Ford Cortina has always been smaller, Pinto-sized car.
The only thing I remember about the Fairmont. I tboned one with my Suzuki 450 he pulled out in front of me. Took me a year to get over it. I hit him at about 50mph bending his car in half.
I bought my first NEW Car art age 18 The 80 Cougar XR-7 LOADED V8 2 tone White over Bitter sweet with the THICK padded half Vinyl Roof in Bitter Sweet. Fetching color combo. and then later acquired the 1984 Thunderbird LOADED White over Red and a 1983 Mustang GT CONV.Red over Red with a white Conv. TOP. 5.0 H.O. LOADED, So I guess I had a Few. FOX’s in my Den. But coming from the 70’s I felt the cars from the 80’s very Toyish with all the plastics used.
I owned a four-door Fairmont with a 6 cylinder engine. My wife drove it. My brother bought a Futura. Both great cars. Later I bought a used LTD with a powerful six cylinder engine. I loved all those cars.
one of the weirder variants of the Fairmont which was the mercury cougar station wagon. I was forced to drive one in high school when my mother realized it was too slow for her to drive herself to work and she would be taking my fine 1975 Chrysler Cordoba (of course it had burgundy Corinthian leather) to work… you have done a good job explaining the importance of these vehicles and why you are attached to them but I really did not like that “cougar”.
I remember reading a review of a book that featured a Ford Fairmont and the driver was a spy driving around the Soviet Union. But I cannot remember what the book was and I would like to read it. Anyone have any idea? I remember the review said the spy "saved the world in a Ford". By the way I had a 1978 Fairmont sedan I inherited from my aunt who wanted a Chevy Citation. So glad she did not buy that one. The engine (eventually burned oil) and the finish (every time I washed the car the cloth turned burgundy) were weak spots.
The Fairmont was by far the worst car that I've ever owned. Within 2 years (it was 8 years old when I bought it, but in excellent shape), The door latches were failing, it wouldn't start in cold/damp weather, and the last straw was a brake line failing. Horrible car.
In 1983 my late wife (then my fiancee) bought a 1978 Mercury Zephyr 4-door with 75K miles on it from the original owner. It had the 3.3L (200 ci) I-6 and 3-speed manual trans with floor shift (fairly rare engine/trans combo). Power steering was the only power accessory. Manual brakes and non-AC. Super plain jane. Fairly rare color: Medium Jade metallic - one repaint in 1992 (same color). Was a daily driver until the early/mid 1990s. In 1999 I converted it with a 1989 Mustang GT 5.0L HO SEFI engine, T-5 5-speed manual trans, 8.8 trac-loc rear with 3.25:1 gears, full dual exhaust, and full heavy duty V-8 suspension, brakes, wheels/tires. I also did the interior over with bucket seats, power windows, and tinted glass. Full instrumentation. We still own it (41 years) and its in excellent condition.
when I took drivers ed in high school they used a ford Fairmont. I remember we drove the teacher around town as he did his Christmas shopping
Great video! You really “understand” Ford. I’ll be sure to catch more of your work.
Your Videos are always very well made and so interesting, friend!! Thank you..
Always enjoy your videos. I come from a Ford family - and we owned just about every Ford model - except this one. But I did work for a guy who owned a Fairmont wagon - which I got to drive now and then. Another co-worker had a Mercury Zephyer.
Fun but relaxing video with lots of great pictures and music. nice work.
I picked up a white 80 futura from an abandoned car tow company auction on a whim for 40 bucks. the thing came with the keys and it drove me right home. It had been slightly vandalized, I had to replace a couple of windows and patch up the tail lights. Turned out it only had 68,000 original miles. The mustard yellow plaid interior looked like new. I had it for 2 years and passed it along. really was a good running car but I had a short attention span.
I got a one owner 1983 Fairmont Futura hardtop in 1989 with about 47K miles on it. 200 cid straight 6, automatic, AC, two tone silver with red interior in nice shape. Duraspark ignition problems, but otherwise reliable. Would like another one! Great video!😁🔧👍
Another great video! I always liked Fairmonts and Zephyrs, especially the Futura and Z-7 models.
