Rare K-Code Fairlane Found in Junkyard—with a Mustang Heart!

By Cameron Vanderhorst - September 11, 2019

A high-performance 289 engine, shared with the Mustang, originally found its home in the Fairlane.

To those of us well-versed on early Mustangs, the letter “K” has a special significance. If the fifth digit of the VIN – which denoted the engine – was a K, that meant that the Mustang in question was delivered with the high performance, solid lifter 289 cubic-inch V8.

What’s often forgotten in the Mustang history books is that that option wasn’t exclusive to the Mustang. In fact, it launched in 1963 on the Fairlane. Hot Rod inimitable Steve Magnante actually found one of these Fairlanes recently.

Unfortunately, the car he found wasn’t restored and well-loved at a car show, but rotting in a junkyard. Originally sold near Salt Lake City, Utah, this Fairlane was also ordered with a 3.89:1 rear axle ratio and a close-ratio four speed.

Interestingly, the car was also originally painted black from the factory, meaning that this Fairlane must have looked like one tough customer back in its day. Like the Mustang, K-code Fairlanes had an extra “HIGH PERFORMANCE” badge located above the “289” chevrons on the front fenders.

The K-code 298 was good for 271 horsepower, with a notoriously high-revving character that made it a terror on the streets, on drag strips, and on road courses all over America. Highlights of the K-code engine included high compression (10.5:1), dual exhausts, a four barrel carburetor, an upgraded distributor and brakes, and a beefy 9-inch rear axle.

This was heady stuff in 1963. With the GTO and the Mustang a year or so away, this was one of the hottest midsize cars on the street. In fact, many cars in that class only offered a six-cylinder engine, while the few that did offer V8s were dozens of ponies shy of the mighty 271 horsepower offered by the K-code Fairlane.

Unfortunately, this car has not lived an easy life. While it’s largely rust-free, many of the original parts are missing, meaning that a numbers-matching restoration is off the table. Still, for a car as rare and special as this, we hope it finds a home with someone that will return it to its former glory.