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?
I like this little Sprint, mostly because it’s different. The 260 is cool.
With regards to the “cachet” of a Mustang….well, honestly, I think I’ve seen every Mustang on the planet twice over by this point. Now, at car shows, unless there is a naked woman sitting in a Mustang, I walk right by it.
That would catch my attention too.
Does that happen often?
Actually Mike, we just had a car show at a clothing-optional community north of Tampa, just last month. I didn’t attend.
About 3 years ago I drove up to a show north of Tampa, drove down the long lane until I saw the car show, and parked the car. Then I noticed there were a lot of naked people walking around, about the same vintage as the cars.
Trust me, vintage cars generally look better with the hood up than their vintage owners do.
and 69 camaros
Anyone know what is on the rear leaf springs? Not a normal spring buckle, owner doesn’t show rear axle. Only pictures are tail pipes and shackle. Nice looking car but on lift and no reason not to show more is there?
I was kind of wondering why the gas tank filler tube was inside the trunk and not thru the body. Looks like they capped the filler hole.
These early Falcons have to have the fuel pumped in really slowly. Painfully slow and it can splash back on you. Its not super common but this fixes the problem.
I hope the new owner will aligh the 260 decal on the air cleaner as it should be! That drives me crazy.
I agree, if you’re taking photos trying to sell your car, how hard is it really to just rotate the dang cover like 1-2”? Really?
Too much unnecessary bling … ie. extra wide whitewalls, red accents throughout the interior, and the rear antennae. The Sprint was a street version of the Falcon Sprint rally car, not a carryover from the fifties. Where are the fender skirts and mud flaps?
Not a Ford floor shift and vinyl top was not available in 63 on Falcons
… or necessary . They looked much better without vinyl .
Owner mentioned the 260 eng. was getting a little tired. That engine came from the factory really sickly & tired and way under powered and kept them from selling many of them that had a 260 in it once it was out awhile and word got around. That was what brought about the 289 Engine to replace it. 1st thing I would do would be to put an “A” Code 289 in it or a “K” code 289. It would come alive then, and stay alive. Good looking car and deserves more power. I also wonder about that rear end deal and springs shackles myself also, something might be going on there as it was not shown very good and it would have been easy to do so…
Larry D , the owner did that on purpose because he knew you’d be watching. I’m sure if you asked him nicely he would fix it for you. But then never send you a picture. Your OCD would continue to haunt you. So may may need to bid high and bid often.
“…These cars share…” I prefer to wrd it the other way as this, the response to the vedub bug’s decimation of the us. of a’s auto industry – spawned the muscle era (stang) and SUV era (we R still under somewhat) the early bronk. Two motors I never understood were the ford 255 and 260. Not done enuff research yet on hopin up, but they were real dogs! Still europe put the 260 in their cars…
Nice…..not thinking that’s a factory tach…..they were a little different.
Rotunda tach was different than what’s on the instrument panel top, Rotunda was slightly smaller in diameter. 260 V-8, like most blue oval V-8s’ has a breathing problem due to head and exhaust design. That is why you often see the Mustang 5.0 litre, or 302 listed with GT 40 heads. A set of headers and the GT 40 heads will wake up the Ford small blocks. This from a guy who bleeds blue oval, although the orange engines aren’t to bad.