1960 Ford Fairlane 500, Fordor sedan, Series 40, Model 58A, “Mayberry Police Car”
Original price: $3,295.00
On loan from: Don Sack, Dannebrog, NE
Previous owner: Mr. Sack is the original owner.
Number made: 153,234
Engine, etc.: V-8; 352 cu. in., 195 hp; 119” wheelbase; 3,710 lbs.; 63,000 miles on odometer
A 1960 Ford Fairlane police car appeared three times on the Andy Griffith television show which was on CBS from 1960 – 1968. Mr. Griffith played Andy Taylor, the sheriff of Mayberry, North Carolina, a fictional town. The Fairlane had a license plate of “DC 269”. In 1962 the show went to the Galaxy model with “JL 327” license plates.
Mr. Sack and his brother Kenny did a frame-off restoration about thirty-five years ago. The original color was white. The car’s only optional equipment is an AM radio.
The police equipment is period correct and once belonged to Dan Schenck, sheriff for 37 years of Howard County, based in St. Paul, NE. He used a 1964 Ford and retired in 1971.
The name Fairlane came from Henry Ford’s Fair Lane mansion in Dearborn, MI.
The Ford Fairlane was introduced in 1955 as Ford’s full-size model and was available in six body styles. The front bumper and grille were redesigned in 1958 and quad headlamps were used in the front and back. Models included a 2-door club sedan, a 4-door town sedan, a Victoria 2-door hardtop and a Sunliner convertible. A new “big block” 332/352 cu. in. V-8 replaced the 292 and 312 cu. in. V-8’s.
The 1960 Fairlanes were six inches longer, five inches wider and about 200 pounds heavier. The extra width allowed more shoulder, hip, and knee room. They comfortably held six people and were advertised as the lowest price full-size car available. They used regular gas and could go 4,000 miles between oil changes. The “Diamond Lustre Finish” never needed waxing .
Body style updates included straight A-pillars, smaller horizontal tailfins, and half-moon shaped tail lights in 1960 only. The look was sleek and futuristic, not relying as much as on the aviation influences of the past decade, but instead on the new obsession with the space age. Windshield wipers extended to cover more of the windshield. Ford also introduced the center rear fuel door lid.
The Fairlane was the base model in the full-sized line up which included the Galaxie, top-of-the-line Starliner, and the Country Sedan and Squire station wagon models..
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960_Ford
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Andy_Griffith_Show
http://www.classiccardatabase.com/specs.php?series=5601&year=1960&model=26578
https://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z7040/ford-fairlane-500.aspx (1962 Ford)
http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Ford/1960_Ford/1960_Ford_Brochure/1960%20Ford-12-13.html