This was such a cool leading photo that I couldn’t resist showing it. We all know the plane isn’t included in the $17,500 asking price for this 1963 Ford Futura Sports Sedan, but hey, a guy can dream. I wish we knew more about the plane, but this Falcon is fantastic! The seller has it posted here on craigslist in Shoreline, Washington. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Scott for the tip!
Here it is in all its patina-heavy glory, the two-door “Sports Sedan”. You would sometimes see a vinyl top, along with, of course, wheel covers and thin white wall tires. This one has gone partial Detroit Steel (TV reality show related to a company called Mobsteel), although these 15″ Thunderbird rims aren’t exactly Mobsteel. Sorry, that was too confusing. I could have just said this car is wearing 15″ Thunderbird rims and Redline radial tires.
The first-generation Falcon was made from 1959 for the 1960 model year until the end of 1963, and the body styles were endless. I don’t have to do a Photoshop version for once. You can see some rust on this car, and I have to wonder if a person could find an almost perfect example for $17,500 out there somewhere.
Then again, check out the perfect interior! The seller says it was redone three years ago. The first thing I always look for is a third pedal, but this car originally had Ford’s two-speed automatic. It’s been upgraded to a C4 three-speed automatic, according to the seller. The seats look perfect, both front and rear, because they are. We don’t get to see inside the trunk or underneath. We do get to see one shot of the new suspension, and it looks great in that wheel well. I’m sure the updated modifications make this car handle great compared to the six-decade-old parts.
The engine is a 200-cu.in. OHV inline-six from 1966, a nice upgrade from the original 170-cu.in. that was in there from the factory. This 200 would have been rated at 121 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque when new. There has been a ton of work done on this car, along with an exhaustive list of upgrades, so please check out the seller’s listing to see everything included in that $17.5K asking price. Any thoughts on this upgraded Falcon Futura?
Anybody know the make and model of the airplane 🛩 ?
It kind of looks like an old Piper J3 Cub. But I’m not sure Stan.
Cessna 140.
Ok, you probably have a lot more knowledge on the subject than myself, but it looks like it could be an Aeronca Sedan. What say you?
Cessna 140 taildragger looks like metalize wing and fuselage. Wonderful to fly 2 passenger.
Cessna 170A
Cessna 170A. Metal wings, small flaps. I’ve owned three 170’s
Cessna 170A. Metal wings, small flaps. I’ve owned three 170’s
Early Falcons have gotten fairly collectible. For this example: interior looks great, powertrain has been modestly upgraded, quite a bit of mechanical work. All are to the plus column. But to me, it cries “please fix my rust and give me a fresh coat of paint.’
Good write-up Scotty, and good lead photo.
Not sure how the site does this, tapped into my psyche somehow, they are.( Yoda’s OSV) Remember the guy when I was in HS, ( 1971) he was a bit older, and had Falcons. One was, I kid you not, was this exact car, EXACT,,mind you. When “Drew” got it, had a blown 6 cylinder, real cheap, perfect body/interior, $100, if that. He then “found’,,a,,sorry, this is the rough part, a ’64 Sprint, 260, 4 speed, that wasn’t that bad, another $100, tops, they were going to junk it anyway, little rust, he,,,and us chums under his folks shade tree, took everything out of the Sprint, clearly the more collectible of the 2, cobbled it into the ’63, and JUNKED the Sprint. Oh dear, stupid punks. The transition from the 6/automatic didn’t go well, as figured, and he ended up wrapping it around a tree anyway.
It always amazed me, such a basic car turned into one of the most successful cars of all time, the Mustang. The plane? Dang, once again the author gives the knife a turn, I really missed the plane in life, sitting in that confounded tin can all those years. I had friends, single friends that dabbled in flying, but I was too busy or broke to even think of something different. I wasn’t alone there. The top wing is the preferred type, the ground is just too busy,, maybe next time around, if any.
$17.5k ???. I don’t think so. Not even a V8 car and just because you restored the interior still doesn’t make this $17k territory. I think there are better examples out there for this money.
Perhaps I’m reading the CL ad incorrectly but what does a $100k ‘overhaul’ of a 200 six cylinder and a C4 transmission entail?
A.G., I think that’s 50K, as in miles on the replacement engine and transmission, without the dollar sign?
If your going to strip out that much of the front end, at least scrape the bare spots and put rust converter on it and have before and after pics. Although relatively straight and complete this would be considered a project listing on auction sites without a reserve being allowed. As a ford guy i might bid it to 7K if on the east coast side of the Mississippi and that would be with a lot more pictures. Nice or not; not a fan of the all bright red or lighter blue interiors of the 60/70s. I would have gone for two tone with some maroon on the seats too break it up, Maroon carpet. Needs a nice wood and chrome staring wheel. Not like it is all original with the C4. And yes a nice lead picture.
I don’t know if I’m more in tune with today’s prices or some of you are, but some people here always say the asking prices are ridiculously high while I think the price is reasonable. Early sixties two door post cars like this are bringing far more than the original price was when they were sold as throw-away cars. Search for an early sixties Valiant, Nova, or Falcon to see what I mean. This car has some nice upgrades that would make it a fun driver that will be easy to keep up and insure. The price is a little steep but I suspect it will sell for somewhere near the ask.
The airplane is a Cessna 170, the tail dragger predecessor to all the 4 seater tricycle geared Cessnas that followed. They were built 1948-56 so it’s much older than the falcon beside it. I’d like the falcon a lot more if it was repainted for that price.
I think you are right Scott, the 140 had 2 wing struts each side 170 1 each side, rear side windows were larger on the 170. great planes
Thanks for the plane info, Scott. It’s a weird coincidence that the Cessna is the same model number as the Falcon’s original engine.
It sits well and has some well thought out modifications, but it’s still a 6 cylinder sedan, which isn’t particularly high on the desirability chart. The seller might be on a fishing expedition, sometimes sellers get lucky. I don’t think the market will support the asking price with so many other options available for the same money or less.
Steve R
Cessna 170?
Yep a 170, very good looking bird
How about I pay the asking price, you keep the car and I take the Cessna?
A friend in school had one… same configuration: 2 door/ 200 ci six and an Tree on Da’ Tree.. Somewhere around 200,000 miles on the odometer.
the differential was shot. We headed off to the junkyard to see what they had that might fit.
Out of the corner of my eye’ I spot a “62 Pontiac Tempest.
Yes… I know the tempest had a rear mounted transmission/differential( 2 speed). but for a brief instant, I thought we could “jury rig” something so we would have 6 forward speeds! We figured that it should be good for at least 200 mph (and 200MPG!)
We left the junkyard empty handed. We chickened out.
Thank GOD!!