For those that asked in the garage forum:
I don't know anymore if there is an NB Fairlane but that's what's on my car's compliance plate and it's what John Hughes had it advertised as before I bought it.
My Fairlane has a mix of NA, NA II and NC parts in it and used to belong to Ford Product Engineering and all its parts (from the computer module to the fan to the placky hubcaps on the mags)are labelled in beige paint "MV-1" and although made in June 1989 (before the 4 speed autos were officially 1st produced in August 1989) it has a factory 4 speed (and the VIN plate has the "W" 4 speed auto code).
I emailed the Discovery Centre and Discovery Girl's colleague Adrian Ryan looked into it and is emphatic there were no NB Fairlanes. He also said: "As I have said - there is no record of your particular car. Lots of strange things happen to cars during the pre-production builds and product development. You must realise that we are talking about a car that was possibly changed several times during the development phase. I have no further explanations for you - sorry"
He also said: "As I said earlier, the only real surprise is that one of these vehicles got sold to the public as it doesn't comply with what Ford was advertising for sale at the time!"
So perhaps this car is more unique than I first thought.
I got a similar reply from Ford when I first bought the car in 1994 and the Ford dealers said there was no such car when I tried to buy parts. When I first contacted Ford then, they said that VIN number wasn't on their computer system. I thought I might have got stolen renumbered car but at that time Ford rang me back a few days later and said something like "as it had been built by new products engineering and hadn't been entered on the system (but the said they would add it then). " They also told me that I would have no problems with parts as it simply had a mix of NA, NA II and NC parts (they were right about that parts buying can be a lottery for some bits) - essentially giving me an assurance that I need not worry about the integrity of the car or getting parts.
It seems that according to Ford now my car doesn't exist. But I have attached a snap to prove otherwise.You have to think the NA II was going to be an NB at some point as the Ford mag wheel identification poster you find at your Ford dealers parts counter shows wheel labelled "NB Fairlane" and another "NB Sportsman."
Titan Ford have also said that they have found some annotaions on their computerised parts catalogue systems referring to a NB Fairlane. They have also said it's the only Fairlane they have seen with NB on the compliance plate.
When I ensured it the RAC said that they thought that Ford had sold a number of similar development cars in WA at the same time (1993). The handbook shows Ford had the car from 1989 to 1992 (well it was serviced by Ford Products Engineering up to May 1992). It also appears to have been retrimmed before sale as the upholstery carries a 1992 stamp.
I would certainly be interested if any one else knows of a Fairlane with "NB Fairlane" indicated on the compliance plate.
I don't know anymore if there is an NB Fairlane but that's what's on my car's compliance plate and it's what John Hughes had it advertised as before I bought it.
My Fairlane has a mix of NA, NA II and NC parts in it and used to belong to Ford Product Engineering and all its parts (from the computer module to the fan to the placky hubcaps on the mags)are labelled in beige paint "MV-1" and although made in June 1989 (before the 4 speed autos were officially 1st produced in August 1989) it has a factory 4 speed (and the VIN plate has the "W" 4 speed auto code).
I emailed the Discovery Centre and Discovery Girl's colleague Adrian Ryan looked into it and is emphatic there were no NB Fairlanes. He also said: "As I have said - there is no record of your particular car. Lots of strange things happen to cars during the pre-production builds and product development. You must realise that we are talking about a car that was possibly changed several times during the development phase. I have no further explanations for you - sorry"
He also said: "As I said earlier, the only real surprise is that one of these vehicles got sold to the public as it doesn't comply with what Ford was advertising for sale at the time!"
So perhaps this car is more unique than I first thought.
I got a similar reply from Ford when I first bought the car in 1994 and the Ford dealers said there was no such car when I tried to buy parts. When I first contacted Ford then, they said that VIN number wasn't on their computer system. I thought I might have got stolen renumbered car but at that time Ford rang me back a few days later and said something like "as it had been built by new products engineering and hadn't been entered on the system (but the said they would add it then). " They also told me that I would have no problems with parts as it simply had a mix of NA, NA II and NC parts (they were right about that parts buying can be a lottery for some bits) - essentially giving me an assurance that I need not worry about the integrity of the car or getting parts.
It seems that according to Ford now my car doesn't exist. But I have attached a snap to prove otherwise.You have to think the NA II was going to be an NB at some point as the Ford mag wheel identification poster you find at your Ford dealers parts counter shows wheel labelled "NB Fairlane" and another "NB Sportsman."
Titan Ford have also said that they have found some annotaions on their computerised parts catalogue systems referring to a NB Fairlane. They have also said it's the only Fairlane they have seen with NB on the compliance plate.
When I ensured it the RAC said that they thought that Ford had sold a number of similar development cars in WA at the same time (1993). The handbook shows Ford had the car from 1989 to 1992 (well it was serviced by Ford Products Engineering up to May 1992). It also appears to have been retrimmed before sale as the upholstery carries a 1992 stamp.
I would certainly be interested if any one else knows of a Fairlane with "NB Fairlane" indicated on the compliance plate.