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Rusty Bird Of Prey: 1963 Ford Falcon

1963 Ford Falcon

If you are a Ford nut or just know your Ford history, you know the Falcon was one of the brand’s most significant models. Ironically, it is also one of their most under-appreciated classics. The Falcon has gone mostly unnoticed, as it’s flashier brother the Mustang is far more desirable. After seeing some racing success with the Falcon, Ford decided they should strap a sportier body onto the affordable Falcon chassis, which is how the Pony car was born. While the Mustang became an instant hit and went on to become an American icon, the Falcon was left in the dust to be forgotten. If you ask me, it’s about time the Falcon gets the recognition it deserves. This 1963 Falcon needs a new home and lots of work before it will be ready to be in the spotlight. Find it here on eBay in Port Saint Lucie, Florida with a $1,500 BIN. Thanks to Jim S for this tip!

Ford Falcon Engine

Falcon values have been climbing over the past few years, which probably has something to do with the ever increasing value of Mustangs. But, base model 6 cylinder cars like this one can still be had quite reasonably and even V8 cars are relatively affordable. Their affordability puts this particular car in a difficult situation, as it is being offered fairly cheaply, but to be a really good buy it is going to need to be a bit cheaper. The seller claims it will run and drive, but given the rust and overall condition it really needs to be a good driver to justify the asking price.

Ford Falcon Interior

The Falcon may not have received the same attention that the Mustang did, but it was actually quite popular when new. They were offered in a wide range of body styles, including coupe, sedan, and even a station wagon. Personally, the ’63 is my favorite year especially when its in Sprint trim. If this were one of the coveted Falcon Sprints, there would be lot of people interested in giving it a new home. Sadly, I’m not sure if anyone will tackle this base model. On the upside the interior looks complete and in surprisingly good condition, so maybe someone will snatch it up just for parts?

Ford Falcon Project

I’m glad the owner has decided to let this car go to a new home, I just wish they had done so sooner. It sounds like a pending move is forcing the sell, so perhaps they are open to offers. As long as the rust isn’t too extensive and the seller is willing to come down a bit, this could make for a fun project. As long as the rust isn’t structural, I would focus on getting her running and just enjoy as is. So would you tackle this rusty Falcon or is it too far gone?

Comments

  1. Avatar L.M.K.

    It’ll clean up . Seller says it’s a 1 owner car ….Maybe a hidden ‘slightly’ rusty or ‘possibly’ very rusty underneath , gem??? If I was closer I would certainly at the very least go and look at it.
    I always loved the simplicity of these. Just about every old timer on a pension had one when I was growing up. They were reliable transportation…… There’s one just like it, maybe a 61 though, in every episode of Mayberry……

    Like 1
  2. Avatar Rick

    If it was a Sprint with a 4 speed I might be up for it, but an old Falcon 6 sedan like that is nothing special, even in 2015.

    Like 0
  3. Avatar L.M.K.

    It’s not a sedan….It’s a coupe……

    Like 0
  4. Avatar stanley stalvey

    Ok then, I was wondering when you’d get around to something really juicy. There were high performance versions of these cars in those days and an easy retrofit or tribute can be done. All the parts are available and can be had, that is, if you can afford it.. I’ve seen them in person and liked it a lot..

    Like 0
  5. Avatar jim s

    the first new car my family owned was an early 1960 falcon. it was the first time we could go places, we had to ” save the mile left ” on all the cars before the falcon so my dad could drive to work ( my mon worked from home). first car that was the right size for my mon, all prior cars were to big and hard for her to drive even with automatic and P/S. first car we had that did not overheat on hills or in traffic, although it did get hot ( it had the aircooled automatic transmission,i think ). we put 100000 miles on it in 5 years most of them by my mother.

    Like 0
  6. Avatar jim s

    i think one of the other reasons the falcon was ” forgotten ” was that it was Rob MaNamara’s baby and when he left ford there was no one to promote it. the mustang was Lee Iacocca’s baby and he was still at ford promoting the mustand for all it was worth.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Bruce R. Colbert

      Did you know that the underpinnings from the first Mustang were from the Ford Falcon ?

      Bruce R. Colbert

      Like 0
  7. Avatar Chris in WNC

    great bullet-proof little cars.
    paid $200 for a rust-free ’62 in 1970s Tampa, probably overpaid for the market then.
    drove it for a year and when it quit I sold it to a junkyard for $35.
    that was before I learned to do my own repairs, the problem was likely something minor….

    Like 0
  8. Avatar geomechs Member

    A member of our club has one similar to this. Last summer, before our annual auto meet, they were test-driving it to ensure that it was ready for the trip to Missoula, MT (about 250 miles away) when a deer ran out in front of it. Let’s just say that the car fared out much better than the deer. However they came close to winning the Hard Luck award. They told the story about not being kind to animals when they killed a deer and injured a falcon.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar sammy

    I had a 1960 Falcon.
    Was sorry I sold it the second it was driven away.
    Falcons are great cars

    Like 0
  10. Avatar jeff6599

    LMK On page 411 of the Standard Catalog of American Cars, this car is referred to by Ford data as a 6 pass. 2 door sedan. You lose. Pay the gentleman!

