With values on 1st Generation Mustangs continuing to climb, some enthusiasts with limited budgets find themselves searching for a more affordable alternative. That could be where cars like this 1963½ Ford Falcon Sprint. These cars share most of the underpinnings of the early Mustangs but in a package that is generally more affordable than a pony car. This Sprint is an older restoration that still presents well. The owner has decided that the time is right for someone else to enjoy this classic, so he has listed it for sale here on eBay. Located in Hamburg, New York, bidding is sitting at $11,100 at the time of writing. The auction hasn’t made it to the reserve, which leaves some time and scope for interested potential buyers to get in on the bidding action.

The owner of the Rangoon Red Sprint says that it is an older restoration, but it isn’t clear when the work was undertaken. It still presents well, with paint that shines beautifully and a Black vinyl top that is in excellent condition. The panels are as straight as you are ever likely to find on a vehicle of this age, with no evidence of dings, dents, or any prior accident damage. The owner supplies some good photos of the Sprint’s underside, and it is as clean and rust-free as the rest of the exterior. He has replaced many of the exterior trim pieces, leaving them all shining superbly against the Red paint. The hubcaps are correct NOS replacements that are free from damage, while the tinted windshield, along with the front and rear glass weather-stripping, are new.

The 1963½ model year was the only time during the production of the 1st Generation Falcon that Ford offered a V8 option. In this case, it was the 260ci version that buyers could order backed by a manual or a Fordomatic transmission. Our feature Sprint features its original 260 under the hood. The little V8 should be producing 164hp, with that power finding its way to the road via a 4-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip rear end. Performance figures weren’t bad for a five-seat family car from this era. The Sprint should be capable of blasting its way through the ¼ mile in around 17.3 seconds. The original owner chose to order the Ford with power steering, which should help make light work of driving duties. The seller says that this little V8 is numbers-matching but that the T-10 transmission is a recent NOS replacement. He admits that the motor is starting to get tired but that the car still runs and drives extremely well. It seems that it is ready to be driven and enjoyed during the upcoming warmer weather, with the buyer having the option of treating the engine to a rebuild over the following Winter.

The owner describes the Sprint’s interior as excellent, and it is difficult to argue with him on that point. He has fitted a radio/cassette player and a set of speakers, as well as a Hurst shifter for the T-10 transmission. However, the rest of it is original and unmolested. The upholstered surfaces are flawless, with no signs of wear or other problems. The same is true of the carpet and dash, and there is no evidence of wear on the wheel. The plated trim pieces shine nicely, and the Sprint comes equipped with its original tach, dash clock, and console.

For the last few years, values between the early 260-equipped Mustangs and the 1963½ Falcon Sprint Hardtop have been running neck-and-neck. However, the Mustang has recently overhauled the Sprint and is drawing away at a steady rate. The Sprint has remained relatively steady during this time, with any value increases being minor. That means that there is a possibility that the Sprint will remain a more affordable alternative to the Mustang with each passing year. A Sprint probably doesn’t have quite the cachet of a Mustang, but it has it beaten in the rarity stakes. Ford had an enormous sales hit on its hand with the Mustang, and they sold 121,538 cars in the first year alone. Sales of the 1963½ Sprint Hardtop were significantly lower, with a mere 10,479 buyers slapping down the cash for one of these classics. There is nothing to split the 260-equipped Mustang from the Sprint from a performance perspective, but the latter offers a slightly more spacious and practical package for an enthusiast with a family. If you are looking for a car that should be a solid long-term investment, it is hard to go past the Mustang. If you are looking for a classic that is more affordable, practical and is rarer, the Sprint would probably be your choice. Which would you choose?