I have long had a soft spot for the Fairmont. From my childhood with a Hot Wheels playset that included a blue Fairmont Futura to the past decade-plus that I've watched a gentleman named Martin Pond build and race a trio of autocross cars ranging from a silver Fairmont boxtop 2 door sedan, to a brown Zephyr wagon and a blue Fairmont Durango pickup. My most recent Foxbody experience was my friend's SN95 Mustang GT. It's really amazing to see what people can do with the chassis.
This unassuming car formed the basis of Mustang from 1979-2004. I love it. Little words like the LTD LX w tge High Output 5.0, the Lincoln Mark 7, the various T birds, including the Turbo coupes. Lots of fun from humble beginnings.
Always a good day when Tofer drops a new Car Tales...
I will never forget the ford fairmont growing up as a kid in the mid 90’s mom and dad had 3 mom had a burnt orange 79 fairmont squire wagon (that car made me love cars and wagons) dad had a 78 silver fairmont sedan and after that got rear ended he bought a 83 futura sedan we also had a blue wagon parts car on the side of the house I’d play in and pretend I was driving all were the 200ci six cylinder those cars will always hold a soft spot in my mind and my heart
Love this! It was a great car to learn how to drive in
I think this is one of the best Car Tales ever made, besides Saturn and Taurus. How do you make the cars look so polished and MOVE at the same time? It’s really beautiful. Very underrated channel.
The Ford Fairmont looked great, one of the last giant boxy cars that “The Deuce” Henry Ford II wanted…before the 1983 Thunderbird and 1986 Taurus, however those were also based on the Fox body platform just like Fairmont was!
Awesome content as always:) my dad has nothing but fond memories of his Fairmount. Factory ordered v6 (with the handling package) 4spd manual, black with tan interior. He's always said it was damn near taxi spec but he loved it.
As mentioned before, the first car in my custody was a brown 1978 Ford Fairmont Futura, with the 200 CID 6 and automatic. It got the job done, and carried me through my high school and early college years.
You've done it again, another great video on a car that people don't usually give respect for. Thank you for all the work you put into these.
My first experience with this car, was a forgotten auto-repair videogame called "Gearhead Garage". It was a wagon and you could repair/sell the car, which is the way to win the game.
Now I have to make my own effort: gotta 3D model a Futura coupe and wagon.
Tofer your videos are great 😊 ! The Ford Fairmonts were very popular back in the day . My parent's drove a 76 Dodge Aspen sedan which was a good car but the Fairmont was night and day compared to the Aspen/Volares . Keep up your great work Tofer .
A pre-Christmas treat, another Tofer's Car Tales video. Merry Christmas from the UK. 😀
My '79 Zephyr ES makes for a great "what is that?" car to bring to shows, yet almost all the Fox Mustang performance parts fit, and I've swapped all the running gear for aftermarket Mustang stuff. When I was a kid around 1981, I remember we wanted a Fairmont wagon in the worst way. We couldn't find a used one we could afford though.
My first new car purchase in 1978 was the 1978 Ford Futura. I was only 18 years old but had been working for two years, saving as much money as possible. My parents actually offered to meet my savings dollar for dollar as they really thought it best that I buy a new car with a factory warranty, instead of a used unknown problem car.
So with cash in hand, I walked to the local Ford dealership where I found my Futura in all its glory on the showroom floor.
Black exterior with red interior. I was very happy that this Futura had the 302 2bbl V8, which sadly had, I think, maybe 125 hp? Hahaha 😁
Anyway, I purchased the car with cash, which saved me as I was able to get a discount for buying cash only, giving me enough money left after the purchase to fill the gas tank 😅😅
Pretty decent car. However, it was cursed with electronic ignition issues and carburetor problems as well. The car was at the service department many times during its first year! Good car when it worked, but unfortunately, many times, it just really never ran that good. That 302 V8 was so dogged with smog devices, and even after I had a dual exhaust system installed on it after it was out of warranty, it still never ran that good. After two years, I finally traded it in on another new car in 1980. That car was a 1980 Chevy Camero and much better running car than the Futura.