    Like 0
    • Avatar LMK

      JEFF6599, That’s really interesting to me. I didn’t know a 2 door could be defined as a sedan.
      I’ll pay the gent…..I stand corrected but perplexed.

      Like 0
      • Avatar RichC

        It drives me crazy to see the commercials for the new “4 door coupes”.
        (Haven’t you heard that is why chicken coops only have 2 doors? If they had 4 doors they’d be called chicken sedans.)

        Like 0
      • Avatar Jeff S.

        If there is a B-pillar and a frame around the door glass it is a sedan, or sometimes called a businessman’s coupe if it is a two-door. Or, you can call it a shooting-break. It seems you can call anything a shooting-break these days…

        Like 0
      • Avatar DT

        A coupe has doors like on a convertible,no metal suround that goes around the windows,you should be unperplexed now

        Like 0
  11. Avatar Rick

    BooYah!

    Like 0
  12. Avatar St. Ramone de V8

    Falcons are kind of neat, and definitely affordable. This may be a 6-cylinder, but it’s a two-door, and I think the Futura trim level means it’s not really a base car. These things could be really sparse. This one may be rotted, and might be parted out, but there is interest in them. Hope it lives on.

    Like 0
  13. Avatar Harit Trivedi

    It appears to be Ford Falcon Futura.
    Is it a coupe or a 2-door sedan. Maybe both options were available, then it would be a 2-door sedan and not a coupe.

    Like 0
  14. Avatar Vincent Habel

    I don’t know what Ford called it but to me it is a 2door sedan. Rear window is too big for a coupe.

    Like 0
  15. Avatar fred

    Fixed up one of these for my big sister when I was about 15. She wanted it painted orange, that combined with my minimal painting skills resulted in an unintended “orange peel” finish and what looked like a giant rolling orange! It had the 144 six with automatic, a combination that a VW bus could nearly beat.

    Like 0
  16. Avatar Joe

    My very first car was a 60 Falcon, I was 12 at the time.

    Like 0
  17. Avatar Ian

    http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/monte-carlo-falcons.193273/

    http://www.fifteen52.us/project-st/history-lessons-1963-ford-falcon-sprint/

    I did a Google search to find out the story of the Ford Falcon Sprint factory teams that were entered in the 1963 and 1964 Monte Carlo rallies. Equipped with V8 power and 4 speed transmissions, they performed extremely well. It is said that the French organizers changed the rules prior to the 1964 event to favour smaller ( French )cars. This strategy backfired because then the Mini Coopers were able to do well.
    ( I am not sure how to copy and paste the url so that a double click will get to the page. I thought it should show up in a highlighted colour. Any help would be appreciated.)

    Like 0
  18. Avatar Dave Sheppard

    In Australia Ford manufactured this Falcon and continued to keep on with the name and performance enhancements to this day The last Falcons will finally be produced in 2017. There are many of these that have been preserved for the future. The mid 70’s versions with high power V8’s are very valuable collector cars.

    Like 0
  19. Avatar DT

    A Falcon coupe…..Id buy that ….in fact Id buy 10 of them…..its a 2 door sedan….but a Falcon coupe would be very cool

    Like 0
  20. Avatar RickyM

    Nice find Jim. Hopefully not too much rust and this should scrub us well.

    Like 0
  21. Avatar DT

    Now Im perplexed,Are there any coupes that have wind wing windows?? guess not?

    Like 0
  22. Avatar jeff6599

    Come on you guys. Don’t just guess at this information. Coupes can have a frame around the door window such as in a 1950 Ford coupe. They can also be a frameless hardtop style as on a 1955 Chev BelAir Sport Coupe. Both have vent windows. It simply depends what the manufacturer wants to call it. The old rules evolve. Y’gonna call Mary Barra or the SAE and complain?

    Look at the 53/4/5 Corvette; always called a roadster due to not having a fixed top and no rollup side windows (per the ageless original designation). From 1956 on, those corvettes have had rollup windows. Still called roadsters when indeed they fall outside the definition and should be called convertibles. All drop tops these days are true convertibles but many of the public like to call them roadsters. Racy I guess.

    Like 0
  23. Avatar Dave Sheppard

    to see the Australian produced coupe try http://www.google.com.au/search?q=ford+falcon+coupe+xm+xp.
    I don’t know if this will work (not tech savvy)

    Like 0
  24. Avatar Bill

    This listing has ended.

    Like 0
  25. Avatar Kary

    My (new purchase) 1963 Ford Falcon Convertible shows a vin as 3U53V163933. It doesn’t decode properly. Any help? Vin plate Body 62E, Color M, Trim 55, Date 07E, DSO 34, Trans 5 Axle 1.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Ralph Terhune

      Well, for one thing, the ‘U’ in the VIN designates the factory where the car was built, which is the Louisville Assembly Plant in Louisville, Ky. Falcons were never built there. Only full size Fords, Edsels and light trucks. The ‘V’ designates the 223 Mileage Maker six engine which only came in the full size Fords, Edsels and light trucks. Looks to me like someone has switched the original VIN plate for one from a full size ’63 Ford. Hope this helps.

      Like 0

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