Everyone remembers the Fox-body Mustang, but Ford introduced the versatile platform on a modest family hauler, the Fairmont.
Based on Ford’s Fox platform, the 1979 Mustang rebooted the ponycar brand and became an enthusiast’s favorite. Fox Mustangs were produced in countless variations all the way through 1993, and all these decades later, they’re still a common site at local racetracks around the country. But the Fox platform actually made its debut one year earlier on a modest family sedan called the Fairmont.
While the Mustang used a 100.4-in wheelbase version of the Fox unit-construction platform, the Fairmont was slightly longer at 105.5 inches to suppport a range of family-friendly body styles. For the October 7, 1977 rollout, the lineup included two-door and four-door sedans and a four-door wagon, all sharing the same clean (if boxy) styling, modified MacPherson strut front suspension, and rear-drive live axle with coil springs.
Two months later on December 2, a sporty two-door coupe was introduced, the Fairmont Futura, with quad headlamps and a greenhouse borrowed from the luxury Thunderbird, a hot seller at the time (above). Ford even launched a joint advertising campaign for the two models, more than hinting that in the Futura, buyers could have a miniature Thunderbird.
But for the most part, Ford pitched the Fairmont as a practical, economical family hauler. The standard engine was the 2.3-liter Lima inline four with 88 hp, and initially, the transmission choices were limited to a three-speed manual and a three-speed automatic. The optional 200 CID inline six was rated at slightly less, curiously, with all of 86 hp. The most powerful engine, a 302 CID V8 with a two-barrel carburetor, offered 138 hp. There was a sport model, the ESO (European Sport Option), that was essentially a $300 handling and appearance package. Output remained unchanged.
Car and Driver magazine adored the Fairmont, praising the MacPherson-strut chassis and overall packaging, declaring, “Ford builds a Volvo, and it works.” The editors at Road Test were somewhat more reserved, put off by their test car’s rear wheels lifting off the ground under braking, but gave their thumbs-up. More importantly, buyers took a shine to the product. Ford was prompted to proclaim the Fairmont “the best selling new car ever introduced” in national print ads that also pictured the Model T, Model A, and the 1965 Mustang.
In its first year, the Fairmont sold more than 460,00 units, and more than 1.6 million were produced over a six-year run that ended in 1983. And while Ford product chief Hal Sperlich’s vision for a truly global vehicle platform was never achieved, the versatile Fox package found its way under a number of Ford, Mercury, and even Lincoln passenger cars in North America. By the way, Ford Australia produced a Fairmont from 1965 through 2008, but that was a different car.
The beginning of Ford coming out of the malaise hole, and starting to produce good cars again.
I had an 81 Mercury Zephyr, the cousin to the Fairmont, 2.3 litre 4-speed. Loved that car.
The 2.3 liter 4 having more hp than the 200 inch 6 sounds like a marketing ploy to get people to buy the Lima engine. The tooling costs for the six had been recouped many times over.
The 2.3L Lima 4 was rated at 88 hp at 4800 rpm and 118 lb-ft TQ at 2800 rpm. The 200 CID inline 6 was rated at 86 hp at 3600 rpm and 154 lb-ft at 1600 rpm. The six was a much older design, limited in rpm, but with 42 percent greater displacement it developed considerably more torque. Also, with six firing impulses per cycle the torque reversals would be considerably lower. Smoother, reduced NVH. The Lima 4 was a great little engine but here I might opt for the 6.
The red one on the first picture, with a 302-V8. Yes, I would like to have one.
I was employed at Northgate Lincoln Mercury in Tampa when these arrived on scene. The cars were very popular. Many Zephyrs were sold to folks who had looked at the Fairmont across the street at the Ford dealership. I was given the first Zephyr 2 door that arrived with the 302 V8 as a demonstration vehicle because no one wanted it. It was a blast to drive and I had to replace the right rear tire before I turned it in.
The Fairmont was the first Ford to use the FOX chassis. There’s no such thing as a fox BODY.
The word “chassis” implies a separate framework onto which the vehicle is assembled, which in this case doesn’t exist since it’s a unit body.
If one wanted to get even more pedantic they could argue that it should be referred to as the “Fox platform.” But “Fox body” seems to be what has entered the vernacular. Why not just accept that fact and enjoy this site’s content?
JRR,
I’ve got 40+ years in the auto industry, and I’ve been studying automotive history and technology longer than that. So yes, you could say I knwo the lingo. I am totally satisfied with all the facts and terminology in my story.
I assumed fox-body refereed to a body designed and built to go on a FOX chassis. I believe the earlier bodies were different.
My father bought a first-year Fairmont sedan, I don’t know which engine, and drove us from northern Vermont to Orlando and back in the summer of ’78. Seems like he didn’t have it that long after. Then in 1988, I bought a ’79 Capri (I know, but a close relative to the Fairmont) from my mother with the 2.3/4 speed. She tried to warn me that it went through oil, but I didn’t realize how bad it was, and the camshaft seized after I had it three weeks. Overall though, Ford really got their money’s worth out of this platform, and they were smart not to go head to head with GM’s X cars and jump into FWD before they were ready.
I had a 82? Granada, another version of the Fairmont. Bought it used, car had came from the Chicago area apparently as all the radio pushbuttons were set to Chicago area stations. Not a spec of rust, but some weird damage to the paint, acid rain perhaps? The car had the indestructible 250 I6, not a speed demon but plenty peppy even with the automatic transmission. It always felt light, decent ride but it sorta floated at highway speeds. Kept it for about a year then traded it in on a used Plymouth Voyager minivan to accommodate my two growing boys who were cramped up in the Granada.
Granada? That was the last of the Falcons, not a Fox. Unless there’s a later rendition that I’m not thinking of.
For the 1981 model year, Ford introduced a second generation of the Granada. Slotted between the Fairmont and the LTD in the Ford model line, the Granada was redesigned as a premium version of the Fairmont.
Thank you. Either forgot about the car, or it made no impression on me when it came out.