Long time hot-rodder, 1st time Wagon Owner

Hello everyone - after many years of wishing and talking about buying a wagon, I sold my '64 Impala SS convertible and bought a '69 Ford Fairlane station wagon. I found it on eBay in El Paso, TX and drove it 1000 miles to my home in KC. I've owned 2 El Caminos, 2 Novas, 2 Corvettes, the aforementioned Impala, and even a couple foreign hotrods (Porsche, BMW), but I really feel like the Fairlane Wagon is the car with which I have the closest connection. Being a child of the 60's, I spent my youth in some sort of wagon (Plymouth, Oldsmobile, Ford, and Chevy) - I always thought they were cool and now it seems like Wagons are getting their due respect. Anyway, I enjoy reading about the owners and their wagons - there's a lot of cool ones out there! I put the tires and wheels on it as soon as I got it home (had stock), as well as a new dual exhaust (Flowmasters) and aluminum radiator. Also put new water pump, timing chain and gears and carburetor on it - had some problems getting it home due to overheating and once I got into the tear down I found some other problems that needed immediate correcting. Winter plans are to do a complete suspension rebuild, lowering it 3" in front and 2" in the rear. I'll post more pics when that part is complete.

 

to the wagon train, scout. WOW....that wagon looks cherry! Nice score! Glad you found us and we hope you stick around as your work progresses on that beauty!

 

Welcome JRW, nice wagon. Pretty neat you were able to take it on a 1000 mile trip as soon as you got it. That says alot about how strong it is. I find it interesting that it's a Fairlane. I had thought that Ford switched all their midsize wagons to the Torino name in '69, but you learn something new everyday. I'm assuming the Torino must have been the more upscale one.

 

Welcome jrw looks like a great wagon!

 

jrw. Nice wagon, get intro. Keep us updated on your progress.

 

Welcome jrw....cool wagon, 351?

 

JRW , LOTS OF LUCK,WIH THE NEW RIDE

 

More info

Thanks everyone for the welcome! My wagon has a 302 and 3 speed automatic trans. Snooterbuckets - you are correct; the Torino is the higher trim level. My Fairlane does have power steering, front disc brakes and factory air that still blows cold! I also tinted the windows and added a hidden AM/FM/CD and some new speakers. The tailgate is the "magic" 2 way type that folds down like a truck and can also swing open from the side like a door. All the windows are crank-type. The previous owner put the Torino hood scoop on it which I think adds to the cool factor. I blacked out the grill after seeing a Torino Cobra Jet done like that - ties together the blacked out windows and wheels.

 

Did your car have a radio to start with or did you have to get creative hidding them?

My car is very basic. I have been thinking about hiding a radio in the glove, that part is easy. But the challenage is where to hide the speakers? I hope to keep her as orginal as possible so I don't want the speakers to show. Any ideas?

 

Fannie, the sound quality might not be the best, but you could mount a couple UNDER the dash, one on each side, facing down, and another couple under the front seat. Most speakers seem to do better in an enclosure, and I'm guessing there are small box-style speaker enclosures you can buy for that purpose.

 

WELCOME JRW. I don't know what a hotrodder is. But as long as you love cars, trucks, and wagons you'll enjoy being here.

 

I wanted to keep the dash looking stock, so I put the AM/FM/CD in the glove box. I put one speaker in the dash in the stock location on top and put the other under the front bench seat. The sound is just OK, but honestly I listen to the Flowmasters more than the radio!

 

Back in the late 80's I put one of those modern stereo/cassette players in the 55 wagon that looks stock. One duel speaker in original center dash, one each side in doors, one each side in far rear. I think it's been on 1/2 dozen times. I have Smithy mufflers which sound better than any other music I have.

 

Scout
i just sold my 69 Fairlane wagon....now i have Fairlane envy

thats purdy man

 

What a sweeeeeeeeeeeet ride !
Wagons' Hoooooooooo !