Said to be original, other than a couple of repairs to the front floor pans, this 1963 Ford Falcon 2-Door Wagon is an incredibly desirable model. The 2-door wagon body style is about as cool as it gets in my world, much cooler than a convertible, as weird as that probably sounds to most of you. The seller has it posted here on craigslist in the Tsawwassen area of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and they’re asking $18,500 Canadian ($13,183 U.S.). Here is the original listing, and thanks to Curvette for the tip!
This is such a great body style, and for it to be original, other than a couple of repairs to the front floors, is pretty amazing after 62 years. The first-generation Falcon was made for the 1960 through 1963 model years, and a fancier Deluxe version was added for the 1963 model year. This is a base model, hence the missing chrome trim along the side and other features. Hagerty is at $9,000 for a #3 good-condition car with a 144-six (this car has a 170), so I’m not sure if the seller will get anything near their asking price, given the rust situation.
It’s so basic that there are no optional backup lights! There’s no lane-assist, no backup camera, no latte holder, no distracting touchscreen taking up half the dash, etc., on this car, which is another reason I love it. The seller says the odometer has just turned over and is showing 1,200 miles, but they list the mileage as 1,200 rather than 101,200, which is unusual since they know it’s over 100,000. Ford made 7,332 of the 2-door wagon models, and they were $2,298 new, $24,351 today.
The rear cargo area looks great, as does most of the car inside and out. If these seats are original, and it sounds like they are, that’s amazing. The back seat looks like it’s brand new. Here’s a photo showing both sides of the front floors and the repairs that have been done to try to stop the spread of the dreaded rust. The nightmare that never sleeps, and most of us have had more than our fill of that stuff. They also show a few underside photos and some of the rocker panel areas, and it looks better than it should for being over six decades old.
One upgrade is the engine, a 170-cu.in. OHV inline-six, with 101 horsepower and 156 lb-ft of torque. The base engine would have been Ford’s 144 six. The column-shifted three-speed manual sends power to the rear wheels, and they say it runs, shifts, and stops as it should. Would you work on restoring and updating this Falcon wagon, or keep it maintained and drive it as it is now?
I agree Scotty, for me too this is cool. Why? Because it is basic white, with a plain goldish beige interior, six cylinder, three on the tree. Blackwalls and dog dishes. No other options, and as you point out not a hint of a “modern convenience.” And of course the two-door body style. Who would have thunk it has become collectable, but here we are. Looks to be in good shape.
What did they use on that floor, a couple pounds of JB Weld? They didn’t cover the holes completely either. Too bad, I like this minimalist wagon. Even the tailgate is completely manual, no electric window there! If they’d repaired the floors properly, it might be worth the asking price.
Great Falcon wagon!!! Like Scotty wrote and Bob said above, it’s just a basic ( no backup lights lol) hardly any optioned car. And I like it like that. No screen to distract you, heck, you’re forced to actually look out the windshield at where you’re going!!! What a thought. I’d definitely take a good, long hard look at the floors, etc for rust and rust repairs, but up top everything looks great. Other than that I’d keep it as is.
Hard to believe that back in the day, reverse lights were an option but so were side mirrors ! I bought a 65 Mustang recently without them. It was definitely a challenge backing into my garage . CJ’s pony parts to the rescue. Great little wagon.
A repro of the entire floor is available and would make this a great car.
Craigslist ad includes photo of a similar 1962 with Florida plates – I’ll upload it here. Photo was by Al Satterwhite, 1964.
https://www.canvasgallery.com/artists/182-al-satterwhite/works/3280/
https://www.canvasgallery.com/artists/182-al-satterwhite/works/3279/
Thanks Kendra, very cool pictures. Poor Falcon really got a work out!
Hearing Beach Boys surfing song in my head now! It doesn’t take much for me to get set off on Beach Boy songs. I have my cut glass double front doors that came out of Brian Wilson’s house when he did a remodel.
My Mom had a 4 door version of this wagon it didnt last long upgraded to a full size Ford wagon with a 390 auto ps, pw ac nice ride Falcon
was a gutless wonder needed a rebuild on the motor at 30k , we were happy to see that one go! This one looks to be a nice survivor !
Gutless yes but very reliable. As a kid we drove across Australia in an identical ,but 4 door version with the 6 cyl engine and three on the tree.
It was not designed for power. I suggest your mom’s initial car was simply the wrong fit for her. But back in the day you could not kill these things with a big stick as we say.
to Fords defence of the Falcon I had a 2 dr Falcon same vintage and traveled all over the east coast while in the Coast Guard that was a great little car never failed me smaller 6 3 speed !
love the 2dr wagons. way too far away for me and the price is on the high side but it sure is cool
IThis is very cool but a little pricey but like they say on the high end ads, Find Another! I’d love to drop in a warmed over 289 and a 4 speed or overdrive automatic. Beef up the suspension brakes and rearend and add AC and PS. I’d then have a $50,000 falcon that I could sell for $20,000 (maybe).
Overpriced but credit to the seller for being honest about the floor pan patches instead of trying to hide it it would make for a fun little ride.
Drive it!
I love this car. My mom bought one used in DC after our Fiat Multipla’s engine block froze up and cracked on a cold ski trip to New Hampshire in 1961. Our Falcon 4 door wagon was white with western style branding iron patterned upholstery and a slant 6 engine. Great car.
A slant 6 in a Falcon—NEVER happened—unless it was some kind of retro fit.
Minor correction to Scott G. The deluxe option was available as early as ’61 for Falcons. I have a ’61 Fordoor sedan with the deluxe trim (SS trim on window frames and the SS trim along the body contours). The car was the family car from grade school till it became mine in the late ’70s. Now has a bit over 192,000 miles and I am driving it today
Correction to my post, my Falcon has 292,000+ miles.
aribert, I was referring to the wagon body style, sorry about not singling them out.
“In 1963, even more models were available. Now a four-door Futura and a Deluxe wagon were available.”
I see that this subject car is active again. Scotty, contrary to your reference material, I know that the fordoor wagon was available with the exterior deluxe trim option. I bought a spare set of exterior trim for my sedan back in the early ’80s. I was a bit surprised to find out the trim that wrapped around the taillights of the ’61 fordoor wagon did not have the same cross section (and I was really looking for that piece since the same piece on my car was dinged up).
Other than not picking, keep up the great work!
$13k seems almost reasonable to me!
Listing update: the seller removed the ad, did one of you buy this Falcon?