But the Futura holds a special place in my heart as my very first new car purchase.
Fox body still serves me well in a 99 Mustang - the 'fox 4' New Edge. Handles quite good particularly given it's ancient roots in the old Fairmont.
Thanks for the A1 content. I love these utilitarian fox body Fairmonts
Yeah, I'd always half expected Tofer was AI! 😂
This was very much worth the wait!! Great video Tofer!
I used to own a 1980 Ford Fairmont I loved that Wagon. I Hooked Up Mustang Five Star Wheels on and it was pretty Fast. The Ex Owner had hooked up a 89 Mustangs 5.0L eng. With a 5 speed tray and mustang rear differentia. It was so reliable I drove to NY from Florida Many times I never had it towed 😊❤❤❤
Another perfect video!!! Thank you!!!!
I still remember the Mercury Marquis (the smaller fox Marquis) Ads for 1983 and 1984 Fully loaded $9,999!
So glad to see a Tofer's Car Tales video in my feed! I had a '78 Ford Fairmont, it was underwhelming basic transportation and showed all the signs of a rush job. Those were challenging times for Ford and the U.S. Auto Industry.
Thanks for This Video and Thanks for All Your Creative Work Just Awesome. For My Self I Foxbody Cars I Owned a 1979 Mustang 4 cyl. and Then a 1979 V8 Mustang L then a 1982 Mustang GT 5.0L with Sunroof Then got a 1984 Mustang GT350 with the 2.3L Turbo eng. After that got a 1987 Mustang GT Conv't. Kept it for 31 years the most reliable car i ever owned. Also had a 1980 Ford Fairmont Wagon V8 5.0 and a 1981 Ford Thundetford Foxbody Coupe ❤❤❤🚗🚕🚗😊
My grandma bought a light blue Fairmont in 1983 and lasted until about 95 or 96. It was the first car i drove.
I did my driver’s ed training in a 79 Fairmont! It had duel brake peddles, one for the student driver and one for the instructor.
Your videos are always a treat. My mother got in an accident with our ‘75 Maverick, and the insurance company got her a brand new Fairmont as a loaner car. Automatic, 4 door, AC, with green metallic paint. I was sad when we got our candy apple red lead sled back.
Well, that was really good, classic Tofer style & storytelling! =) Happy Christmas from a hot Canberra everybody.
Merry Christmas my friend from a chilly Texas!
As always top notch job thank you for great videos. The Futura is my favorite. Love how you listed all fox body models launched from the beginning of fairmont
I'm old and owned a few Fairmonts way back great cars 6 Banger CR auto trans,same as Falcon
here's my memory of those cars" yep that's as fast as it goes" and always have a large screwdriver or best to stock spare starter solenoid and power steering fluid at all times
Wow! Great video!!! I always look forward to your videos! Thank you!!
Learned how to drive in my mom's Fairmont station wagon.
I've read that Hal Sperlich originally proposed the Fox platform be FWD, but HF II and Iacocca demanded it remain RWD. Fairmont was outdated as soon as the GM X cars debuted.
Crazy In The Night
and
Interplanet Janet !
Awesome
Still the car I miss from all the cars I've owned. Gutless in-line 6 and all. Mine was a 1980 Zephyr Z7, a basket car.
Yep i love my 1983 last year for the 3.3l first year for the ltd foxbody❤
i love your videos best on youtube
I owned a couple of these, a 78 and and 82. I had the "boat anchor" straight 6 - probably 26 mpg or so on the highway. As I recall, I paid about $7200 (plus tax, title, fees) for the car.
