1966 was a banner year for performance Ford enthusiasts. Prior to this year, the average Ford man had rather limited accessibility to "factory" race prepared drag cars. The 1963-1/2 lightweight Galaxies, the 1964 Thunderbolt Fairlanes and  "cammer" Mustangs, and '64-'65 Comets and Falcons, were among the more popular factory prepped race cars. The one thing all these cars had in common was that the factory made special modifications to permit the installation of the 427's. Not only were the cars expensive, Ford Motor Company wasn't selling them to anybody who walked in off the street. For the average drag racer, these cars were unobtainable. 1966 was the year that turned it all around. The newly designed Fairlane and Comet bodies would now accept the "FE" series engines. Finally the Ford drag racers got the break they needed. Even though the quantities of 427 Fairlanes were to be limited, anybody could put their own 427 into a Fairlane body. The popularity of the new Fairlanes was overwhelming. Drag strips quickly became populated with the new Fairlanes.
Most of the Fairlanes that found their way to the drag strips were powered by the 390 GT engines boasting 335 horsepower. But, 70 lucky Ford fanatics were honored with the privilege of running the factory produced 427 Fairlane. Each 427 Fairlane was equipped with the potent 427 high-riser, rated at 425 hp. at 6,000 rpm. A new cam gave the engine 480 foot/pounds at 3,700 rpm, which made it a natural performer on the street or strip. These cars were also factory equipped with a special heavy duty 9" rear axle with 31 spline shafts and nodular iron differential housing. Production line gearing was 3.89:1. Special handling shocks and springs, and front disc brakes were standard equipment. Rounding off the outer appearance was an all fiberglass hood with a functional scoop that was held in place by four hood pins. And of course, last but not least, the 427 fender emblems which gave the competition only a hint of the trouble they were in.
      Ford aimed its new Fairlane at both the strip and the street targets and was a winner at both. From its introduction in 1966 to the present, these 427 Fairlanes have earned their place among the greatest street/strip cars ever produced.