The Ford Fairmont is a compact car produced by Ford for the North American market for the 1978 to 1983 model years. The debut of the Fairmont and its Mercury Zephyr counterpart marked the launch of the long-running Ford Fox platform that would underpin twelve additional models and stay in production until 1993. Offered in a variety of body styles, the Fairmont succeeded the Ford Maverick, and was replaced by the front-wheel drive Ford Tempo for the 1984 model year.
Video Ford Fairmont
Background and development
In April 1973 the American EPA released its comprehensive list of fuel economy results. In October of the same year the 1973 oil crisis started. At the time Ford's North American product line included the subcompact Pinto and Mustang II, and the compact Maverick, but replacements for all of these models would soon be needed. At the same time Ford of England's Cortina line was in need of refreshing, as was the Taunus model built by Ford of Germany.
Changes were also happening at Ford's executive level, as William O. Bourke, ex-chairman of Ford of Europe and one-time managing director of Ford of Australia, was made executive vice president of North American Operations and Robert Alexander, previously with Ford of Europe as vice president in charge of car development, moved to same position in the States.
Hal Sperlich was vice-president of Product Planning and Research at Ford. A proponent of downsizing, Sperlich conceived of a "World Car" that could be sold in both Europe and North America as a solution to the needs of the various divisions.
In December 1973 Ford President Lee Iacocca formally approved development of Fox platform. The name of the platform was borrowed from the Audi 80, sold in the US and Australia as the Audi Fox. Ford's European executives, many now back in the States, considered the 80 their class-leading subcompact competitor and made it the baseline reference for the new platform.
Although the Fairmont would be the first Fox-based car to reach the market, development was guided by an anticipated sport coupe to be based on the new platform.
Development started in early 1973 on both a short-wheel base version to replace the Pinto/Cortina/Taunus lines and a long-wheelbase version that would become the Fairmont. By 1974 the difficulties faced in meeting the conflicting regulatory requirements in different markets and differing production methods used by the various divisions had killed world car idea. In 1975 North American Automobile Operations took over development of the Fox platform from Sperlich's Product Planning and Research group.
The first running Fox/Fairmont prototype was a modified Cortina with a MacPherson strut and torsion bar front suspension.
A Fairmont Futura coupe built on 15 November 1977 at the Mahwah, New Jersey factory was the one-hundred millionth vehicle produced by Ford.
A 1980 Fairmont station wagon converted to an electric vehicle by Electric Vehicles Associates Inc. and renamed the EVA Current Fare Wagon was evaluated by the US Department of Energy from March 1980 to November 1981.
Maps Ford Fairmont
Model overview
The Ford Fairmont was launched in August 1977 as a 1978 model. The name had been used by Ford in 1965 for the Australian Fairmont, an upscale trim level model of the Ford Falcon (XP), and had also been used in the South African market in 1969.
Chassis specifications
The Fairmont's chassis is a rear-wheel drive steel unibody based on the Ford Fox platform.
The independent front suspension comprised lower lateral arms, MacPherson struts, and helical-wound coil springs. In what Ford called a modified or hybrid MacPherson strut system, the coil springs were mounted separately from the struts rather than concentrically, being located between the lower arm and front cross-member. A front anti-roll bar was standard equipment. The rear suspension used a solid axle suspended on coil springs and vertically mounted dampers. The axle was located by four links; two lower trailing arms and two sharply angled upper control arms.
The braking system was power-assisted, with 11.0 inch vented disks at the front and 9.0 x 1.8 inch drums in the rear. Standard wheels and tires were 14x5.0 and DR78-14 respectively.
Steering was by a rack and pinion system with 3.2 turns lock-to-lock.
Powertrain
The base engine was a 140 cu in (2.3 L) inline-4 also used in the Pinto. Offered throughout the Fairmont's production years, it initially produced 88 hp (66 kW), rising to 90 hp (67 kW) by 1983. This engine could be paired with either a 3-speed automatic transmission or a manual, with a 3-speed manual being offered in 1978 and a 4-speed thereafter. For 1980 a turbocharged version of the four-cylinder engine was available in Fairmont sedans and coupes. Also used in the Mustang Cobra, power output for this engine was 120 hp (89 kW). Fairmonts with the turbocharged engine were identified by a large add-on "power bulge" in the center of the hood. For 1981, the turbocharged engine was dropped.
