From its inception as a compact car in 1960, the Ford Falcon was a top seller through the middle of the decade. But after the debut of the popular Mustang (which was based on the Falcon) in 1965, sales fell off substantially. Enough so that the Falcon was replaced by the Maverick in 1969, which also proved to be a showroom traffic builder. The seller has a sweet 1968 2-door post coupe in Futura trim that is much faster than it was when it left the assembly line. Perhaps only needing some transmission work (overdrive is acting up), the Falcon is available here on craigslist for $12,000. Thanks for the tip, Jack M.!
The third generation of the Falcon arrived in 1967 and would carry the car through 1970. For a brief period, the Falcon and Maverick were both available at your Ford dealer, but the Mavericks were much better sellers (also derived from the Falcon). We’re told this 1968 Futura has a rebuilt 5.0-liter V8, and it has quite a few performance upgrades. The wheels have a 5-bolt lug pattern, which could have meant this Falcon had a 289 or a 302 cubic inch V8 when new (1968 was a phase-out, phase-in year).
We’re told the build-out on this Falcon was done several years ago, and the car has been driven little since, about 1,000 miles to car shows and the like. The paint is original and looks good, though it has been touched up in a few places. And the black vinyl interior is quite tidy (maybe restored since we see where the seats were out at one time).
The automatic transmission has a Lokar shifter with overdrive, but the O/D is starting to slip. The seller has a spare AOD transmission ready to be rebuilt, but doesn’t say for sure if it comes with the sale. The list of performance goodies is extensive, including flat top pistons, an Edelbrock intake manifold and camshaft, MSD distributor, some suspension parts, and a ton more. An aftermarket stereo system was added for some great cruising tunes. So, if you take care of the overdrive, you could have a great Cars & Coffee entry.
Hot Rod Falcon.
Not sure I have ever heard those three words coupled together.
There’s a couple of them running around my neck of the woods. Mostly ’60 to ’63’s. Definitely hot rods.
I’m sure you never have. Neither have I although a 1963 with the HiPo 289 would surely deserve that moniker.
289 Hi Po had dual points and no vacuum advance + was not available till 1965
The same can be said for “Built for Speed”! I like it though.
Modifications not mentioned, black hood and scoop, and blacked out grill.
Kind of kills the sleeper image.
Allen, you mentioned the black hood as shown in the first pic. Look at the close-in rear quarter pic and note the faded and worn green on the raised hood in the background. Now you know why it’s black… it’s primer to cover the other ugliness. Doesn’t look like there’s a hood scoop, either.
I just hate it when pix from various stages are shown… you never know what’s transpired… and when.
looks cool. should have spent the money and did a trans o/h before they put it in
Imagine one of these small Falcons with a 71 351 Cleveland, four speed and steep gears. After my friend wrecked his Mustang, he pulled the worked drivetrain and stuck it in a Falcon just like this one. I helped him freshen the motor beforehand and it turned out to be one of the fastest in town. Everyone thought it was just a 302 until the hammer fell.
I’m a huge fan of the old 351 Clevelands, and having owned a couple including a 71 Boss 351, this is one of the baddest bad boys in the small block arena. I’d take a built 351 Cleveland based motor, with a built 5 spd, 3:73s out back and I’d take a cool old hot rod like this and go give some big blocks and newbies a few nightmares, lol
There was such an animal – down under – but 4 door only with a shaker hood scoop! … the 1971 Ford Falcon XY GT
I was in the Army with a chap that had a 428 in his Falcon. We were in AIT at Ft. Benning in 1971, and I was driving a 7 Litre convertible.
In ’73, we bought a ’67 two door,( might have been a Fairlane), with “260 HIPO” on the front fenders, for a ’49 Ford Prefect we had, semaphores and all. When you stepped on the pedal at 35, in third gear, that car would get sideways!! Ton of fun.
This would make a great daily driver, but needs a 5 spd swapped in. Could do without the hood scoop too. I’d leave it as is and tweak it to my liking as I go.
Would need a seller who was negotiable though. The buy-in is a little steep in my opinion.
Nice clean ford, with some great pieces added.