1968 Bagged and Blown ZA Ford Fairlane 500

If you are building a cruiser you need to think about size, bigger the better. They don’t come much bigger than the Fairlane 500, Warren Salgado’s Fairlane really stands out from the crowd. Warren first started looking around for an XA / XB Coupe to build in 2003. When he came across a completley un-wanted inherated Grandpa spec 1968 ZA Fairlane 500 so out the window went the want for a coupe and in rolled the ZA. The plans for the Fairlane where a restoration job take her back to her former glory.

Being that the car was an un-touched grandpa’s car the body was in great shape for it age. So off to DIY Smash Repairs for a nice new coat of paint, the original colour was a Tourquise green. Standing around in the panel shop Warren came across a House of Colour Paint catalouge. Flicking through he found a little paint colour called Kandy Violet and all of a sudden the whole project was about to take a massive turn.

...Flicking through he found a little paint colour called Kandy Violet …

After the car had been drapped in Kandy Violet it was obvious that the Fairlane was not gettting a simple resto job. Over the next 4 years every square inch of the car got some sort of attention.

Now that the car was looking so nice on the outside it was time for an upgrade on the inside. Unique Auto Interiors where inlisted to take the task of covering everything with a georgeous light tan leather. The interior was transformed with a taste full blend of original and custom parts. The orignal intrument cluster has been wrapped in leather and finished off with a Dragway Billet steering wheel.

The closer you look at Warren’s ZA the more you seem to find, neatley squeezed under the bonnet you find a very well presented 351 Clevo supporting a 161 B&M Low Blower. With the Blower ramming extra atmosphere into the 351 a set of 4 into 1 Pacmaker extractors conected to a 3” stainless steel exhaust helps dispose of those unwanted gasses. Backing up the 351 there is a C10 transmission with a TCE 2800 rpm stall converter turning a massive set of 20” rears Zenetti Chrome rims.

To get the body to wrap over those 20” wheels, suspension was the next challange. With a custom installation of airbag suspension this gave a practicle cruising hight and put it into the weeds once parked. With so many hidden features on this car it not only makes it practicle but a powerful show car all rolled into one !

"I really try to get the car out for a drive as much as possible, nothing better than a sunday arvo cruise with a few mates"

What’s Next? "I have been thinking of getting it up on a dyno to see what sort of power it is making but thats about all for now ".

Quick Specs

Warren Salgado
1968 Za Fairlane 500
Colour : Candy Violet
Occupation : IT Technician
Age : 27

ENGINE
Make : 351 Clevo
Carbie : 950 HP Holley
Exhaust : Stainless Twin 3”
Cooling : Alloy radiator, 16” thermo

TRANSMISSION
Gearbox : C10
Converter :TCE 2800 rpm Stally
Diff : Borge Warner 2.92 LSD

SUSPENSION & BRAKES
Shocks & Springs : Air Bags
Brakes : HQ Front Calipers and Disc’s, Ford Rear Drums

INTERIOR
Seats : Retrimmed in Light Tan Leather
Instruments : Standard
Dash : Retrimmed

RUBBER & RIMS
Tyres : Rear- 20* 10” Front - 20* 8”
Wheels : Zenetti

THANKS

Barney @ Hallam Performance, CVE Performance, DIY Smash Repairs and Unique Auto Interiors thanks for all your help..

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