Find or Sell Used Cars, Trucks, and SUVs in USA

Cream Puff 1981 Ford Fairmont Sedan Fox Body on 2040-cars

US $2,950.00
Year:1981 Mileage:75082 Color: Ford White; 9D /
 Blue
Location:

Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States

Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States
Advertising:
Transmission:Automatic
Body Type:Sedan
Vehicle Title:Clear
Engine:3.3 (200 CID) Inline 6 Cylinder
Fuel Type:Gasoline
For Sale By:Private Seller
VIN: 1FABP21B7BK143833 Year: 1981
Make: Ford
Model: Fairmont
Trim: Standard
Options: CD Player
Power Options: Air Conditioning
Drive Type: Rear Drive
Mileage: 75,082
Exterior Color: Ford White; 9D
Disability Equipped: No
Interior Color: Blue
Warranty: Vehicle does NOT have an existing warranty
Number of Cylinders: 6
Condition: UsedA vehicle is considered used if it has been registered and issued a title. Used vehicles have had at least one previous owner. The condition of the exterior, interior and engine can vary depending on the vehicle's history. See the seller's listing for full details and description of any imperfections.Seller Notes:"Excellent Used Condition"

Up for sale is a cream puff, 75,082 original mile 1981 Ford Fairmont. 

This car is in fantastic condition, excellent both in driving and running. One previous owner! This is an extremely reliable daily driver; all the necessary work has been done, just get in and drive it home or take it on a cross-country road trip!  From what I can tell, this car was originally purchased in Tennessee.  Eventually it made its way to Los Alamos, New Mexico where it stayed till the original owner passed.  The family then traded it in on a new Lexus.  Lexus of Santa Fe then sold the car to a local used car dealer, where I found and purchased it.

It is powered by the classic Ford combination of a 3.3 liter (200 cubic inches) inline 6 cylinder engine, backed by a C4 three-speed automatic transmission. Both the engine and transmission function as new.

The car feels extremely tight, pretty much like how I remember these cars felt like when new! I worked for Hertz Rent-a-Car back in the early Eighties and had the opportunity to drive many new Fairmonts back then.

NOTE:  This vehicle is for sale locally.  If sold locally before auction end, this listing will be ended.

Since buying this car in April of 2012, I have done the following:
-Complete tune-up, consisting of new spark plugs, new spark plug wires, new distributor cap, new rotor, along with timing the ignition for this altitude (7,000 feet above sea level).

-New professionally installed and adjusted remanufactured factory correct carburetor.

-New professionally installed fuel pump.

-New professionally refurbished brake system, consisting of new front brake rotors and wheel bearings, new master cylinder, new rear wheel cylinders and brake drums, adjusted parking brake. The existing front brake pads and rear brake shoes were in excellent condition, so they were kept.

-New AutoZone battery.

-Refurbished OEM radiator, with new coolant hoses.

-Replaced/repaired all engine emissions vacuum lines. All emission equipment is present, although I do not know if it will pass a smog test.

-New heater core installed with new heater hoses.

-Installed a used Mustang steering shaft due to a problem with the original rag joint. Many FOX body Mustang parts fit this car, including the complete suspension and engines, as the Fairmont is the mother of all Ford FOX vehicles.

-Sourced out the missing radio/CD player face plate and carrying case. For you audiophiles out there, this Clarion Pro-Audio DXZ714 50 watt x 4 head-unit is a high-end unit ($365 cost when new in 2002), with 6 pre-amp outputs, so you can install a four-channel amp, along with a subwoofer amp. It sounds fantastic with the 3-1/2 inch 1980s MB Quart front speakers and a pair of Sony Xplod 6x9s in the rear. Installing some better quality rear speakers along with some mid-range, tweeters, and cross-overs would do wonders for the sound.

-Sourced out missing factory wheel covers.

-New WeatherTech premium front floor mats (the best out there!).

-The original paint was rubbed out, sealed, and hand waxed.

-Blue cloth and vinyl interior in good shape. There is some vinyl cracking on the front seat, and some slight pulling of the cloth on the driver's side of the bench seat.  Dash pad is cracked but brand new ones are available from FOX Mustang parts suppliers. White spots on driver's seat are sunlight dazzle, not stains.

ISSUES:
-Currently, the factory A/C isn't working. For it to function, you would need a minimum of a new compressor and a dryer/receiver; about $200 mail-order, plus shipping, plus labor to install, plus re-charging fees.

-Occasionally there is a hot soak problem with the new carburetor during periods of hot weather.  Gasoline percolates up out of the fuel bowl through some air bleed holes in the carburetor air horn and floods the intake manifold.  From what I have read on various car forums, this seems to be a common problem with the OEM #1946 Holley carburetor.  Despite this occasional problem, I have been able to re-start the car by slowly fully depressing the throttle and starting.  It will stumble for a few seconds due to the excessive fuel but will clear out.

-The carburetor choke might need a slight adjustment.

-Despite following the factory manual to a "T", when replacing the heater core, the plastic hook/monofilament that connects the automatic shift lever to the PRNDL pointer broke.  As such, when you move the transmission lever, the needle doesn't move.  Finding Park, Reverse, Neutral, or any forward gear isn't difficult; the car will "bump" slightly (either forward or reverse) as it goes into gear.

-There was some areas of surface rust on the lower outer body.  There is no rust-through.  On those areas the loose rust/paint was removed, sanded, treated with plasti-kote Rust Not Rust Convertor, primed, sanded, and top coated with the correct factory paint.

