Earlier today, I was thinking about Ford’s marketing innovation, you know cars like the 1957 Ranchero, 1962 Fairlane, and of course, the 1964 Mustang – all instances where they beat their nemesis, Chevrolet, to the punch. How about 1960 and the Falcon? Well, as far as their compact entry goes, the Bowtie Division pulled a fast one with the Corvair, but it was a horse of a very different color. To further bolster their position in that C-segment slot, they introduced the Chevy II in ’62 to keep up the pace with the more traditional Falcon and Plymouth Valiant. So, is the first-year Ford Falcon really worth commentary? I’d say that this West Covina, California example is – read on and see what you think. It’s available, here on craigslist for $9,500.
Looking at first-year production stats, the Corvair mustered a total of 250K units, not bad for a hardly typical American automobile design. But, in spite of the little Chevy’s multiple available trim levels, the plain old, and simplified Falcon (Did Enzo Ferrari really call them ugly little cars built in ugly factories?) managed to put up a 436K production stat. Wow, I guess Robert MacNamara was right!
This listing is a bit misleading as there were no Falcon Futuras or Sprints produced in ’60, those would come later though I think he’s referencing the mods that he has incorporated into this very Plain-Jane compact. For starters, there’s no wheezy 90 HP, 144 CI, in-line six-cylinder engine wasting engine room space. Nope, this Falcon is sporting a modified 260 CI Windsor V8 connected to a three-speed C-4 automatic transmission (as opposed to a two-speed Ford-O-Matic), and that in turn is hooked up to an eight-inch rear axle employing five lug axles. As can be seen, the engine is not completely together and the seller states that it needs to be finished. There are boxes of parts occupying the trunk – hopefully, it’s all there.
You would be hard-pressed to find a cleaner, less adorned exterior. It’s a repaint and it’s a gorgeous application in very deep red with the Falcon’s minimalist trim, and badging, removed. The doggie-bowl hubcaps help with the vibe but I don’t know about that nose-up attitude. It almost seems that this Falcon was photographed in between engine removal and installation as I have a hard time imagining that there’s that much difference in weight between the two.
The interior has been mostly restored too with the old, original cracked white tiller as the only significant remainder of this car’s past. There’s some shaky-looking wiring going on but it’s a sound environment otherwise.
I’m not a fan of attempting to finish other people’s projects and an almost finished, but not quite, subject such as this car, does make me a bit suspicious. That said, I really like what the seller has done here and I have to believe that he could recover more of his claimed $15K investment by completing the work that he has started. A parting thought? If a 260 V8 fits and is just right, why not a 302…?
Very similar to our XK/XL Falcons, but we didn’t get a Tudor until the XP.
Ford Australia should have brought these in.
And the same weasy 144. Lol.
Very nice looking, love the 260, most go for a 289/302 over here, a 260 adds jaw dropping power in my opinion, something different.
Would love to see this finished.
The rear right wheel is chocked in the pictures. It’s very possible there was no drivetrain at picture time.
I agree, also the front end is awfully high, if that engine is sitting in the bay. Unless he over calculated on the new front springs.
Well my thought is, a well built 260 is plenty to motivate a feather weight Falcon, and is closer to period correct. This one looks to be nicely done so far. The utilarian Falcon torched the competition for a number of years
First Cobras had a 260. What more needs to be said? I had a friend who owned one in the early 60s.
A 289 or 302 or even a 351 Windsor would easily fit and have lots more power!!!
I agree, but I’d want a clevo, if I was to upgrade the donk. But I do love the 260
This is where it all started. It had some advanced features when it debuted in 1960, such as the second Ford unibody car ever (the 1961 Lincoln Continental was first, despite the later model year). More importantly, it served as the bones for Ford’s most successful car since the Model T, the Ford Mustang. Recycled again into the Ford Maverick, by the second recycling, the platform’s age was beginning to show, and it had been replaced by the Fox chassis in 1979. This one appears to be worth saving, as it appears the restoration work was done to a high standard, but without viewing the car in person it’s hard to say. I do agree with those who suggested that a Ford 302/5.0L might be a more compelling selection, but there’s nothing wrong with a 260 that boring the cylinders and replacing stock crank with a “stroker” crank couldn’t fix, LOL!
The 1958 Lincoln Continental Mark III and Thunderbird were both unibody cars, unrelated to each other.
Wasn’t also a Granada a Falcon underneath?
