The early 1960s were an important time in automotive engineering because compact unibody cars started to take off in popularity. One of the pioneer vehicles in that movement was the Falcon.
The Pick of the Day is a 1965 Ford Falcon two-door hardtop listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Boyd, Texas. (Click the link to view the listing)
“This car drives like a much more modern car due to enhancements to the front suspension and brakes,” the seller states. “Stops on a dime with no shakes or pulls.”
The Falcon was produced for about a decade between the 1960 and 1970 model years. It was originally developed as a scaled-down version of the full-size Galaxie and shared architecture with its rebadged sibling, the Mercury Comet. The compact segment would later be joined by competitors such as the Chevrolet Chevy II and others.
This example of the Falcon comes from the second generation which was launched in 1964. The car’s unibody chassis by that time had been made available in a wide variety of body styles including coupes, sedans, station wagons, hardtops, convertibles, and even sedan deliveries. Its frame became the basis for other vehicles in the Ford family, including the Ranchero “coupe utility” pickup and the all-new Mustang pony car. Ultimately, that Mustang sales drew a great deal of marketplace attention away from the Falcon.
Power under the hood comes from a “Legendary” 302cid V8 that is upgraded with headers and a Holley four-barrel carburetor according to the listing. The seller mentions that the engine is strong as-is, but it could be upgraded with more power if needed.
Similar mechanical upgrades bring this compact into a more modern era. These options include cold air conditioning, rack and pinion steering, power front disc brakes, custom gauges, an aftermarket radio, tinted windows, a tilt-adjustable steering wheel, front lap belts, and a console with cup holders. The wheels were sourced from a Mustang GT and are shod in Cooper Cobra Radial G/T raised-white-letter tires. The overall theme of this car seems to be “classic looks with modern convenience.”
It’s worth noting for about halfway into the 1970 model year, the Falcon name came back briefly on an intermediate-sized car that shared bodywork with the Maverick. Shortly thereafter, the intermediate lineup took on the Torino name and the entry-level car became the Pinto.
It’s now been over 50 years since the Falcon name took a hiatus. Maybe the Falcon is due for another run? Perhaps Ford has something in the works.
The seller is asking $28,900 for this nice-looking Texas-based hardtop.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Pretty expensive for a parts car…..it would take another $10K to restore it back to original, where a person could actually find replacement parts once the “upgrades” started wearing out….P.T. Barnum was right.
Unless the seller provides the list of suppliers used, and they don’t go out of business from time of purchase to need of replacing.