Good Starter Car? 1961 Ford Falcon

The Falcon was Ford’s first foray into the compact car market. Introduced in 1960, the car was retired in 1970, though a mid-size variant of the Fairlane was sold as a Falcon in 1970 ½. Success of the car is probably why Chevrolet introduced the Chevy II in 1962, though it already had the Corvair (which was engineered differently). The seller offers a 1961 Falcon 2-door sedan that’s in good shape for its age. It’s in need of a few cosmetic touches, but it could be a great first vintage car for a future collector. Located in Medford, Oregon, this simple sedan is available here on craigslist for $6,000.

Ford made few changes to the Falcon in its first three years, choosing not to mess with a good thing. A 144 cubic-inch inline-6 was standard, and the seller’s car has the next step up, a 170, which we’re told is original to the auto. It also has a “3-on-the-tree” manual transmission, which should be easy to drive unless you are a Millennial. With 137,000 miles to its credit, there’s no mention made of any rebuilding of major mechanical components.

The interior on this Falcon is original and will need work. The aftermarket covers on the seat bottom are likely hiding worn material. If you’re going to reupholster the seats, you might as well throw in some new carpeting. The seller says the vehicle has a few dents and no major rust, though the photos provided don’t point to either.

This is a running and driving car that has new tires, shock absorbers, and a replacement rear bumper. The brakes need some work, and the car comes with new parts for the buyer to install. If you’ve been wanting an old car to drive or restore, they don’t come much simpler than a 1960s Falcon, the car that later gave birth to the Mustang. Thanks for the tip, Jack M.!