Looking to inject some juice into the compact Falcon, Ford introduced the Falcon Futura Sprint in 1963 (marketed as a 1963 ½). It carried a 260 V8 and had a beefier suspension. The Sprint began to slowly flourish until Ford (accidentally?) did it in by rolling out the Mustang a year later. The seller has a second-year (1964) Sprint that looks mostly good, though we’re told it has some rough edges to be smoothed out. Located in Eastside, Washington, this beefy little Ford is available here on craigslist for $19,500. A thumbs up to “Curvette” for another great tip!
It wouldn’t be fair to call the Falcon Sprint a dry run of this Mustang, though both cars had to be on the drawing board at the same time. And much of the infrastructure of the early Mustangs came from the Falcon, which was introduced as a ho-hum compact in 1960. Because the Chevy Corvair was offered with some hot equipment along with the Studebaker Daytona, the Ford guys thought a hotter Falcon would find a market. And it almost did with 15,281 copies in 1963 and 18,108 more in 1964. But buyers lost interest when they saw the Mustang on the same showroom floor, and 1965 Sprint sales only totaled 3,196 units. There would be no 1966 Sprint.
The 260 V8 was replaced by a 289 in 1964. The seller explains how the Sprint was used as a mule to develop the Mustang GT-350 with the 271 hp 289 cubic inch V8. And it was a winner in the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally. Sprints were only available as hardtops and convertibles (just like the early Mustangs until the fastback was added). Bucket seats were standard with the Sprint, along with a snappier steering wheel, and a 4-speed manual was optional. Sounds like a Mustang, doesn’t it?
The seller provides a number of photos, but many of them are from Carroll Shelby’s days, and the others are closeups rather than full-length. We’re told the odometer has rolled over at 65,000 miles, and the 289 V8 has been tweaked a bit and a B&M shifter added for the C4 automatic transmission. Factory air conditioning is included for your Summer comfort.
The seller rates the car at 3.5 on a scale of 5 because it needs work on a “few things” – so what are they? One rear wheel well looks like it may have been modified. But it does run and drive, so maybe you can attend to those along the way. If you’re looking for an early Mustang, consider the Falcon Sprint because it’s a rarer car.
Would love to own this car really well done. Did not know that about Shelby and the Falcon. Great write up Russ learned a lot about the Falcon, Thank You.
“0-60 in 5.7 sec. in a Falcon!” – that was the blurb on the cover of Car&Driver when they covered the Monte Carlo Rallye. I’m pretty sure you couldn’t go down to Max Curtis Ford and buy one off the sales floor, but it was impressive.
Yep….seller is heavy on the Shelby reference and short on pictures but looks like a nice car……owned two of these 1964 Sprints even convertibles….didn’t notice any extra frame brace work…..
“The 260 V8 was replaced by a 289 in 1964.”
’64 Falcons — apart from the handful of race-prepped rally cars — didn’t get the 289 as it wasn’t offered as an option until the ’65 model year. Ditto the C4 transmission in Falcons so the engine and transmission have been swapped in. The VIN in the ad confirms that this car left the factory with the 260.
Doesn’t look to me like it needs much of anything (assuming it runs and drives well). Seems to be a decent car for daily fun – at a very reasonable price.
I like these as much or slightly more than the Mustang. (Buddy in high-school had a 144 6cyl. Falcon with buckets, console and a 3 on the tree.) We alternated between his Falcon and my 55 Chev convert as both our gals lived 100 miles away. So it was quite often a double date. I always drove as his driving skills frightened us all. So I have a lot of miles logged in a Falcon. I wonder what it would look like with the Mustang fastback 2+2 roof?
I had one in HS. Loved that car. More room in the passeger are than a Mustang. While wallpapering my wall with exhibition of speed and going a tad bitoo fast, I gave it my brother
I love the Falcon Sprint as well as the Calientes. Easy to work on and easy to find parts for too. I had the same cast iron AC compressor and heavy clutch on a full size Mercury. Kept them til they died and swapped to a lighter York and 4 seasons clutch.
My high school girl friend’s dad bought her a Sprint in 1965. Black, with a 4 speed manual, and she had a lot of fun, too much, and he took it back after a year. However, I got to drive it, a lot, and loved it. I probably would have taken a 289 Mustang over the Sprint then, but now I certainly would go with the Sprint. Lot of photos on the add, they could have been better, and I am going to ask the seller what those few things are.
Not all original, but a very nice car and likely gets more attention than the Mustang at a show.
I took the horn ring assembly off the steering wheel of my 64 Mustang–Underneath, the wheel was embossed “Falcon.”
Should have said “Falcon Sprint”…..same for 1964/65/66 Mustang steering wheels
Situated at the very north end of the Great Central Valley lies the city of Redding, California. In 1963 it was a relatively small town surrounded by tall Mountains to the north, west and east and mostly flat land to the south. It’s hot there in the summers with mostly mild winters. On the near west side of town sat Lou Gerard Ford. It was right across the street from the Carpenter’s Union hall. I would ride with my dad every Saturday morning as he checked in and visited with fellow Carpenters. I would walk across the street to look at new Fords on display in the showroom. Inside was a bright red 1964 Falcon Sprint convertible. It was loaded with 260 V8 4 speed manual, with vinyl interior and white electric top. Sprint wheel covers, am/fm radio and factory under dash air conditioning. Oh how I drooled as I imagined driving that car through the winding, hilly Quartz Hill Road and across the County to the nearby community of Central Valley where I attended High School. Of course my dad had no interest in buying me a car, and getting a job for me was out of the question as I had my daily chores on the 120 acre farm and school home work took up most of my time. Still for a 16 year old boy who loved cars and girls dreams were all I had.
God Bless America .
nice
Bucket seats were an option on the Sprint, bench seat was standard.
Cool little car ! I think the price is decent for a clean runner like this. I would love to have it and drive it as often as possible.
I had an exceptionally clean 66 Mustang with a straight 6 in 1976. Mustang gets all the hype but honestly I would pick this particular Falcon over a so called 64 1/2 Mustang to a 1966 Mustang. A 67 Mustang is a whole different story though.
i like this better than the stang notch. Of course the Mustang 65/73 FB like no other car (cept may B back to the 50s/60s Italian I always mention).
Here we have a solid example of the model when in the hands ofa wrencher w/respect (but I’d do the 5 oh as to efi & T5). The 260/4.3L can got to the Brits and other europeans (as they did). I call it ‘sleeper mods’ and I like them when the trim is ‘fleet’ mode. Along that last point this is in correct color. Not sure I’d pick the wheel as oem steelies continue the ‘fleet’ look – tiny chrome dust cover-like caps not even wheel covers added too?
One “thumbs up”; 2 with frnt discs and other fox or late model stang mods (shelby drop up frnt, heavy sway bar, lowered an inch or 2, 8 or 8.8 rear, blah, blah, blah…
Car is located in Carnation/Duvall