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The Mustang, Torino, and even the Granada all share its DNA, but this boldly restored first-gen Ford Falcon makes a claim for fame all its own.
The Big Compact
1963 Ford Falcon – carsforsale.com | Shop 1963 Ford Falcon on Carsforsale.com
The 1950s was a decade of big cars. Cars with big fins, big chrome grilles, and big burly V8s rumbling under the hood. By the close of the decade, it was clear that tastes were changing. Not only were buyers looking for more conservative styling, but they also wanted to conserve a bit of gas as well. Imports like the Volkswagen Beetle and Fiat 500 had new appeal. By the turn of the decade, Detroit automakers looked to counter these potential market inroads with their own “compact” cars. The Dodge Dart and Plymouth Valiant, Chevrolet Corvair and Chevy II, and the Ford Falcon all reduced the average size of the American car to boost affordability and fuel economy.
If you’re familiar with these cars, you’ll recognize that they were not, by our modern standards, all that small. But for 1960, the “compact” Ford Falcon was right sized for a market hungry for something smaller and simpler. Our Cool Car Find today is a 1963 Ford Falcon station wagon. This example is distinctive, spacious, and a steal at less than $30,000.
First Generation Falcon
For many of us, when we hear the Ford Falcon name our thoughts snap to the first-generation Ford Mustang. Sure, the mass market Falcon has been historically overshadowed by its more charismatic cousin, but the Falcon too was a best-seller in its day. The Falcon was the brainchild of Ford exec Robert McNamara who saw opportunity in building a smaller, more economical car.
The Falcon fit the bill. It debuted for 1960 with a 109-inch wheelbase and a “Mileage Maker” 144-cu.-in. straight-six making 90 horsepower and capable of 30 mpg. The Falcon was offered in an assortment of body styles starting with a two-door sedan or wagon, as well as a four-door sedan or wagon. Additional body styles would be added, including a two-door convertible and hardtop. The second-generation Ford Ranchero was also based on the Falcon, adding a utility truck to the list of optional builds. The Falcon was well received in its first year, selling 435,676 units in 1960.
The 1961 Falcon got a new optional 170-cu.-in. six-cylinder producing 101 horsepower. A new Futura trim was also added that year that featured bucket seats, as was a new two-door sedan delivery van. The Falcon Squire wagon debuted in 1962 with faux wood body trim.
For the latter half of its 1963 run, the Falcon received its most significant update, a new 260-cu.-in. V8 with 164 horsepower. This new Falcon Sprint was also to be the basis for the upcoming 1964 ½ Mustang. The Falcon architecture wasn’t just underpinning the Mustang and Ranchero, it would also share its DNA with the Ford Torino and Granada as well. The Falcon continued for another two generations before its final cancellation after 1970.
This Cool Car
Our Cool Car is a 1963 Ford Falcon wagon restomod (restored and modified) finished in a dazzling burnt orange and yellow two-tone paint job. The meticulously restored interior gets the two-tine treatment as well, this time in vary shades of tan. 17-inch alloy wheels are the most visually obvious modern upgrade. That is until you pop the hood to find this car’s 5.0L V8 with new aluminum heads and paired to a four-speed automatic transmission. Other amenities include a new Bluetooth enabled stereo, cruise control, and a center console. Despite its “compact car” status, this Falcon wagon offers copious interior space and cargo room. This Falcon wagon is restomodding done right, with restraint and an eye toward preserving that made the original car desirable in the first place while also adding functionality and horsepower.
1963 Ford Falcon – carsforsale.com | Shop 1963 Ford Falcon on Carsforsale.com
This 1963 Ford Falcon wagon can be yours for just $27,995.
