Pity the poor Falcon. A perfectly good car that provided most of the parts to make the Mustang, it has lived in the pony car’s shadow forever. The target market for the first generation Falcon, arriving in 1960, was import-buyers who wanted small economy cars. The compact Falcon, with its restrained styling and six-cylinder motor, was dreadfully dull at first. But that didn’t prevent it from selling 450,000 copies in its first year. As engine options and trim levels expanded, the Falcon generated more excitement – until 1964, when the Mustang appeared. By 1965, Falcon sales were falling off dramatically, and by 1970, the Falcon was no more. Here on eBay is a 1965 Falcon Sprint two-door hardtop, bid to $10,000, reserve not met. This car is located in North Augusta, South Carolina, and it’s not currently running.
The seller says the black over red color scheme is the way this Falcon left the factory, though the car received a black repaint about twenty years ago. The Sprint trim level included bucket seats, a “sport” steering wheel, special trim details in and out, and mechanical upgrades. As a cost-saving measure, the console was at first standard, then an option for the “new lower-priced Sprint”, all within about a year. This Falcon’s carpet is threadbare, but the seats and headliner are tolerable. The door panels are in the trunk, along with other trim bits.
The Sprint dished up a V8 to its buyers – a 260 cu. in. starting mid-way through 1963, and a 200 hp 289 by 1965. Of course, a V8 was also available in the Futura, but the Sprint offered beefier suspension. Only 3100 Sprints were sold in 1965, thanks to the Mustang. This car has its original engine and four-speed manual transmission, but the seller indicates that it needs a new gas tank and a carburetor rebuild in order to run. Four-wheel drum brakes were standard, and I can say from experience that an upgrade to discs is a big improvement – almost necessary.
Rust scars the Falcon’s underside. The listing notes that the car spent most of its life in Georgia, where salted roads are unlikely, but humidity is not. This car is missing badging from its nose, grille, and flanks – perhaps these items are among the jumble of parts living in the trunk. The driver’s door doesn’t line up perfectly (that’s the downside of side trim – misalignment is obvious!) All that said, if it’s not too rusty, this Sprint offers some upside: the colors are great, the 289 offers plenty of power in stock form and it’s easy to upgrade, most parts are easy to find, and it’s a bit rare. Low production leads to a premium in the marketplace, as nice Sprint hardtops will sell for over $20k. But be sure to check the door tag if you go Sprint-shopping: the body code will be 63D on a 64/65 bucket-seat hardtop. What should this seller settle for, to move his Sprint to a new buyer?
Love this car, nice write up ! If it is as it appears to be, I think the price is reasonable. I’m the type that would proudly display this at a show over a Mustang of similar vintage. Just the rarity factor,,, 289, 4 speed, what’s not to love ?
They’re great. I had a ’65 Futura with a 289, black over black, white convertible top. On the second day I drove it, some guy followed me to work and asked if I would sell it! It never ever let me down, but I did have to revamp the brakes. I kept the drums but used race-quality shoes. Better, but not as good as a disc conversion.
Yes, true. Drums at all 4 corners is something not to love ! My first car was essentially the same, a 1972 Mercury Comet GT/302. All drums, no vacuum assist and some slop in the front end. Made for a heck of a ride ! Wow, 1987 was actually a long time ago.
Well, with all due, I see it a little different( how odd) I PRAISE the Falcon. Not only the Mustang/Cougar, but led the way in vans with the Falcon Econoline,( Falcon name dropped in ’66) Ranchero, and later base for the Granada/Monarch, and the name lived on until 2016 “down under”. I’d say, the Falcon was the most important car Ford made.
Not much is said about the “Sprint” package, but it was a cheap motorheads dream, much like a V8 Nova, V8 Dart/Valiant, V8 Rambler :),,and so on. Low buck thrills, with a shred of class and the Falcon Sprint was Fords entry. It was, by all accounts, the coolest Falcon( as if) previously relegated to people you wouldn’t normally associate with cool, the Sprint changed that. Many a motorhead got their start with cars like this, moving on to the “big block” monsters later. I can hear dad now, “how much trouble could junior possibly get into with a Falcon”. Mom nodding in hesitant approval.
Some may remember my Sprint story,,,,a guy in HS that was older than us, had a ’64 Futura, 2 door, 6, stick, and he “found” a ’65 Sprint, like this, that he cannabalized for the ’64, and the ’65 was not that bad. Certainly worth more than the Futura, we thought, but at that time, both were just $100 beaters. So he took most out of the ’65, and haphazardly put into the ’64. It was a poor conversion, and if memory serves, he wrapped the ’64 around a tree anyway. Great find..
