Cars

Ford muscle car is so rare and forgotten you’ll never see it on the road

  • This old Ford relic really is a ghost of auto past
  • The car will hardly be seen on roads due to its rarity
  • But the muscle car was hiding a surprise under the hood

Published on Feb 22, 2025 at 11:00 PM (UTC+4)
by Grace Donohoe

Last updated on Feb 21, 2025 at 12:27 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Kate Bain

This Ford muscle car is so rare and forgotten that it will likely never be seen on the road again.

The 1966 Ford Fairlane 500 r-code debuted during the swinging sixties.

There were only ever 57 units produced.

And while it may look unassuming from the exterior, it hid a stunning secret under the hood.

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This Ford is an important piece of auto’s past

When the car was made in the 1960s, it was designed with racing front of mind.

With just 57 units ever produced, the 1966 Ford Fairlane 500 r-code took rarity to a whole new level too.

Not only were there just 57 made, but the car proved pretty unpopular when it was first delivered.

With that in mind, there’s a high chance that you’ve not seen once cruising down side streets.

Ford muscle car is so rare you'll never see it on the road
Wikimedia Commons

Amazingly, in the 50s, muscle cars weren’t all that popular

In the 1950s, muscle cars weren’t all that popular.

Because of this, the Fairlane was actually destined to be structured like a sedan, according to TopSpeed.

Sedans were a sought-after spec – with an ultra rare one from the 1930s even found in a Virginian barn.

Taking the Sedan mission into account, it blossomed into a more midsize car in 1962, before changing again a few years later.

That is when the muscle car beauty that is the Fairlane 500 R-Code got its second wind.

Ford muscle car is so rare you'll never see it on the road
Jack Snell, Flickr

From the outside, the car looked unassuming.

Ford decided to adorn its machines in a ‘Wimbledon White’ colour along with silver, steel wheels – lending further to its simple appearance.

While it may not have looked special, it certainly had something special under the hood.

Under the hood

It was fixed with a mighty FE series 427 V8 powerplant – which proved the muscle car meant business.

Plus, the engine rivalled others at the time too, including Dodge, by offering similar torque that fell only a little bit short of its competitors.

All this power was used for drag racing and even street driving, which was big among Ford enthusiasts.

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Grace started her career writing about the weird and wonderful for the international press. She's covered everything from lifestyle to sports and hard news and now finds herself pursuing her main interest - cars. She's loved cars from a young age and has a keen interest in luxury travel too.