The Joker - Allen Hurley

The Ford Fairlane paved the way for Ford’s full-size sedan segment from 1955-1970 with several model variations available. One could order a two or fourdoor model, a station wagon or even a truck-style variant, and each them could be had with a host of engine options.

One of the more notable models is the Fairlane 500 two-door hardtop. They came with Ford’s “R-code” 427 and a top loader four-speed manual trans built to compete in NHRA Super Stock racing. These 500s are very rare today; only 57 of these beasts rolled off the assembly line in the mid-’60s, but many enthusiasts have built their own race-prepped version of the Fairlane, like Allen Hurley’s 1967 model.

“I’ve always had a passion for cars and remember stories my dad would tell about the cars he owned and how they worked on them every weekend, so I guess that probably started the ‘DRIP’,” Hurley explained. “Like most car guys/ gals I spent about every dollar I had on my first car – a 1986 four-eye Fox Body coupe – and I’m surprised I didn’t wash the paint off of it!”

The Fairlane’s racing lineage is clearly visible in this ad from 1967, but it’s doubtful anyone could have predicted anything close to what Allen Hurley created.

At a glance, Hurley’s creation does resemble a factory-bodied Fairlane, but that is pretty much where the similarities end...

Allen’s passion for power would grow along with his success in business, leading to his current 23-car stable, including everything from a Lamborghini Huracan to a 1974 AMC Gremlin! “We work out of our shop and build most of our cars with the guys in our circle and have been

racing for over 25 years,” he continued. “Our thing is building cars that look as original as possible but are real hot rods, it’s same for our race ‘street cars’. It takes a lot of extra work to pull it off but that’s just always been our thing.”

Interestingly, Allen bought this

Fairlane in perfect condition as a well-built Pro Tour inspired project. The car came complete with a 500hp big block Ford and originally he had no plans to drag race it, especially when that meant he would have to tear the car completely apart. That plan changed however, when Allen

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There’s just something about a big-bodied car with raked stance that draws attention. Musclecars of the sixties and seventies are becoming rare as it is, but seeing one built to this level is almost impossible. The factory body with slick custom oneoff paint give the Fairlane a personality all its own. “Our thing is building cars that look as original as possible,” says owner Allen Hurley, “It takes a lot of extra work to pull it off but that’s just always been our thing.”

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This Joker gets the last laugh

happened to run across a deal on a 700inch nitrous-ready motor, and it wasn’t long before the Fairlane was down to a bare shell.

Allen and his group of friends had previously built an 8-second quarter-mile 2006 Mustang street car so they had a pretty solid idea of what to do to the Fairlane, and when needed, he called on others such as Jack McCarty who is responsible for all of the cage and body modifications required to compete where Allen wanted the car to be. Jack had mentioned keeping a Ford motor in the Fairlane and the Coyote platform got thrown around in conversation;

“After a couple days the big block got put to the side and we changed the plan to a twin turbo Coyote build,” Hurley added.

Although the Fairlane remains a street car themed (and street legal) build, don’t be fooled into thinking that is a mildly built cruiser, when in fact it is an all-out track brawler capable of running well into the 7-second ¼-mile zone at almost 4,000 pounds!

Factory trim was used throughout the build along with a Ram Air style hood. Look close and you can just make out the twin turbos lurking behind the blacked-out grill. No wing for this warrior out back but the chute is required and necessary to slow over 3,800 pounds of metal down after 7-second passes at 180mph!

An all-out track brawler capable of running well into the 7-second ¼-mile zone at almost 4,000 lbs

A 7.50 25.5 certified cage was added for strength, safety and the ability for the heavyweight to meet stringent tech inspections on race day. Up front, a custom-fabricated Heidts Mustang II K-member positions the boosted Coyote between the frame rails and also allows the use of Mustang style suspension. The rear coilover setup suspends a Strange 9-inch rearend with 40-spline axles and 3.90 gears. The Ford rides on Weld Racing beadlocked 15x10s in the rear and 15x4.5s up front with Mickey Thompson radials on all four corners.

Bill Richards expertly applied the slick green paint referred to as “Voodoo,” because it’s a combination of Synergy Green and a secret primer for a true one-off look. To contrast the body, the Fairlane R-Code Ram Air style hood received a matte black finish and a black vinyl roof was installed.

A one of a kind exterior deserves something unique under the hood, and that’s

Almost all the factory interior was kept in place for the Fairlane build. A 25.5 certified cage snakes its way through the cockpit and race seats take up the space where a bench seat once was, while an FT600 dash relays all pertinent information to the driver.

