When Ford introduced the Falcon in 1960, there were only two other U.S.-built compact cars on the market. And since both (Rambler American and Studebaker Lark) were products of independent auto manufacturers, the Falcon shot right to the top of the sales chart. But by 1962 when this Falcon was assembled, there were now at least 10 vying for buyers – and Ford still led the way. As a station wagon with deluxe trim, this Falcon looks to be in amazing shape and may need nothing more than a new place to call home. From Nine Mile Falls, Washington, this survivor-quality vehicle is available here on eBay where $4,700 is the current ante.
In its third year, the Ford Falcon sold nearly 400,000 units, well ahead of numbers two and three which were both produced by Chevrolet (the Corvair and Chevy II, the latter being a new entry in 1962). More than a quarter of them were station wagons with either two or four doors, meaning they were family-oriented little cars. Perhaps the greatest appeal of the auto was its simplicity – it was basic, inexpensive transportation whose engineering was typical of the day (unlike the Corvair with a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine like the VW Beetle). It also used unibody construction which would later serve as the basis for the Mustang and other smaller Ford products.
This Falcon is as nice as they come and sports Deluxe trim, which means it was as fancy as things got in those days. Powered by a 170 cubic inch inline-6, it wouldn’t pass too many other cars but would bypass a few gas stations. It’s a well-documented vehicle with all sorts of receipts and sales slips. It even has a roof-mounted luggage rack which cost $39 extra in 1962. Because it spent much of its life in California, it hasn’t managed to catch the rust bug.
It’s not 100% original as the engine has been rebuilt. But that should equate to a dependable running automobile after more than 60 years. Only three parties have owned the Ford, having moved to Idaho and then Washington over time. In later years, it’s stayed nice enough to compete in a few car shows. We don’t know if it’s been repainted or if the interior has been redone, but we can’t fault the car for its presentation. It should be fun to drive, too, with its “3-on-the-tree” manual transmission (wouldn’t that confuse today’s teenage drivers?)
Always risky correcting authors, but with good intent, in 1960, there was another, the Valiant that featured the all new the Slant 6 and an alternator. The Corvair, also in 1960, was not in the same league. It’s unfair to automatically think how useless a car like this may be today, performance-wise, but we have to remember, cars like this had a specific duty, city cars relegated to short trips, the grocery store, Hebrew School after regular school,, and those horrid dr./dentist visits, that ironically, are still horrid. The 170 was the “biggie”, and Falcon also had a 144 in line 6. THAT was the fire breather( cough) when the timing went south, that is. T’was no road car, although many I’m sure were used as such, and could be a great city car still. Amazing someone kept a basic car like the Falcon like this all these years.
The Falcon wagon also did yoeman duty as a service vehicle back then as well. They filled a niche market for those that didn’t want a van like the Ecomoline series but wanted something with more cargo room than a cenventional sedan. There was a local TV repairshop(remember those?) that had a small fleet of five and I remember that over the years one after another would spend its last months immobile in the shops parking after it had finally been retired from service. I sometimes wonder what I could have done with one of them if I had offfered the shop a few bux for the little wagon, might have made a good low buck 1/4 miler,…
It’s true that the small 6’s were no fire breather at least in unboosted form. The one piece cast intake to head saw to that. But my 200’6 was getting 28 mpg when I got thru with it. And while it certainly didn’t break any speed records it did cruise at 80 from time to time. In a 1966 Ford Falcon with the C4 automatic. Ah the memories of nearly 30 years ago. I never should have given it to my sister.
Howard is right, Falcon wagons (along with Falcon sedans) were common in my small blue-collar midwestern town. Just seeing this one, I can hear the straight six doing its job. Not a fancy car, something to be said for simplicity. Those white knobs that yellowed and often broke. The wagons, they did their job ferrying the family. And later, used by the local plumber or TV repairman (remember those?).
Same seller for that gorgeous black Toronado we saw earlier this week.
Talk about two diametrically opposed cars.
Some dude had one of these Falcon wagons for sale last October at Cruising the Coast in Biloxi, MS. He wanted $15,000. I new it was too much. This one is much nicer.
My parent had both the wagon and the coupe version of Falcons. I remember my mom shifting the 3 on the tree manual transmission. Both were white. Neither spend much time in our garage though. After these, my Dad bought a 68 (383 automatic) Charger from the secretary at his work that couldn’t make the payments. And then mom would drive that. He got himself a 64 Plymouth valiant. Same 3 speed on the column. Then a 69 Dart Swinger. And you guessed it. 3 speed manual column shift. I don’t know if my dad seemed those out, or they were that popular
My parents had both the wagon and the coupe version of Falcons. I remember my mom shifting the 3 on the tree manual transmission. Both were white. Neither spent much time in our garage though. After these, my Dad bought a 68 (383 automatic) Charger from the secretary at his work, that couldn’t make the payments. And then mom would drive that. He got himself a 64 Plymouth valiant. Same 3 speed on the column. Then a 69 Dart Swinger. And you guessed it. 3 speed manual column shift. I don’t know if my dad seeked those out, or they were that popular
This Falcon is also three on the tree.
I know it’s nitpicking, but it looks like a key on the radio is broken off. Can’t beat these metal dashes… no worries about cracking. Overall, quite the find. I can certainly get more excited about this than yet another Corvette/Mustang/GTO!
Or might be stuck in.
Metal dashboards made quite a dent in your head in a collision. It was one of the “people stoppers” when the seat belt campaign was in full swing. I think it was, steering wheels, dashboards, windshields and seat belts.
They didn’t have plastic washer bottles in “62, did they?
I had a 65 Falcon 2 door post and it had the water bag, not a bottle. I think you are right.
