Ford Fairmont
Encyclopedia
The Ford Fairmont is a compact car
produced by Ford Motor Company
for the North American
market. Introduced for the 1978 model year, the Fairmont was produced in several bodystyles until it was replaced by the Ford Tempo
for the 1984 model year. The Fairmont was the successor to the Maverick
; its Mercury counterpart was the Mercury Zephyr
, which replaced the Comet
.
The Fairmont and Zephyr marked the introduction of the long-running Ford Fox platform
, used for a wide variety of later models. Those most closely related to the Fairmont included the 1980-1982 Ford Thunderbird
, the 1981-1982 Ford Granada
, the 1979-1993 Ford Mustang
(and 1979-1986 Mercury Capri), and the 1982-1987 Lincoln Continental
.
with an upswept central roof band, borrowed from the larger Ford Thunderbird
of the same time period, originally inspired by the 1955 Ford Crown Victoria
. The Fairmont was a stunning success for Ford; the 1978 model set the record for production of a new model, eclipsing the record held by the 1965 Mustang
. While retaining a conventional rear-wheel drive platform, the Fairmont was efficiently packaged and offered excellent passenger and cargo room for its size. Contemporary reviews uniformly praised the Fairmont and it was favorably compared with contemporary Volvo
and BMW
models. Rack-and-pinion steering gave the Fairmont much better handling and roadability than its Maverick predecessor and despite its roomier interior, lightweight components were used which gave the Fairmont better fuel economy than the Maverick.
The front fascia of the Fairmont differed from that of the Mercury Zephyr at the time of introduction. While the Zephyr always had four headlights, the Fairmont had only two, with the exception of the Futura coupe. As part of a minor facelift for the 1981 model year, the entire Fairmont lineup received the four headlight treatment as well.
A wide variety of engines and transmissions were available, including a 2.3 L OHC inline-4 and a 3.3 L Falcon Six inline-six. Two V8s were available - the 255 cubic-inch (introduced in 1980, which was the 302ci with a smaller bore) and the 302 cubic-inch - that were borrowed from the LTD and LTD II. Transmissions included three- or four-speed manuals
and the more commonly ordered three-speed automatic
. A turbocharged four-cylinder carbureted 2.3 L engine from the Mustang line was offered in 1979 and 1980. A few turbo four door automatic sedans were used for testing by the California Highway Patrol.
In 1981, a second generation of the Granada
was introduced. Sharing the Fox platform with the Fairmont, it was positioned as a premium model while the latter took on a basic, entry-level role. A year later, the station wagon model was moved to the Granada lineup.
For 1983, in a major shift in the Ford model lineup, the Granada nameplate was discontinued while the car itself underwent a minor facelift and took on the LTD nameplate. 1983 would be the last year for the Fairmont, still produced as a 2-door notchback sedan, 2-door (Futura) coupe, and 4-door sedan (also available as a Futura), but became one of the last Ford vehicles not to carry the iconic Blue Oval logo, which returned on most vehicles in the 1982 model year. As Ford switched to lighter, more aerodynamic cars with front-wheel drive, the Fairmont was replaced by the Tempo for 1984.
Compact car
A compact car , or small family car , is a classification of cars which are larger than a supermini but smaller than or equal to a mid-size car...
produced by Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
for the North American
North American
North American generally refers to an entity, people, group, or attribute of North America, especially of the United States and Canada together.-Culture:*North American English, a collective term used to describe American English and Canadian English...
market. Introduced for the 1978 model year, the Fairmont was produced in several bodystyles until it was replaced by the Ford Tempo
Ford Tempo
The Ford Tempo is a coupe/sedan car model that was produced by Ford Motor Company for model years 1984 to 1994. It was a downsized successor to the boxy Ford Fairmont that introduced "jellybean" styling, which would later be shown on the larger 1986 Ford Taurus. and was replaced in 1994 by the...
for the 1984 model year. The Fairmont was the successor to the Maverick
Ford Maverick (North America)
The Ford Maverick was a compact car manufactured from April 1969-1977 in the United States, Canada, Mexico and from 1973-1979 in Brazil — employing a rear wheel drive platform dating to the original 1960 Falcon...
; its Mercury counterpart was the Mercury Zephyr
Mercury Zephyr
The Mercury Zephyr is a compact car sold by the Lincoln-Mercury division of Ford Motor Company for the North American market. Introduced as a replacement for the Mercury Comet, it was produced from 1978 to 1983...
, which replaced the Comet
Mercury Comet
The Mercury Comet is an automobile produced by the Mercury division of the Ford Motor Company from 1960–1969 and 1971-1977 — variously as either a compact or an intermediate car.The Comet was based on the compact Ford Falcon and later the Ford Maverick...
.
The Fairmont and Zephyr marked the introduction of the long-running Ford Fox platform
Ford Fox platform
The Ford Fox platform is a rear wheel drive, unitized-chassis, automobile architecture used by Ford Motor Company in North America. Introduced for the 1978 model year, it would go on to be produced until 1993 in its original version; a substantial redesign of the Ford Mustang in 1994 extended its...
, used for a wide variety of later models. Those most closely related to the Fairmont included the 1980-1982 Ford Thunderbird
Ford Thunderbird (eighth generation)
1980 saw a new downsized Thunderbird that was an upmarket derivative of the Ford Fairmont sedan with nicer trim. The 1980 Thunderbird was a unibody car, weighing 800 lb less than the 1979 model, and was 17 in. shorter...
