Ford Fairmont XE Ghia Sedan 1982

If you are looking for a solid rust-free 1982 XE Ford Fairmont Ghia to drive as-is, convert to gas, or use for spares or as a base for a custom job, this car is for you.

This is a genuine two-owner car and has been our basic family transport for over 15 years. I bought the car from the old lady almost next door who had driven it since new. It has just under 320,000 genuine kilometres on the speedo, the motor is the six-cylinder version with a carburettor, not EFI. The motor is an RPM Reconditioned engine installed about 4 years ago and has done about 60,000km and is very good, burns no oil and has good pressure. Gearbox is the 3-speed T-Bar auto and shifts fine, power steering, central locking, and brakes are all good too. It has the large 80-litre fuel tank. No tow bar, so you know it has not been used to tow heavy trailers. The car has been driven daily, it has been professionally serviced at routine intervals with regular oil changes and I would be happy to give you the details of the mechanic to confirm all the above.

The bodywork has no obvious rust other than surface scratches, and I would be very surprised if a detailed inspection found any hidden deep-down rust – you are welcome to check it out. The left-side rear passenger door has some “crease damage” from a sideswipe but otherwise the bodywork just has the car-park blemishes one would expect from a 26 year old car. It has always been parked under cover.

All the instruments work, as does the radio and big factory speakers in the rear head rests, but the tape player and air-conditioner don’t work. Has alloy wheels, tyres should pass a roadworthy. In fact, apart from the windscreen which is scratched, I think the car would almost be roadworthy now.

At present the car is registered until 25 August 2010 (that is about $460 worth of registration) but I am offering this car WITHOUT registration and WITHOUT a roadworthy and with NO warranty of any kind, for a start price of $150. Note: if you want it with the plates, rego, and YOU to get the roadworthy we could come to some understanding over an adjusted price.

Start Price $150-00, payment by paypal or cash on collection. Car must be paid for and collected from me within 7 days of end of auction. Postcode 3084.

 ADDITIONAL PICTURES ADDED. Also, there are some more details about the car that I need to add for potential buyers. I forgot to note in the advert that the vehicle still has its original Owners Manual and Service Handbook and these will of course go with the car. Together, these confirm the original owner's details - I bought the car from her - and date of sale (25 August 1982) plus the service history up to the 75,000km service. I also have the details and documentation for the RPM exchange engine. I noted above that the car has alloy wheels, I should have added that all five are alloy - the spare tyre is also an alloy wheel, see picture.

Now, while the car runs very strongly and is as described above, I should advise that there is an intermittent problem in the fuel delivery system that has appeared recently which I cannot diagnose and (as I knew I was going to be selling the car and did not want to spend more than the $150 I was going to ask for it) I have not taken the car to a carby specialist. On days of high ambient temperature, 30-plus degrees, it will sometimes develop what I think is a vapour lock in the fuel line and can starve the motor of fuel when going up a steepish hill. I ride motorcycles, it feels the same as when you run dry on main tank and the motor starts coughing until you switch to reserve. If it starts going downhill the problem disappears. The car is not overheating when this happens, the radiator was replaced about two years ago and the engine temp guage is always down about 1/4 or 1/3, and hardly ever needs replacement coolant, so it is not the coolant. And it won't do it on days less than 30 degrees. I tried to duplicate the problem by idling the car to get the temp up but it would not fault. Seems to be tied in with high ambient temperature days only. And steep hills. Anyway, at least you know, and remember this is after all a "$150 car", but I have tried to give the most honest description I can. Any other questions, please ask and I will post answers to ebay for all to read.