What about the little LTD sold between 83 and 86? I was born in 94 so I wasn’t around at that time, but I guess I always thought the little LTD was also based on the fox body platform because I remember a motor week retro thing I saw on UA-cam that did an 86 lineup of the Ford vehicles for that model year and they talked about theFord LTD being sold alongside the Taurus so I guess I always figured the LTD was like a continuation of the Fairmont, but maybe I’m wrong on that. And if so, wouldn’t the little LTD be an even more overlooked vehicle than the Fairmont itself?
they just changed the front , back ends and the interior and called them LTD till the Taurus came out and the Panther LTD changed to Crown Victoria which turned out to be the only thing Ford made that was really solid back then and sold that platform for many years.
@ I actually do have a panther crown Victoria, but it is a little newer. It is a 1994 model, and it seems to be a pretty solid car.
well deserved review
You always do a very thorough look at your automotive subject.
Please consider the Toyota Corolla as a future study.
I mostly liked my 1980 Fairmont.
I have those same exact couch cushions
Anytime I hear “Fairmont”, I think of EricTheCarGuy lol
We called it the Unfairmont!
Bumpers by this time weren’t so ridiculously large.
Well, the problem with that gen Fairmont is its "son" - the Taurus, which proved to be very radical for its days. So its predecessor was "destined" to be forgotten (unfortunately; compared to GM A/G cars Fox body sedans and wagons proved to be superior in handling and never had so many quality issues).
One major error in this video - Fox body had not Cortina, but Granada steering and suspension components. Ford Cortina has always been smaller, Pinto-sized car.
The only thing I remember about the Fairmont. I tboned one with my Suzuki 450 he pulled out in front of me. Took me a year to get over it. I hit him at about 50mph bending his car in half.
I bought my first NEW Car art age 18 The 80 Cougar XR-7 LOADED V8 2 tone White over Bitter sweet with the THICK padded half Vinyl Roof in Bitter Sweet. Fetching color combo. and then later acquired the 1984 Thunderbird LOADED White over Red and a 1983 Mustang GT CONV.Red over Red with a white Conv. TOP. 5.0 H.O. LOADED, So I guess I had a Few. FOX’s in my Den. But coming from the 70’s I felt the cars from the 80’s very Toyish with all the plastics used.
Ford should bring back the Fairmont.
I owned a four-door Fairmont with a 6 cylinder engine. My wife drove it. My brother bought a Futura. Both great cars. Later I bought a used LTD with a powerful six cylinder engine. I loved all those cars.
I didn't know the Fairmont was offered as a pickup.
one of the weirder variants of the Fairmont which was the mercury cougar station wagon. I was forced to drive one in high school when my mother realized it was too slow for her to drive herself to work and she would be taking my fine 1975 Chrysler Cordoba (of course it had burgundy Corinthian leather) to work… you have done a good job explaining the importance of these vehicles and why you are attached to them but I really did not like that “cougar”.
Did your cordoba have a 360 or a 400 lol
Falcon-Maverick-Fairmount.
We had the same living room growing up I think. What will become of us Gen Xers?
Was there ever a fox body mustang with a bench seat?
I remember reading a review of a book that featured a Ford Fairmont and the driver was a spy driving around the Soviet Union. But I cannot remember what the book was and I would like to read it. Anyone have any idea? I remember the review said the spy "saved the world in a Ford". By the way I had a 1978 Fairmont sedan I inherited from my aunt who wanted a Chevy Citation. So glad she did not buy that one. The engine (eventually burned oil) and the finish (every time I washed the car the cloth turned burgundy) were weak spots.
Like Ford Cortina/ Taunus in Europe.
One for sale, wagon looks clean Orlando off obt
Fairmont...Another Better Idea...(click!)...from Ford.
Womderful qiality video. The only thing i dont like about the Fairmont is you could see how thin the shertmetal was 50 feet away.
The Fairmont was by far the worst car that I've ever owned. Within 2 years (it was 8 years old when I bought it, but in excellent shape), The door latches were failing, it wouldn't start in cold/damp weather, and the last straw was a brake line failing. Horrible car.