What engines were available in the 1963 Ford Fairlane?
The 1963 Ford Fairlane offered a mix of economical inline-sixes and more potent V8s, with engine choice depending on trim and body style. In short, buyers could choose from 144, 170, and 200 cubic inch inline sixes or 221, 260, and 289 cubic inch V8s.
Inline-six options
For entry-level economy and everyday driving, Ford offered three inline-six engines in the 1963 Fairlane lineup.
- 144 cu in (2.4 L) inline-six
- 170 cu in (2.8 L) inline-six
- 200 cu in (3.3 L) inline-six
These six-cylinder options covered the lower end of the range and were common across base Fairlane models and some Fairlane 500 configurations.
V8 options
V8 power arrived in the Fairlane with several small-block options designed to balance performance with cost. The most common V8s included the 221, 260, and 289 cubic inches, available in various trims and with different transmissions.
- 221 cu in (3.6 L) V8
- 260 cu in (4.3 L) V8
- 289 cu in (4.7 L) V8
Beyond these, higher-end or performance-oriented configurations in some markets or option packages could feature larger FE-series engines, depending on the model and year. Availability varied by trim level and dealer stock.
Summary
In 1963, the Ford Fairlane offered a spectrum of engines from economical inline-sixes to a trio of V8s, with six-cylinder options (144, 170, 200) and V8s (221, 260, 289) forming the core lineup. Exact availability depended on trim and market, so buyers should check era brochures for the precise configuration by model year and body style.
