1967 Ford Fairlane 500 GT Hardtop

In the forty seven years it existed, Ford's Lorain Assembly Plant produced 12 different nameplates. Most of these models are very well known to Ford Motor Company's rich history.

Operations began in 1958 producing F150 trucks. While a variety of passenger car models were produced in Lorain (Fairlanes, Galaxies, Falcons, and finally Thunderbirds) the plant is most known for its light truck and van production, such as the Ford Econoline

The Lorain assembly plant closed Dec 2005, with operations transferred to Avon Lake.

The first engine of this family, introduced for the 1962 model year as an option on the Ford Fairlane and Mercury Meteor, had a displacement of 221 cu. in (3.6 L), from a 3.5 in (89 mm) bore and 2.87 in (72.9 mm) stroke, with wedge combustion chambers for excellent breathing. An advanced, compact, thinwall-casting design, it was 24 in wide, 29 in long, and 27.5 in tall (610 mm × 737 mm × 699 mm). It weighed only 470 lb (210 kg) dry despite its cast iron construction, making it one of the lightest and most compact V8 engines of its day.

In stock form it used a two-barrel carburetor and a compression ratio of 8.7:1, allowing the use of regular (rather than premium) gasoline. Valve diameters were 1.59 in (40.4 mm) (intake) and 1.388 in (35.3 mm) (exhaust). Rated power and torque (SAE gross) were 145 bhp (108 kW) @ 4400 rpm and 216 lbf·ft (230 N·m) @ 2200 rpm.

The 221 was dropped after the 1963 model year. There was also a short-lived stretched 240 version.