No, the Granada and Zephyr twins were Fox-Body cars, the same platform as the 1979-92 Mustang/Capri twins.
Bob, i think u r thinking of the Fairmont(Zephr twin) which has rack & pin steering, which the Granada does not have. The latter even has an ancient PS control valve underneath, like the ’63 & newer Falcon had. lol
Wasn’t also a Granada an Edsel underneath?
Maybe your Grandma was an Ethyl underneath
It’s good to remember, that without the plain-jane McNamara Falcon, deliberately austere by his personal instruction…without that car, the Mustang simply would not have been.
Not that it would have cost more. It couldn’t have been. Because the Mustang was developed in secret, in a sort of ad-hoc skunk works, organized and under the instruction of Lido Iacocca.
Henry Ford knew nothing of the project and was negative to feelers that Iacocca put forth. Although an engineer by training, Lido was primarily a salesman, and it took over a year to sell Henry on his idea of a “Youth Car.” By the time Henry gave his angry, reluctant permission, the design was done, and all that was needed were prototypes and testing.
Part of the reason Iacocca got permission, in the end, was because the development cost was so LOW. It was low because the platform was there, and the Falcon engines were to be used in lower-trim models.
Hank the Deuce back then, listened mostly to his bean counters, and controller J. Edward Lundy was impressed by how much car Lee came up with for a miniscule investment.
It was a flexible platform. Mustang, Maverick, and the first-generation Granada (1975) all came off it.
And the Merc cousins, Comet, Cougsr and Monarch. On Donner, Dasher and Blitzen.
Indeed, it was the bechamel sauce Lee Iacocca used to make the spicy sauces he was famous for, for the first half of his career, as the K-Car was for the second.
Is that an ultra rare optional single! backup light i see on the center of the trunk lid?
Can i assume the optional exterior driver’s door mirror was not very common either?
I don’t see a backup light in the center of the trunk lid, but there is the fuel cap. Above that is the trunk lock, and a Ford emblem.
This saddens me. Looks like this was a beautiful old Falcon until someone altered it. So sad.
I yanked the stock 260 out of my 63 and replaced it with a 289!! The same car now has a 302 in it
Where is someone going to find such a nice recommission at this price? Very difficult and should not last long on the market for anyone who is not willingly “asleep at the wheel”. Easily completed for the novice, the hard work and investment complete… “Carpe Diem”…. Very nicely done ad with good photos. Kudos to the seller.
Jim ,are you for real? It is not the last one in the world and it is done very well. Get over it, you might have a nervous breakdown, if this bothers you, I Would suggest you don’t read the world news!
What a cutie!
CUTIE is a superb choice for this one, I would have loved to see it in my 3rd garage as a super bit of tinkering to finish it. Instead I’m having the fun finishing out my 54 Buick Century 2 door . on a 89 Caprice frame. wondering where to place a tach to handle the 401 nailhead horses…And where to find an FM radio.
Kudos to you for putting a Buick motor in your Century. So much more imaginative than going cheap and easy by stuffing a bellybutton bowtie in it. It’s going to be a classy and unique ride. Best wishes.
Looks very much like what I was driving and racing at Carlsbad raceway in 1970 when I got my draft notice. Big difference with a little help from some friends we stuffed a small block 327 chevy under the hood with a T10 four speed and a 9in rear end. Had a mild isky solid lifter cam and a tri power. Had to custom make the headers of course. But it was red like the one pictured, we had a bunch of fun till that pesky draft notice showed up. Sold it all in pieces cause when ya get drafted ya don’t know if you’ll be back. Wish I still had it, oh well.
My good buddy inherited his wife’s grandmother’s 1960 Falcon. He spent many years working on this car, turning it into a 645 HP one-of-a-kind build. It sports a custom interior which continues into the trunk, a Tremec 5 speed, custom hood scoop, a beautiful teal paint and so much more. He’s a perfectionist, and every inch of this car has been thought out to be the very best. It’s truly a magnificent car that draws a crowd everywhere he takes it.
Is it for sale let me get a phone number
Go to You tube, Harry’s Hotrod Garage, and look for Dale’s 1960 Falcon. You’ll see a cool video of this car.
Not a red fan but this is a nice red too.
The falcon was also the basis of mid 60’s Fairlane/Torinos & Comet/Cyclones.
Same basic chassis but with a stretched wheelbase.