During the heyday of the 1960s, American automakers were cranking out high-performance versions of every vehicle they offered. So although a vast majority of Ford Fairlanes sold to the public were little more than thirsty commuter cars, the option to equip it with a 427 cubic-inch big block engine was there. Such cars were few and far between, but today you can get a plain-jane Fairlane for little more than a song and a dance, and from there the possibilities are endless.

Jay Leno’s Garage recently hosted a 1967 Ford Fairlane built by Pure Vision Design that really puts the “resto” into restomod. From sickly looking six-banger to 650 horsepower muscle car, Pure Vision’s take on the Fairlane is a perfect example of the potential every car harbors.

Boasting an aluminum 427 cubic-inch SOHC Cammer motor that fills the space between the fenders beautifully, Stephen Strope of Pure Vision explains his reasoning behind taking such a common car and tricking it out. Strope envisioned an alternative history where Ford had a sort of “block ops” skunkworks mission with the Fairlane at its heart. Though rarely remembered for its racing prowess, Ford did use the Fairlane to compete in both NASCAR and NHRA drag racing for awhile, and Strope has imagined a car that “might have been” had Ford so desired.

This no-holds-barred competition car required Pure Vision to re-engineer the entire chassis, including an all-new suspension setup with torsion bars tucked inside the frame. An active air brake was added to aid in stopping, and the one-piece aluminum wheels were chosen for their strength and ability to be swapped quickly during a race.

For muscle car enthusiasts, this Fairlane is a perfect example of what could-have-been.