CHEVY FAIRLANE: Sneaky 720 HP Ford Hot Rod Misfit Gets Everything Right | EP51

Everything about Dean Nesbitt’s 1963 Ford Fairlane 500 Sport Coupe is a sneaky misfit. Its cleverly disguised 720-horsepower Chevy small block looks convincingly like a Ford, engulfed in a chromoly SCCA-legal chassis, finished with a European-inspired Ron Mangus interior. Engineered with an impressive 50/50 weight distribution, the midsize muscle is capable of attacking corners like no Fairlane from 1963 ever could, yet comfortable enough to drive all day. Nicole Johnson visits Dean outside San Diego to find out why Dean's Machine is the controversial hot rod with a combination that got so much right. THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU onX OFFROAD 🧭 Use code DETOUR to save 20% off your @onXOffroad membership, or use this direct link to support the channel! https://bit.ly/onXdetour MORE ABOUT DEAN NESBITT: A former dirt bike racer, Dean spent his entire career in the automotive tech industry, and retired in 2026. His meticulous five-year Fairlane build earned a spot in the 2025 Grand National Roadster Show competition for the Al Slonaker Memorial Award, one of the show’s major honors for non-roadster custom builds. Subsequently, Dean's Machine was featured in the September 2025 issue of Hot Rod Magazine. CONTACT: https://www.instagram.com/dnesbitt1_/ ••••• WEBSITE & MERCH: http://www.nicolejohnsonsdetour.com IDEA SUBMISSIONS: http://www.nicolejohnsonsdetour.com/contact.html JOIN OUR CHANNEL TO GET ACCESS TO PERKS: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCshU9jqO5CbBoQCBJqnkq4Q/join BECOME A PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/nicolejohnsonsdetour GET TO KNOW NICOLE IN 2 MINUTES: https://youtu.be/F3ZWGt0QYGk INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/nicolejohnsonoffroad/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/nicolejohnsonoffroad Created and Produced by Michael Badami and Nicole Johnson Directed by Michael Badami © Lawndart Limited https://lawndartlimited.com #FordFairlane #Fairlane500 #HotRod #LS3 #LSswap #1963Fairlane #MuscleCar #nicolejohnsonsdetour