I had a 1967 Galaxie 500 with 390 cu in engine. It had a black water bag, no bottle.
this, ‘round body’ looks better than ‘64+ ‘sq body’ but “Yes” bottle’s new. So is under hood paint @fire wall (body color, no?), motor color ok, but not alloy radiator (hate alu) & whats that along inner fender near (behind) where battery should go? Lub me any 1 piece stamped grill.
It was some kinda “bag”, like Ramblers’ that is a Kool car, I wouldn’t change anything on it, surprised it’s still original;
https://www.ebay.com/itm/305323347067
this is what i’d suggest.
That brings back memories for sure. My dad had a 50 Ford woody back then. Absolutely immaculate car. My mom saw a new Falcon Wagon and wanted it badly. Dad drove the woody to the local Ford dealership and they offered him like $300 on the trade so the Falcon was a no go.
What a nice little car. If I didn’t have parking lot full and needed a daily, I would slide into this in a heartbeat. Nice updates, aluminum radiator and jug. This makes old things more drivable. I did some of that to my 59 Squire. I put a plate under the carb and eliminated the draft tube and made the coolant system closed and added a duel brake cylinder. Small things make old cars very versatile and in today’s world cool and old with go anywhere abilities and no payments is a blessing.
5 speed manny or 4 speed (OD) automatic, better ign system/hotter spark and induction sys. up grades (carb or efi, even turboed), disc up frnt and suspension/exhaust upgrades all improve performance (thats pep AND MPGs). None require ‘engine out’ but satisfy many a modern driver (or me, an ol man) as daily drivers.
What????
wertg qrr gtfg
awerr111 efr and err 5sp t othe 5th right ?
Probably more likely a DUAL brake cylinder!!
My grandfather had 2 4 door falcon’s at the same time. Automatic though. They were great little cars. He had a farm and would say “we need to got to town”. I was just a kid and he would say….you drive and off we went.
invented to stem the ve dub bug invasion & decimation of the merican auto manufres it (sedan/coup) brought on the muscle (‘stang is just fancy falcon) and suv (my bronk is justa 4WD falcon) era we still seem to B in (latter). For 60 yrs I’ve loved “the smaller cars” (’58/60 rambler, ‘50s – late ‘70s european sports/GT, fox-bodied, smaller Dart & K cars w/slanty, cheb II, AMX, etc).
K cars almost killed Chrysler Corp
To chrisfulo…..speak English bub.
I had a 62 2dr Sedan
Floorboards front and back rusted out. 144/6, 3 on the tree, slowest car you could own, lol. BUT, it handled great even with the horrible tires in 1970. My friends with “sport” cars couldn’t catch me.
I had a 62, straight 6, 3 on the tree. Was real good on gas but burned a lot of oil.
over 60 yrs old means lots done to this vehicle (even w/only 4 or so owners).
Even in lesser condition (read: affordable to me) it would B @ or close to number one in choice for DD.
The roof rack is just the cherry (where? on top) as I have same on my ’70 bronk. Also had the 2.8 here for 40 yrs of woods work and hwy haulin before the 4.1/5 speed went in.
Just a lill too shinny for me but something to use only ppl haulin (something I dont do). BTW: 15 yrs ago my focus wagon (WB 104 inches) took a palletized 500 lb engine stuffed in by fork lift. This at 5 inches more should haul even bigger payload but I’d not wanna scratch the beauty up…
What a beautiful old wagon. I’d love to drive this to some of the local car shows or meet n greets. I’d park right next to the ’69 Camaro and I bet more people would look at this wagon. We’ve all got stories about these, so I’ll save mine. It’s great to see that someone saved one of these.
I took another look at the interior pics. Mine had metal blank out buttons and panels in the dash. What are all of those white things!? ’62, thats when you could buy one with no heater or defroster. It was a salesmans car so was the lowest line you could get, rubber mats and all. That was before the floors went south, as mentioned earlier.
The white aftermarket tank is probably a “ coolant overflow tank “ to go with the aluminum radiator…
I know a lot of people would disagree but I’d put a 289 and a 4spd in it completely stock and a 9″ rear something around 3.73 gears,front disc brakes with a booster and vintage air. Then drive it and enjoy. I did a 2dr many years ago and used all the parts out of a wrecked falcon sprint. That motor was a 260cu. It turned out great
Precisely what I was thinking. I’d add mini tubs and a pump gas 347. What a wonderful little sleeper she’d be.
Babysat for a nice “hippie-esque” family in the early 70s. They had one of these & amazingly let me borrow it. Will never forget the horror I felt as drove down the street, shifted & the “branch” on “the tree” broke off in my hand.
Norma, that happened to me with my 4 speed shifter in my Pinto. There was about half an inch of lever still remaining. Fortunately, that was when I still carried my tool box in the car. I was able to clamp my vice grips on it, and drove it to the shop.
Ah, the manual choke on the dash. Now that would confound the younger generation. Use of it was an ART form, loved them myself. Now remember son, use the choke when the motor is cold. Never use it when hot, if you do then you will need to hold the accelerator pedal to the floor to get it to start.
Fun memories!
We, too, had a ’62 Falcon wagon that although not the fancy edition, was the same color – I believe it was called ‘Baffin Blue’.
Wagons are cool and this one is nice. Yes, there are a few nits, but like the water bottle vs bag, can be dealt with. Personally, I wouldn’t change much beyond making it safe/going through the systems (brakes, etc).
The 170 and 3 on the tree are plenty for local cruise ins and similar. About the only extra I’d consider is an underdash AC for the Florida summers.
I like it.
My sister had a 63 4dr with the Fordmatic automatic and 170. It was very and it was okay on the highway (not fast but kept up).When she finally replaced it with an Austin Marina, it sold to a guy who was very happy to get it in spite of it needing a brake job and a few other things.