During the 1960s, Ford battled Chevrolet for domination in the compact car field. Chevy usually won because they had two entries (the Corvair and Chevy II) versus one (the Falcon). In 1963, the Falcon was in its fourth year and was little changed. The seller’s coupe looks like a Futura model because of the extra exterior bling, but it’s a project somewhere between a regular econobox and a race car. Located in Abbotsford, British Columbia, this little car comes with two of many things and is available here on craigslist for $3,900 (USD?).
From the photos provided, we’re not sure of the status of this project. Some show the car with no rear end installed and wearing aftermarket wheels. The others portray it in completely stock form with poverty hubcaps. The seller was planning to replace the inline-6 (144 or 170 cubic inches?) with a 289 V8. And ditch the 2-speed automatic for a C4. The newer stuff came out of a Mustang, and the seller will send them along with the car in case the buyer wants to do a transplant. Changes in the seller’s health have prevented him/her from turning the Falcon into a racer of sorts.
Some work has already been done. The Ford has an 8-inch rear end with posi-traction (perhaps also from the Mustang). A high-ratio steering box is also now in place, along with a new fuel tank and a rebuilt heater. Some body work may be needed as the seller is also including the sheet metal needed to handle a couple of repairs in the back half of the car.
A bit of interior work also seems to have been accomplished, as the seat covers look new. And you’ll be treated to a couple of boxes of new interior pieces like window cranks and dashboard chrome. So, you’ll have to decide whether to stick to the seller’s course or go with a restored econocar and sell off the extra powertrain. Kudos for the tip, “Curvette”,
It doesn’t make financial sense to finish turning this into a race car. None of the components that come with it will work in their current form for anything other than a stock or slightly modified street car. Anyone that has spent time at a track will regularly see 10 or 11 second turn key cars that are actively being raced selling for well under $15,000, often under $10,000. This Falcon will cost significantly more, so unless it’s someone’s specific dream to have a 1963 2dr sedan Falcon race car, they should pass.
Steve R
I like these
I don’t know what it would take to get it across the border, might be better off having the seller meeting you in Sumas or Lynden letting them deal with customs. So you don’t wind up like that guy getting fined $60k for trying to bring his RV to a US dealerto sell it and being turned away because the US manufacturer didn’t put a vin on it when they sold it to him.
what a shame. looks like it was a solid car before it was ripped apart. what a clown. stupid is is stupid does
It would be a shame to trash this little car to turn it into a racer.
WOW, is this ’63 Falcon the Canadian version? I had two, count ’em TWO Falcon’s in the 60’s. I had bought a new ’64 just before I was discharged from the Air Force, couldn’t afford anything bigger, OR that powder blue Mustang in the showroom, although it was only $400 more than the Falcon. The 144 ci 6 with 3 “on the tree” ran really well. I liked the ’64 so much that 2 years later (1966) was gonna trade a POS ’56 Plymouth Wagon on something newer. “Wifey” and I were sitting in the Ford dealer’s showroom in Hightstown, NJ, across the highway from where we lived. It was a rainy night when a red ’62 Falcon drove by and we asked the salesman about it. He told us it was just traded. We went to the service area to look at it with its 4 mismatched tires, one of which was a snow tire! Anyway, I got the car the next afternoon – the dealer had put 4 new tires on it, an oil change, lube job and a complete tune-up. Total cost? $600! It ran as good as the ’64, same engine & drive train. Ran both of ’em over 100,000 miles, good little cars!
The ’63 shown looks like the ’62 I had, but the roofline looks like my ’64. Ford Canada did do things a little different with some of their models, even changing model names. Could this be one of those? Not sure I’d want to tackle the restoration, though…
Thank you for your service, Jack. US Navy here, discharged in ’77. Looking back, I wish I’d stayed in for twenty but rather than Bosun’s Mate, Seabees instead. I’m not much of a Ford guy but did own a ’71 Pinto and a ’80 F150. I do like the looks of the Falcon. A local guy has a drag racer Falcon and does quite well at Thunder Valley near Marion, SD.
I thought the Candian version of the Falcon was called the Fronteac with a different grill and rear end treatment. Plus some other version of Mercury such as the Monarch and Meteor brands all with different grill and rear end treatments.
They are 2 different cars ,look closely.
Good call Don..
I see 2 different wheel covers/hub caps, different photo angles and a missing rear axel, but the cars are the same…