A 200 cu in (3.3 L) inline-6 was also offered in all years. Shared with the Maverick and Granada, this engine produced slightly less power than the standard four-cylinder but significantly more torque. For 1978 only the six was paired with a 3-speed manual, with a 4-speed becoming the standard transmission for 1979; a 3-speed automatic was offered as an option from 1978 to 1983.
The same V8 used in the full-size LTD and Thunderbird was available in the Fairmont from 1978 to 1981. For 1978 and 1979 the V8 displaced 302 cu in (4.9 L) and produced 139 hp (104 kW). For 1980 and 1981 a 115 hp (86 kW) 255 cu in (4.2 L) V8 replaced the 302. Both V8 engines were paired exclusively with a 3-speed automatic transmission. For 1982 Ford stopped offering a V8 engine in the Fairmont.
Body design
The Fairmont debuted for 1978 with three body configurations; a two-door sedan, a four-door sedan, and a five-door station wagon. Later in the model year a fourth body style was introduced that revived the name Futura which was previously used for a sporty trim level on the Ford Falcon.
The Fairmont Futura was developed from a Fairmont-based Thunderbird design proposal from March 1976. The Futura was a two-door coupe distinguished by a model-specific roofline that featured a wrapover B-pillar similar to the 1977-1979 Ford Thunderbird but without opera windows. The rear fascia was also given its own taillamp design. To further differentiate the Futura from the standard Fairmont, the coupe was fitted with the 4-headlight fascia from the Zephyr, and a cross-hatched grille was used in place of the standard eggcrate grille. For the 1980 model year Ford expanded the Futura nameplate to include a four-door sedan and added a Futura station wagon for 1981.
For 1981 the exterior trim was revised, with the addition of a slim molding strip along the side. Convenience equipment was also increased.
For 1982 the entire Fairmont model line was consolidated to the Futura trim level. Along with the appearance of a Futura two-door sedan, the four-headlight front fascia became standard. The Fairmont station wagon was withdrawn, and a station wagon was added to the Granada model line.
For 1983 the standard-trim Fairmont Futura two-door and four-door sedans returned as the S model. This value-priced model had selected equipment deleted, and was only available with the 2.3 L 4-cylinder engine.
Discontinuation
During the early 1980s Ford undertook a major revision of its product ranges. In its compact and mid-size range Ford began to phase out many of its Fox-platform cars in favor of front-wheel drive vehicles. 1983 was the final year of production of both the Fairmont and the Zephyr. For the 1984 model year the Fairmont was replaced by the smaller Tempo.
The Fairmont was one of only two 1983 Ford vehicles, along with the Ford Thunderbird, to not receive the Ford Blue Oval emblem being reintroduced in North America.
Mercury Zephyr
From 1978 to 1983 the Lincoln-Mercury division of Ford sold a version of the Fairmont as the Mercury Zephyr. The name recalls the Lincoln-Zephyr line of the mid to late 1930s and the English Ford Zephyr of the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s. The Zephyr was offered in the same four body styles as the Fairmont, including a version of the coupe sold as the Zephyr Z-7.
The Zephyr was distinguished from the Fairmont by its non-functional front fender vents, vertically-slatted grille, and horizontally-ribbed taillamps. All Zephyrs had quad headlamps. Beginning in the 1980s Mercury promoted more luxurious models at the Zephyr's expense. For 1980 the Fox-based Cougar XR7 was introduced. For 1981 the Monarch was replaced by an expanded range of Cougar body styles shared with the Ford Granada on the Fox platform. For 1982 the Zephyr line lost both its V8 engine option and the station wagon model, which was added to the Cougar line.
The Zephyr was replaced by the Mercury Topaz for 1984.
