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On the Road: 1965 Ford Fairlane

Hagerty Driving Experience turned Victoria resident into a classic car lover

Greg Williams
Aug 14, 2021  •  August 14, 2021  •  4 minute read  •  Join the conversation
After attending a Hargerty Driving Experience program in Seattle, Cooper Philp of Victoria was hooked on older cars, and especially those with standard shift transmissions. Philp bought this 1965 Ford Fairlane for $2,000 in Edmonton.
After attending a Hargerty Driving Experience program in Seattle, Cooper Philp of Victoria was hooked on older cars, and especially those with standard shift transmissions. Philp bought this 1965 Ford Fairlane for $2,000 in Edmonton. Photo by Cooper Philp

Cooper Philp of Victoria was 16 when they participated in Hagerty’s Driving Experience program.
It changed their life. “I was on a trip to Seattle with my parents,” Philp explains. “And my mom and dad got me a ticket to the Driving Experience event in that city. There were a bunch of really cool cars there, including an MGB, an AMC Javelin and a Subaru WRX STI, and I learned to drive a standard transmission on that Javelin. After that, I just wanted an old car with a stick shift.”

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Hagerty is the largest provider of insurance for vintage automobiles in North America and launched their Driving Experience program in 2011. With events held in centres across the U.S. and Canada, Driving Experience helps young people discover the joy of balancing clutch and throttle, all while gaining an appreciation for vintage automobiles. Obviously, the program works.

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Philp, who lived in Calgary at the time, got home and began searching for a vintage car. In Edmonton, they located a 1965 Ford Fairlane with a three-on-the-tree standard shift transmission. “It was $2,000, and the guy selling it was in the punk rock scene,” Philp recalls. “I’d been saving money since I was 12, having worked at a garden centre and then Mr. Big & Tall.”

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Philp’s dad drove them to Edmonton, where they bought the Fairlane and had it towed back to Calgary. It was a running and driving car, and Philp says, “How could this be a bad decision?”

Philp’s attraction to older vehicles does actually go farther back than taking part in Hagerty’s Driving Experience program. Philp says, “Older cars are better looking with more style than newer cars, and my grandfather, who I never knew too well, used to fix and paint old cars in his garage. I never really got the chance to talk to him about that, because he died when I was quite young, but I heard stories about it from by dad.”

With the support of their parents, Philp began the process of getting the Fairlane ready for the road. “It wasn’t in the greatest shape, and I really needed to know where to begin,” Philp says. “I met with a local car enthusiast, Jordy Miller, and he gave me some really good advice on first steps. I replaced all of the fluids and put new shocks in it.”

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  1. Cooper Philp, right, drove their 1965 Ford Fairlane to graduation ceremonies at Stampede Park with Madi Downey.
    Cooper Philp, right, drove their 1965 Ford Fairlane to graduation ceremonies at Stampede Park with Madi Downey. Photo by Cooper Philp
  2. Cooper Philp’s freshly rebuilt 289 cubic-inch V8 in their 1965 Ford Fairlane.
    Cooper Philp’s freshly rebuilt 289 cubic-inch V8 in their 1965 Ford Fairlane. Photo by Cooper Philp
  3. After moving from Calgary to Victoria to attend university, Cooper Philp has continued to work on and drive their 1965 Ford Fairlane. Brakes have been changed and new tires installed.
    After moving from Calgary to Victoria to attend university, Cooper Philp has continued to work on and drive their 1965 Ford Fairlane. Brakes have been changed and new tires installed. Photo by Cooper Philp
  4. The distinctive rear end of the mid-Sixties' Fairlane.
    The distinctive rear end of the mid-Sixties' Fairlane. Photo by Cooper Philp

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Philp drove the Fairlane on a daily basis, but says it used quite a bit of oil. And then, one day while driving to school, the car just quit. The oil was white and frothy, and Philp discovered a head gasket was blown. Although Philp didn’t know anyone who could help, they didn’t get discouraged. The Fairlane was towed to Chetlen Auto Tech & Tire in Calgary, where the 289 cubic-inch V8 engine was treated to a complete rebuild. The clutch, Philp was surprised to learn, was still in good condition. The flywheel was replaced and when it all went back together, the exhaust was modified to a true dual system.

“I put the quietest mufflers on it I could find,” Philp says, and adds, “It sounds really good.”

In 2019, Philp moved from Calgary to Victoria to take political science and economics at the University of Victoria. The Fairlane was towed west, and the car continues to see almost daily use. Philp doesn’t have a large set of tools, but a few helpful people in Victoria have provided access to tools, time and knowledge and helped complete chores such as changing the brakes.

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Cooper Philp describes the car as an honest old Fairlane, and although they encountered some obstacles in keeping the car on the road, they never gave up on the old ride.
Cooper Philp describes the car as an honest old Fairlane, and although they encountered some obstacles in keeping the car on the road, they never gave up on the old ride. Photo by Cooper Philp

“It’s still rough around the edges,” Philp says, “but it’s an honest old Ford Fairlane. I like to share it with people, and I’ve taught three or four of my friends how to drive a standard. Some of them have said they have more appreciation for older vehicles since they met me, and it’s fun to see these people develop their own take on vintage cars.”

Future plans for the Fairlane include saving money to have the interior redone. Philp would also like to do a mild engine build for a slight power increase, install a posi-traction rear end and add a disc brake conversion. All ambitious goals, but Philp want to turn it into a viable highway cruiser.

Philp says, “Without Hagerty Driving Experience, I don’t think I’d have landed as solidly in the old car world as I have. Sure, I could drive stick in a more modern vehicle, but it wouldn’t be as much fun. There’s just not the noise, vibration, or that little bit of chaos that an old car provides.”

Greg Williams is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Have a column tip? Contact him at 403-287-1067 or gregwilliams@shaw.ca

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