THIS is Street Machine photographer Nathan Jacobs’s grandpa-spec XB Fairmont. It’s no monster but it looks awesome, has been kept in good condition and makes an awesome cruiser.

Nathan has always had a thing for cool Fords, his first street machine being a surfer-spec XM Falcon Deluxe Wagon which he bought when he was 19! Five years later he sold it to buy this XB which he’s slowly transforming into a tough cruiser.

“I BOUGHT my XB Fairmont about three years ago from the mechanic who had serviced it from new – he’d bought it from the original owners just prior to selling it to me. I have always loved the shape of the XA/XB/XCs, as Dad’s XB Fairmont GS, which he still owns, was our daily when I was a kid.

As my car is so original, I don’t want to mess with it too much. I have lowered it, added whitewall tyres, had the factory 302 Clevo rebuilt and balanced, and added an Edelbrock Performer inlet and Holley 600 vac-secondaries, as well as electronic ignition and a dual two-inch exhaust with tri-Ys to give her a bit more bark and bite.

She’s still running the highway diff gears, because this car is made for hitting the open road and cruising to the beach.”

This was my XM wagon that I owned for fives years from the age of 19. I always tried to keep it original only changing the suspension to give it a better stance. It still had unassisted drum brakes all ‘round and a two-speed auto – it was a fun car to drive, even if it was a bit slow!