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From left: Noah Hurley (son) Allen Hurley and Dale Minton.

where the Coyote platform comes into play. Proline Racing took care of Allen’s build, leaving no stone unturned. A stock Gen 1 block received Darton sleeves along with proprietary work for strength and longevity. Next, a heat-treated and

polished steel crank, billet Manley rods, and custom pistons create 305ci of modular muscle. A Modular Motorsports Racing block brace, billet crank gear, oil pump gear, and timing chain gears were added to the mix and Ford GT350

heads with titanium valves were o-ringed and ported by Proline. Cams are custom ground for the turbo application and a Modular Motorsport’s billet intake with built-in intercooler tops off the quad-cammed small block.

A Proline built Coyote mill sits between the Fairlane’s rails. A stock block was sleeved and a stock crank swings billet Manley rods pinned to forged Manley boost spec’d pistons. Massaged GT350 heads were 0-ringed and studded in place and an MMR custom intake with built-in intercooler tops the package. Accompanying the capable Coyote are twin Precision turbochargers with Turbosmart wategates and custom piping.

Allen Hurley’s Twin Turbo 1967 Ford Fairlane

Body & Paint:

Synergy Green with secret primer color to give it that one of a kind look.

Chassis & Suspension/Modifications:

Factory chassis stiffened with 7.50 25.5 cert cage/chassis, Heidt’s Mustang II front end with front k-member, custom tuned Menscer coilovers all around.

Engine:

Built by Proline. Gen 1 Coyote stock block with Darton sleeves,305 CID, MMR block brace, Manley billet rods and custom boost pistons, stock heat treated crank polished and balanced, o-ringed GT 350 heads with titanium valves and oversized head studs. Custom grind cams, billet oil pump gears, MMR timing gears.

Induction & Fuel Delivery:

MMR custom intake with built-in intercooler. Precision 225 lb injectors, Weldon 2345 fuel pump.

Electronics:

FuelTech FT600

Power Adder:

Twin 7175 Precision turbochargers, Turbosmart wastegates.

Transmission:

M&M Transmission, M&M custom bolt-together converter.

Rearend:

Strange 9-inch, 40 spline axles, 3.90 gear. Custom carbon fibre driveshaft.

Brakes:

4 wheel Wilwood Brakes

Tires: Mickey Thompson 275/60/15.

Interior:

Stock interior, including rear seat, M&M Shifter, Kirky seats, Safecraft fire suppression system with nozzle under hood, trunk and drivers compartment, carbon fibre wrapped cage, FuelTech dash for gauges and data collection.

ET & MPH: 7.80s @ 178 mph, more HP available, a little more testing and we’ll be 7.50s!

Thanks To:

Special thanks to Dale Minton that owns Fatboy Fabrications and raced with us for over 20 yrs, Jacky McCarty- McCarty Performance, John Homier, Eric Dillard and all the boys at Proline, Scott Vestal, Mag Gough, Chase Driskel that tunes the car, my son Noah, my wonderful and understanding wife, Mrs. V, Bill Richards for that sick paint and a lot of other people. Thanks to all those cats that have made this 3880 pound hot rod run 7.80s like a bracket car and be driven back to the shop, this is a real accomplishment for us all.

With all the intricate work McCarty Performance put into the chassis and suspension, it was no surprise that they’d be responsible for the turbo plumbing as well. They designed and fabricated the turbo headers and piping around two Precision 7175 turbochargers with Turbosmart wastegates. A Weldon 2345 fuel pump paired with Precision 225lb injectors run VP-16 fuel through the mod motor and Fuel Tech’s FT600 stand-alone ECU controls the entire system.

An M&M Turbo 400 with bolt-together torque convertor transfers power rearward via a carbon fiber driveshaft. Step inside, and it’s a trip back to the 60s; Allen’s Fairlane retains most of the complete original interior, however, a pair of race seats takes up the real estate where the factory bench seat once was. Electronics are easily accessible, and while the factory speedometer remains intact, it’s a state of the

art FT600 dash situated to the right of the driver that now relays vital signs.

It’s extremely impressive to see any car run 7.80s in the quarter and drive back to the pits, and even more so when it’s tagged and insured. But Allen takes his Fairlane a step further, doing it at almost 4,000lbs and with a motor combination that most couldn’t even imagine being responsible for it. As a result, he’s able to leave the track, drive through town and run through the drive-through for a bite to eat before heading back for more runs.

a day but still running behind. The last day we all worked 27 hours straight and finished

the car at 6am, had it in the trailer at 7am and off to Atlanta. The rest is history!”

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Although the project started nearly a year and a half before the car hit the strip, the lion’s share of work came down to 27 hours before rolling into the staging lanes to make that first test pass. “We were trying to finish the car to test at an Atlanta event and as always there’s never enough time. We had 8 of our pals come over and we were working 14 hours

The Fairlane waits in the staging lanes on a warm Virginia night. This car is a true street/ strip machine that can bang off 7-second ETs in the quarter, then drive home afterwards. “She weighs over 3860lbs with me in it so she’s heavy, but drives like a 71 Lincoln on a Sunday drive, (I have a 71 Lincoln),” Hurley added with a smile.