The Falcon was Ford’s first entry into the U.S. compact car market of the 1960s. It was a popular car whose platform would go on to spawn an even more successful product, the Mustang. These cars were focused on delivering economy, so the one thing you wouldn’t get with one until 1963 was a V8 engine. If you pop open the hood of the seller’s car, you don’t find an inline-6 or even a small-block V8. Instead, a Chrysler 440 engine has been sandwiched in there! The overall car needs a lot of work, but we’re told it does move around on its own. Located in Coal Hill, Arkansas, this Ford/Chrysler hybrid can be found here on Facebook Marketplace for $5,000 OBO. Thanks for the tip, Terry!
Ford was able to capture market share for 1960-61 because Chevy’s compact entry was the Corvair, an unorthodox car compared to the common trappings of the Falcon. The former had a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine while the latter was more like a full-size Fairlane that had been put in the dryer and shrunk. The car was little changed until 1964 and dependent on either 144 or 170 cubic-inch inline-6 power through 1962. One of those engines would have been in the seller’s car, to begin with, a 1962 Falcon that looks to be a Futura due to the level of trim. That would make it one of 17,000 Falcon Futura coupes built that year.
We’re wondering what circumstances came about that prompted the seller (or someone before him) to shoehorn a 440 Commando V8 into this Falcon. From the looks of things, someone wanted to go racing and the motor came out of a 1970s police car, a Dodge or Plymouth. What steps would have been taken to offset the tremendous weight difference on the front end and how that would impact the car’s handling and braking abilities. Given the tight quarters, how does one go about changing the spark plugs, for example? And since the seller says it has an automatic transmission, did a Chrysler TorqueFlite come along for the ride? The is a shifter lever mounted under the dash.
From the seller’s description, the car runs and moves but it “needs power steering to drive.” Power steering wasn’t needed on a stock six-cylinder Falcon in those days. The seller says he has a video of the car doing its thing but can’t upload it to Facebook. The body and paint are fair for what the car is but some of the chrome trim is missing. On the other hand, the interior is a mess and will need about everything to be functional again. Based on what’s here, is this a project to resuscitate as it is and have a novelty to show off? Or do you go racing yourself? Or do you go back to how the car was originally and move the 440 into another Chrysler product?
(IMO) this is a good example of “hold my beer” engineering. If a project is not easily drivable after the major work, it kind of sinks the project. Looking at the tight quarters between engine/headers/fenders, I’m not certain that there is room for a power steering set up. At any rate, whether you restore it, or continue to “improve” it, if you want a money pit, here it is! :-)
Russ, unlike yesterday’s Pontiac, it’s okay to call the 440 a big block.
Since there are no shock towers, what type of front suspension? And no mufflers, fun
Hard to tell, but could be a beam front axle ala 1960’s gassers
Not a well thought out idea.Someone might buy her for the motor or maybe just the car.But priced to high.
In the future, when I completely retire, I want one of these, except I want to build a wicked 351 Windsor. I figure they’re much cheaper than a 60’s Mustang and has great looks. Having a solid lifter 351 should make it fly, and be quite manageable to cruise around in in the small town I’m moving to. I’ll pass on a big block Chrysler engine, because I won’t be racing it. I really like this style !
Wow, what some Bubba engineering. Deleting shock towers and front suspension no doubt. That Big block Mopar definitely can be used for another car and has plenty of value. After it’s sold place an appropriate 302 or 351 ou may have the room for rebuilding the shock towers and add power steering. The guy must have put a Ford 9″ rear end in there.
Had a friend put a 396 in a ’64 chevelle one time, and put 2×4 blocks in between the springs to hold the front end up….looks like similar engineering.
Took 24 cans of rustoleum rattle cans to paint, @ one beer per can.
Took 24 cans of beer to think this one up!
Sounds like a “hold my beer” moment gone horribly wrong! Now, trying to unload a bad dream on some poor sucker.
It has a late model type of master cylinder and what looks like disc brakes, The rear end has a rear cover so it’s not a 9″. More pictures would help figure out what is really going on here…
Understeer much?
I like these RBs alot (hada stop writing asa worm is trying to enter offa ur site. Let’s C if I cn complete B4 it returns).
The round body (60/64) had lill chrome & less deep “dent” side. The 2.36 I’d turbo, had the 2.8 in my bronk – could plow a full blade of wet heavy sno upa hill – no problem. The nxt was in the stang U mention and quite a lill rever, 3.3. I put the nxt up, 4.1 in my bronk this winter (w/a 5 speed). The nxt up – 300/4.9 has been called: the gasser that’s a diesel & million mi motor.
I’d add a claim to “this spawned the muscle era wid da stang” above by adding “likewise w/the suv era we still seem to be in.” as my bronk was justa 4WD falcon. Their motors went ’60 – ’96 into the efi era.
The first Chrysler Falcon.
https://www.valiant.org/falcon.html
I am wondering if he used the k frame along with the suspension ?
It’s a 1963. Not 1962.
It’s a 62 with a 63 grille. Different back back glass and missing b.u. lights different side moldings too.
I wonder if the first guy to transplant a OHV Caddy motor into a ’40 Ford making a Fordillac met with any criticism ? This Falcon is what hot rodding is all about, That’s what guys used to do , put big motors into small cars. At one point in my recent life I had a ’40 Ford Tudor that I had planned to put a 500″ Cadillac motor with a Turbo 400, I bought the motor & trans from a guy that took me on a demo ride to check the motor & transmission out, I had to wait for him to pull it out. I never got around to doing the swap, I wound up selling the car because I had to move, besides the flatmotor ran exceptionally well and was enjoyable, guy I sold the Ford to was offered the Caddy stuff but didn’t take it, it was offered no charge.
Waste of a good 440
Posted a month ago.
That 440 belongs in a Mopar body car maybe like a mid 60s Belvedere, not a fricking Falcon. Just buying parts from someone’s bad decisions.
Cobbled up mess.
One of those moments when alot of beer was applied and a moment when it’s said, Let’s see what happens next.
a guy i grew up with, his dad stuffed a 429 in one of these for him, it was finished and driven regularly while we were in high school
I love Fords and Mopars alike and I say, crush it.
With a completely screwed up car pairing with a Mopar 440 big block into this Falcon and you’re commenting on the differences between a 62 and 63 Falcon grill being different? Gimme a damn break
If the owner wanted performance with very little changes, could have gotten a Ford 363 crate engine (bored & stroked 500hp 302) that would fit into the stock Falcon engine bay. Instead, it’s more likely that the owner took the cheap route that involves a cutting torch and a 440 engine from an old motor home.