Variants
Ford Durango
The Ford Durango was produced by a joint venture between Ford and National Coach Corporation in 1981. Based heavily on the Fairmont Futura coupe, the Durango was a two-door, two-seat car-based pickup truck that was intended as a possible replacement for the 1977-1979 Ford Ranchero as well as a competitor to the downsized Chevrolet El Camino/GMC Cabellero. Approximately 200 are estimated to have been produced.
European Sport Option
The European Sport Option was an appearance and suspension package offered beginning in 1978. It is abbreviated "ES Option" or "ESO". Exterior changes included a black grille, black cowl grille, deluxe bumpers, black window frames, black exterior mirrors, black C-pillar ventilation louvers, bright belt moldings and turbine wheel covers. The interior featured black carpeting, a black three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel, black instrument panel with gray engine-turned trim and chamois-colored seats. The running gear was modified with stiffer springs, re-valved shocks, and a rear anti-roll bar. The ESO mounted DR78-14 radial tires on 5.5 inch wheels, one half inch wider than stock.
Police and Taxicab packages
In 1978 Ford also made available specially prepared Fairmonts suitable for use as police cars and taxicabs. Initially the only engines offered for these applications were the 200 cubic inch inline six or the 302 V8. Ford's product literature lists the following special features for both packages:
- Automatic transmission with first-gear lockout
- Externally-mounted transmission oil cooler
- Power brakes
- Heavy-duty body construction with extra reinforcements
- Heavy-duty suspension package (Police or Taxi), including higher-rate springs, hardened spindles, special shocks and struts
- Cooling package with high fin-density radiator
- Heavy-duty 14 x 5.5 inch wheels
In later years the naturally-aspirated 2.3L inline four engine became available as well.
A few turbo four-door automatic sedans were used for testing by the California Highway Patrol.
Mexico, Central and South America
Mexico
The Ford Fairmont was introduced in Mexico in late 1977 as a 1978 model, replacing the Ford Maverick that was produced there locally. The Mexican Fairmont was available exclusively with the 5.0 L engine (302) with manual and three-speed automatic transmissions. It was offered as a two- or four-door sedan and a wagon. The Futura coupe with its distinctive Thunderbird-style roofline was never offered in Mexico. Instead there was an uplevel two-door sedan called the Fairmont Elite. It was distinguished from other Fairmonts by its higher level of equipment and vinyl roof. It used the four headlight grille from the Fairmont Futura along with the Mercury Zephyr's taillamps and rear quarter window louvers. For 1981, all versions of the Fairmont got four headlights. The regular Fairmont continued to use the Futura grille while the Fairmont Elite used the Mercury Zephyr grille.
In 1982 the Fairmont Elite was renamed the Ford Elite II, and was offered in both two- and four-door sedans. The Elite II used the entire front end and matching rear bumper from the 1982 North American Ford Granada. The base Fairmont adapted the Mercury Zephyr grille used on the previous Elite.
For 1983, the Fairmont received a new 3.8 L Essex V6 engine which was sold in addition to the existing V8. This was the last year of the Fairmont as it was replaced later by the Ford Topaz which was a hybrid assembly of the Mercury Topaz with a Ford Tempo front end.
Venezuela
A version of the Fairmont was manufactured in Venezuela where it was sold as the Ford Zephyr.
Reception
Contemporary reviews were generally favorable, with many commenting on the "European" feel of the car and comparing it to the Volvo 200 series.
The 1978 Fairmont has been called the "most efficient Ford family (sedan) ever built from a space-per-weight perspective."
Motorsports
In 1978 Bob Glidden campaigned an NHRA Pro Stock Futura powered by a Cleveland V8. The car won its debut race on 8 July 1978 at the Edgewater Winston Championship Series, where it also set a national record. Additional wins followed at the NHRA Grandnational, U.S. Nationals, Fall Nationals, World Finals and Beech Bend WCS. Glidden won his third national championship title with the car. The Futura was retired at the end of the 1978 season.
See also
- Ford Fox platform
References
External links
- Stuart's Ford Fairmont Futura and Mercury Zephyr Z7 Website - Enthusiast's personal page
- FourEyedPride.com - The Early Fox Site - A resource for all early Fox platform cars
Source of article : Wikipedia
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