, the 1981-1982 Ford Granada
Ford Granada (North America)
The Ford Granada was a mid-size car built and marketed by Ford Motor Company in North America from 1975–1982, along with its sister models, the Mercury Monarch, and Lincoln Versailles. The Granada was touted by Ford as a rival to the similarly sized Mercedes-Benz 280 of the time. The Granada and...
, the 1979-1993 Ford Mustang
Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. It was initially based on the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Introduced early on April 17, 1964, as a "1964½" model, the 1965 Mustang was the automaker's most successful launch since the Model A...
(and 1979-1986 Mercury Capri), and the 1982-1987 Lincoln Continental
Lincoln Continental
The Lincoln Continental is an automobile which was produced by the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company from 1939 to 1948 and again from 1956 to 2002...
.
Design
At the beginning of production, the Fairmont was sold as a two-door and four-door sedan along with a five-door station wagon. During the 1978 model year, the model line was supplemented by a specialty coupe with a different roofline known as the Futura, a name which first appeared in the Ford Falcon line 17 years before. The Fairmont Futura featured an unusual two-piece vinyl roofVinyl roof
Vinyl roof refers to a vinyl covering for an automobile's top. This covering was originally designed to give the appearance of a convertible to models with a fixed roof, but eventually it evolved into a styling statement in its own right. Vinyl roofs were most popular in the American market, and...
with an upswept central roof band, borrowed from the larger Ford Thunderbird
Ford Thunderbird (seventh generation)
For the 1977 through 1979 model years, the Thunderbird nameplate was shifted to the smaller 114" wheelbase chassis that underpinned the 1972-76 Ford Torino and its replacement, the concurrent 1977-79 LTD II, as Ford's first effort at downsizing the car. The squarer, sharper styling was popular, and...
of the same time period, originally inspired by the 1955 Ford Crown Victoria
1955 Ford
The Ford line of cars gained a new body for 1955 to keep up with surging Chevrolet, although it remained similar to the 1952 Ford underneath...
. The Fairmont was a stunning success for Ford; the 1978 model set the record for production of a new model, eclipsing the record held by the 1965 Mustang
Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. It was initially based on the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Introduced early on April 17, 1964, as a "1964½" model, the 1965 Mustang was the automaker's most successful launch since the Model A...
. While retaining a conventional rear-wheel drive platform, the Fairmont was efficiently packaged and offered excellent passenger and cargo room for its size. Contemporary reviews uniformly praised the Fairmont and it was favorably compared with contemporary Volvo
Volvo Cars
Volvo Car Corporation, or Volvo Personvagnar AB, is a Swedish automobile manufacturer founded in 1927, in Gothenburg, Sweden. It is owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. Volvo was originally formed as a subsidiary company to the ball bearing maker SKF. When Volvo AB was introduced on the Swedish...
and BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
models. Rack-and-pinion steering gave the Fairmont much better handling and roadability than its Maverick predecessor and despite its roomier interior, lightweight components were used which gave the Fairmont better fuel economy than the Maverick.
The front fascia of the Fairmont differed from that of the Mercury Zephyr at the time of introduction. While the Zephyr always had four headlights, the Fairmont had only two, with the exception of the Futura coupe. As part of a minor facelift for the 1981 model year, the entire Fairmont lineup received the four headlight treatment as well.
Powertrain
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
and the more commonly ordered three-speed automatic
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
. A turbocharged four-cylinder carbureted 2.3 L engine from the Mustang line was offered in 1979 and 1980. A few turbo four door automatic sedans were used for testing by the California Highway Patrol.
Discontinuation
Ford Granada (North America)
The Ford Granada was a mid-size car built and marketed by Ford Motor Company in North America from 1975–1982, along with its sister models, the Mercury Monarch, and Lincoln Versailles. The Granada was touted by Ford as a rival to the similarly sized Mercedes-Benz 280 of the time. The Granada and...
was introduced. Sharing the Fox platform with the Fairmont, it was positioned as a premium model while the latter took on a basic, entry-level role. A year later, the station wagon model was moved to the Granada lineup.
For 1983, in a major shift in the Ford model lineup, the Granada nameplate was discontinued while the car itself underwent a minor facelift and took on the LTD nameplate. 1983 would be the last year for the Fairmont, still produced as a 2-door notchback sedan, 2-door (Futura) coupe, and 4-door sedan (also available as a Futura), but became one of the last Ford vehicles not to carry the iconic Blue Oval logo, which returned on most vehicles in the 1982 model year. As Ford switched to lighter, more aerodynamic cars with front-wheel drive, the Fairmont was replaced by the Tempo for 1984.
See also
- Mercury ZephyrMercury ZephyrThe Mercury Zephyr is a compact car sold by the Lincoln-Mercury division of Ford Motor Company for the North American market. Introduced as a replacement for the Mercury Comet, it was produced from 1978 to 1983...
- Mercury equivalent - Ford DurangoFord DurangoThe Ford Durango is a 2-passenger coupe utility that was sold by Ford Motor Company in the early 1980s. Produced out of a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and National Coach Corporation of Los Angeles, California, the Durango was sold in 1981...
- coupe-utility pickup planned as Ford Ranchero successor. - Ford Fox platformFord Fox platformThe Ford Fox platform is a rear wheel drive, unitized-chassis, automobile architecture used by Ford Motor Company in North America. Introduced for the 1978 model year, it would go on to be produced until 1993 in its original version; a substantial redesign of the Ford Mustang in 1994 extended its...