Sounds like his karma hit a tree..
Good followup, Howard.
We can see why you are the car guru you are, Michelle.
My teenage girlfriend talked her Dad into letting her buy a 64 Sprint conv. 260-4spd. Nice car until somebody t-boned it while I was driving. Btw, I’ve been married to her for 52 years. Missed the car for awhile. So much so, that I gave her a 63 Falcon conv. for our 30th anniversary. Manual steering and brakes was just too hard for her so we sold it after 6 years. She likes her ‘modern’ Ford with power and AC. Gotta keep the Wife happy.
Love the 4 speed. Cool car. Door seams look crunchy and don’t know how good the whole floor is .Get the stuff out of the trunk and take pics of the trunk floor.A pic with a pile of parts is a waste of a pic and time imo. Judging by what I see by the sellers pics and it’s a #’s v8 4 speed car it’s worth his bin imo but I’d have to really look at it closely first and bring a magnet .glwts.
Love these Falcon Sprints with V8s. You’re right, a front disc conversion with power booster would be nice. The fact that it’s also a manual is a big plus. All parts for these Sprints are super easy to get. Good find
Ran when parked always begs the question why was it parked and left to sit. Looks clean and would be fun to Tinker with to get it back on the road.
Ran when it was parked and sitting for a while equals motor transmission rear end brake and fuel all fluid systems will be spewing like Niagara falls once you start moving this car. So again starting off $10,000 in the hole is a very bad thing.
Would be a blast when completed…
Do I see a ’67 B-body next to it!?
Looks like mice got to the right rear seat-back. From the looks of the hose clamps threaded together, around the steering column, I’d say the car spent some time on the drag-strip. Yes, one really has to wonder why a car of this calibre would be left sitting.
Howard A, am trying to fathom “found”. Can you elucidate?
Hi OCG. “Found”, as in, a neighbor, a work related buddies mom, Auntie Alice,, the WANT ADs in the paper( remember those?), these cars were all around. Many junked for sometimes simple reasons. If a yard knew it could be sold in one piece, they’d keep the titles. My 1st car, a 1958 Volvo 444, was “found” in a junkyard, in great shape, just needed a coil, and the yard owner knew that and kept the title. For example, that guy “found” the ’64 from a neighbor, with a very tired 6 cylinder,,,”found” the ’65 Sprint in a junkyard while looking for parts for the ’64. We didn’t understand why someone would scrap a ’65 Sprint in seemingly nice condition, but who knows? It’s how many on a budget, including me, got many of our cars.
RE: Dragstrip. Perhaps, but remember, every stoplight back then, was a dragstrip, and these cars took a beating, DAILY. Why such a cool, to us, car like this is sitting, only bolsters my opinion, nobody cares, and for that, I pity the poor Falcon.
Stationed in North Florida in the early 80’s falcons were going for 300 bucks in Louisiana only if I had a trailer back then
Here’s a Ford that they got right. THese were pretty quick with a few modifications. One beat my 67 Mustang 390 one time.
I know I’m an outlier, but I’ll take the other of today’s Falcons. Give me a bench seat and an inline 6 any day of the week. Something about the sprint always looks like it’s trying too hard.
Had a 65 hard top 289 over 30 Hipo crank, rods, Jahn 12.5 to one pistons, hipo heads roller rockers 4speed. Could not get traction with the 4:56 locker rear. G-60 14s where the biggest tire I could run on it no street slicks at the time. Painted it 67 vette Marlboro Maroon. Bought a 67 mustang fast back roller for 350 bucks put all the parts in it sold the falcon roller for 250.
I prefer the looks of the Falcon over Mustang all day long. Never was a fan of see one see em all Mustang Also they made nearly 6 million between 54 and 66. Not a rare car whatsoever. Dime a dozen.
Took my first state driving test, in 1975, with the “second, family car”, a ’65 Falcon two-door; its only options were front seatbelts and a Cruis-O-Matic tranny. The gent giving me the test was worried a buzzer would go off if he didn’t buckle up (he wasn’t allowed to!). Even at sixteen, I knew he was not real smart…
Strut towers braced to the firewall. Like the strength improvement. Cool looking car imo.
Auction ended at $10,000. I wonder if the trim is misaligned because the hinges are sagging. The front of the right door is never shown.
accident, or hiding worse sagging?