Running Driving Blank Canvases: 1963 Olds Dynamic 88 vs 1964 Ford Fairlane

Good morning! On today’s Shitbox Showdown, we’re venturing into the sometimes dangerous waters of project cars. But I’ve specifically chosen two cars that don’t need any mechanical attention, just cosmetic restoration. You can drive them as you fix them up, and let everyone at the local cruise night see your progress.

As was pointed out in the comments, yesterday’s matchup was at the same time fair, and very lopsided. On paper, the two cars look similar, but the devil, as always, is in the details. The Mitsubishi is cool but potentially ruined, and the Scion just seems like a good deal. It cruised to an absolute blowout win.

As for me, I want to prefer the Expo LRV, but that particular one just has too many question marks. If I were actually cross-shopping these, I’d have to look at the LRV, just to see what condition it’s really in, but I have a feeling I’d wind up with the Scion.

Now, as our fearless leader David once pointed out, the most important thing you can do to a project car is to get it running. This transforms it from a car-shaped to-do list into an actual car, and doing it right away is better for the car, and for your sanity.

Or you could shop for a car that already runs and drives well, like these two. You can enjoy it from day one, and when the time comes, you can drive it to the paint shop, or to an upholsterer to get the interior redone. Better make sure it runs really well if you want the famous “Tijuana” interior, though – it’s a long way to the shop if you want a tuck-and-roll. Let’s check them out.

1963 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 – $5,000

Engine/drivetrain: 394 cubic inch overhead valve V8, three-speed automatic, RWD

Location: San Clemente, CA

Odometer reading: 125,000 miles

Operational status: Runs and drives well

You hear a lot of talk these days about how big cars are getting. Ever-increasing safety regulations are pushing the exterior dimensions of cars outward, to make room for airbags and safety cages and crumple zones. And it’s a good thing, I suppose. I mean, cars used to be just as big as they are now – but without all that silly life-saving stuff. Feast your eyes on the behemoth that is the 1963 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 two-door hardtop.

The beating heart of this monster is a 394 cubic inch “Sky Rocket” V8, backed by a three-speed “Roto-Hydramatic” transmission. The engine was rebuilt several years ago, and runs like a top. It has a newer Edelbrock four-barrel carb and aluminum radiator, and the front end was redone at the same time as the engine overhaul. It has current tags, and it sounds like it’s ready to hit the road.

Inside, it’s all original, and not terrible, actually. The front seat needs reupholstery, and the dash has some cracks, but otherwise it’s not bad at all. One thing I don’t see are seat belts; they weren’t required by law until 1968, so this car may never have had them. But you’d be mad not to install some.

The exterior is where it needs the most work. It’s a California car, so it’s not rusted through, but the surface has been sandblasted and sun-scorched into oblivion. It looks like the trim is all there, and the chrome bumpers look all right. It looks kinda cool as is, actually, but a paint job would do wonders for it.

1964 Ford Fairlane 500 – $2,900

Engine/drivetrain: 260 cubic inch overhead valve V8, two-speed automatic, RWD

Location: Mesa, AZ

Odometer reading: 54,000 miles

Operational status: Runs and drives well

The Fairlane started out as a trim level of the full-size Ford cars, but by 1964 it was its own model, smaller than the full-size Galaxie but considerably larger than the compact Falcon introduced a couple years earlier. The 500 was the fancy Fairlane; it basically had more chrome stuff on the sides.

The standard engine in the Fairlane was an inline six, but a couple of V8 engines were offered. This is the smaller 260 V8, with a two-speed “Ford-O-Matic” transmission. Yep – two speeds. It’s not high-performance, or efficient, but these old simple automatics are pretty durable. This car runs and drives well, the seller says, but they don’t elaborate. I do see a new carb, fuel lines, fuel pump, and water pump, and somebody painted the valve covers, probably after pulling them to replace the gaskets.

The inside is toast, unfortunately, but there’s something about it I find sort of charming. It looks like the car that a grizzled, down-on-his-luck private investigator drives in a movie, rolling along desert highways on his way to track down a witness somewhere, probably with Johnny Cash playing in the background. Strictly on the soundtrack, though; there’s no radio in this car.

Outside, it has what I guess you could call “patina.” The paint is essentially gone, but most of the trim is intact. One of the signature “bullet” taillights appears to be missing, which is a bummer. It also needs new tires, according to the seller, and personally I’d get rid of those ’70s Maverick hubcaps.

Neither of these cars is really “worth” restoring, if you’re in it for monetary gain. They’re both ordinary cars, just like hundreds of thousands of others of their kinds. But that’s also what makes them cool. Don’t fix them up for money; fix them up for the satisfaction of doing it. And you can drive them home, rather than having to rent a trailer or hire a tow truck. Which one moves you?

(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)