Photos courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc. 

The lead photo is of a fourth generation 1964 Ford Fairlane "Baby Bolt" hardtop that has just 9,200 original miles. The Baby Bolt has the same 289 CI small-block V8 with 271-horsepower that powers the K-code Mustangs. This Fairlane is ready for some drag racing, as it's equipped with a four-speed manual trans, Detroit Locker rear end, tow hooks, Sun Super Tach, and gauges. The car has all its original sheet metal and wears almost all its original Burgundy paint. 

What’s in a name? In the case of the Ford Fairlane, quite a bit. Ford Motor Company Founder Henry Ford and wife Clara lived in an estate on Fair Lane near Dearborn, Michigan. Ford produced the Fairlane from 1955-1970. In this article, we'll look back at Ford Fairlane history across six generations.

Photos courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

Ford’s marketing team named the full-size Ford the Galaxie. This was an effort to capture some interest in the car with an association to the Space Race that held the attention of the U.S. during the 1950s and 1960s. For the 1959 model of the full-size Fairlane 500, the top of the line Galaxie name was added. The Fairlane models moved to an intermediate platform in 1962. Galaxie now encompassed the full-sized Ford offerings. Read on as we examine Ford Galaxie history across four generations from 1959-1974.