-There is a water leak during periods of heavy rain on the driver's side lower trunk area (not the carpeted area).  I haven't been able to find the leak, but believe it might be coming in from a bad taillight gasket.

-There is a slight shimmy at around 65 MPH; the car might need a slight alignment or tire balance.

-The headliner is sagging.  I tried to repair it but didn't have great luck in getting to stay attached to the OEM cardboard backer panel.

-As mentioned above, the dash pad is cracked, there are some small cracks on the center of the front seat vinyl, and some slight fabric pulls (will eventually separate) on the driver's seat cloth panel (3rd & 4th rib from left in photo).

-There is a slight rattle from underneath the car on bumpy roads.  I believe it is coming from the catalytic convertor heat shield.

IN CONCLUSION:
 For those needing an inexpensive, dependable family car that drives like new, this is a great car with many years left in it. The components that make up this car are durable, with no engine timing belts to break, no computers to fry, or "Check Engine" lights to come on. In the event that it does need work in the future, the parts are inexpensive, easy to find, and easy to repair. The only reason I am selling is that I wanted and got an older car to drive daily!

The winner of this auction will also receive 4 Bridgestone Blizzak snow tires (approximately 3 winter seasons left in them), a complete set of Ford factory repair manuals including Powertrain, Interior, Body, Emissions, Electrical, etc., some extra wheel covers, and the old OEM #1947 Holley carburetor.

This car is located in the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico (87507), has a clear New Mexico title in my name, is New Mexico registered, insured and driven!
If you have any questions, need additional photos, please feel free to contact me via the eBay mail system.  This vehicle is advertised for sale locally.  If sold locally before auction end, this listing will be ended.

PAYMENT & SHIPPING:
-Winning bidder is required to pay Deposit in the amount of $500 via PayPal only.
-Balance due within 7 days of auction close via cash (U.S. Dollars) in person or via Certified Cashier Check (from certified U.S. or Canadian bank) if vehicle is to be shipped.  Money Orders will not be accepted.
-"Buy It Now" buyers only: You have the option to make full payment via PayPal.

-Buyer is responsible for arranging and paying all costs associated with shipping.
-Vehicle will not be released for shipping till full payment is made.


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Auto blog

Ford cuts 950 Russian jobs on weak demand

Thu, 03 Apr 2014

The Russian auto market, in decline for the past year and further hit by the declining value of the ruble and recent sanctions over its annexation of Crimea, has forced Ford to cut jobs and shifts at two of its joint venture plants there. Around 700 of the 2,700 total workers who build the Russian-market Focus and Mondeo will be cut at the plant in Vsevolozhsk, near St. Petersburg as it drops to a single production shift. A second plant about 700 miles away in Yelabuga, in the Tartarstan region, will lose 250 workers. That plant builds seven vehicles, including the Explorer, Kuga and Edge.
The Moscow Times says Ford has been especially hit by the market decline, the overall market losing 5.5 percent in 2013 compared to the year before, but Ford sales dropping 18 percent in 2013 year-on-year. This year isn't going any better, with The Blue Oval posting a 21-percent decline through the first two months of 2014. That's why, though the Yelabuga plant builds the CUVs that customers are moving into, even it is facing cuts.
The job cuts in Vsevolozhsk come on top four-week plant shutdown planned so that the paint and body shops can go to one shift. In a statement, the company said, "Ford Sollers remains absolutely committed to the Russian market and is confident it has the right product plan, people and assets to deliver long-term profitable growth."

Ford recalls 9,900 vehicles across two campaigns

Tue, Dec 29 2015

Ford is recalling a total of 9,885 vehicles in two campaigns. The Basics: In one recall, Ford will recall 9,017 examples of the 2013 Escape with build dates from January 11, 2012, to April 1, 2013, and the 2013-2014 Focus ST produced between May 3, 2012, and October 14, 2013. The Problem: Splices in the engine wiring harness might not have enough compression, and this can cause the manifold absolute pressure sensor to send incorrect signals to the powertrain control module. This issue could cause the engine to stall. Injuries/Deaths: None reported. The Fix: Dealers will replace the current crimped splices with new splices, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. If You Own One: The repair campaign will begin on January 4, 2016. More Information: Ford recalled the 2013 Escape and Focus ST in August 2014 for the same problem, and this is an expansion of that campaign, according to company spokesperson John Cangany to Autoblog. The Basics: In the smaller of the two campaigns, Ford will recall 868 examples of the 2013 Explorer, Explorer Police Utility, Taurus, Taurus Police Interceptor, Flex, Lincoln MKS, and MKT. The Problem: The fuel delivery module can crack, which would cause a fuel leak. Injuries/Deaths: None reported. The Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel delivery module. If You Own One: Owners should receive notice soon because NHTSA's report says the recall begins in December. More Information: According to Cangany, this recall is an expansion of a campaign from 2013 for these vehicles. RECALL Subject : Engine Wiring Splices may cause Stall Report Receipt Date: DEC 02, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V813000 Component(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Potential Number of Units Affected: 9,017 All Products Associated with this Recall Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s) FORD ESCAPE 2013 FORD FOCUS 2013-2014 Details Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company SUMMARY: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured January 11, 2012, to April 1, 2013, and 2013-2014 Focus ST vehicles manufactured May 03, 2012, to October 14, 2013. Insufficient compression in the engine wiring harness splices to the Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor may provide incorrect signals to the powertrain control module (PCM). CONSEQUENCE: The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Ford’s Onboard Scales and Smart Hitch win the 2022 Autoblog Technology of the Year award

Thu, Dec 1 2022

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