Ford’s first entry into the new compact car market of the 1960s was the Falcon. It was so popular that its platform would go only to spawn several other FOMOCO products, including the Mercury Comet and the Ford Mustang, and the Maverick. This Futura convertible from 1963 is being sold from an estate where it was found in a barn after sitting for several years. It will need loads of work, but these ragtops are getting harder and harder to find. From Solberry, Indiana, this dirty and dusty Ford is available here on Hibid where the current bid is only $1,050. Thanks to Mark Sturgeon for another cool tip!
Introduced in 1960, the Ford Falcon would be the sales leader in the compact car field for several years. Like the Chevy II or Plymouth Valiant, it was a conventional Detroit product with a forward-mounted, water-cooled engine (and unlike the Chevy Corvair). The first generation would run through 1963 with that being the first year a V8 engine would be offered in the new Sprint model. All other Falcons relied on inline-6 powerplants for propulsion. The seller’s ’63 has either a 144 or 170-cubic-inch I-6 under the bonnet.
To get a Falcon convertible in 1963, you had to order the upper-scale Futura model and only 4,600 of them came with a canvas top. So, that makes the seller’s auto something of a rare find (how many can still be around after 60 years?). As part of an estate liquidation, this Falcon has come out of hiding after at least five or six years. That was the last time the Ford is known to have run and – fortunately – the motor is not stuck. With a 3-speed manual transmission, this vehicle may be mechanically complete but in need of some time with a qualified mechanic.
The seller indicates there is rust within the Falcon and – with it being a unibody – this may or may not be problematic. The paint is not original, and we wonder if a color change took place at some point as the underneath of the hood looks white while the rest of the car is faded red. The interior is thought to be original as are the Futura wheel covers which are likely in the trunk with some other items. Local delivery is possible, but otherwise, shipping is not offered. Who wants to get this vintage Ford back on the road?
This has ‘62 style grill and headlight bezels. The ‘63 parts look quite different.
This one looks pretty solid.I’d go 2k tops outright.I ain’t paying no auction house fees.Lot of surprises waiting for sure when you try to get it safe and driveable.
What part did you miss guy said its rusty.read it again slowly..
I said it looks “pretty’ solid. TRY looking at all of the auction pictures “slowly” and you will see it’s pretty solid for what it is , a 60 year old convertible but that’s why I said it will have surprises as you try to get it safe and driveable. You do know what the word surprise means when you buy a classic car that needs restoration and you start dismantling it as it could be anything from mechanical to structural …Right?….I didn’t think so. Does it have rust , sure it does but I still say it looks pretty solid. Good night Irene.
Road around in one of these on a beautiful summer afternoon when my son was shopping for his first car. A nice red one too. Sadly it was a bit too difficult to reclose the doors when we opened them! He’s become quite a welder now but that was 25 years ago.
I think you mean :rode around in one”
If it had bucket seats and the console it would be even a little more rarer, as a “Sport” Futura.
I have never seen a falcon without rust so that is to be expected looks to be a fun car just to get back on the road and enjoy
We had a 1963-1/2 Falcon Futura coupe with the bucket seats and console. My mom bought it new before she got married. I drove it when I was in high school and college.
Red valve cover, if factory, usually denotes a 170 cid motor
Yessir !
Shipping would cost me more than the car itself and it’s only a 6 cylinder, so no thanks
It’s a ‘62.
FYI: V8 was available on any ‘63 Falcon. Not just the Sprint. .
Just a fleeting thought. Car is in Indiana, will need floor pans at a minimum. Rust bubbling in doors and rear wheel openings, also in front fender wells. Hard to tell on the inner rockers, but being a unibody design, expect it. Bidding up to $1625.00 with 17 days left to bid. I would guess it will end up with a V-8 and a floor shift at a minimum.
If I were doing this car it would have to have a small block V8. That would involve swapping to a different rear end and of course a new trans. For that cost and aggravation, I would try and get a Falcon that was already set up as a V8 car.
This is not a 1963 Falcon. I owned a 1963 convertible just like this. The grille in my car was totally different as were the tail lights. In 62, the tail light were juste the red cover. In 63, the canter of the light held the reverse light.This is a 1962 model year. You can google the two years and see the difference.