1963 Ford Falcon Futura

Description

In case you haven't noticed, gas prices are on the way up, so what better way to enjoy a vintage drop-top than this affordable, efficient 1963 Ford Falcon Futura convertible. You may also have not seen one this well-preserved recently, and for a car that had modest aspirations, it sure gets a lot of attention out on the street.

It's bright Rangoon Red, the classic Ford color that looks great on any mid-60s Ford product, particularly the Falcon and its cousin the Mustang. The preservation is pretty impressive, although we're guessing it's been repainted once in the past 50 years. However, it offers nice sheetmetal that shows well; just look at how sharp the character lines are, particularly around the rear quarters. Historians will recall that the Falcon is a unit-body, but the doors fit well and don't sag, and the gaps are even all around. With the round taillights and long stainless side trim, it almost looks like a miniature Galaxie, which was the top-of-the-line Futura's mission. The paint has a great shine that isn't too hard for a 50-year-old convertible, making this a car that will be welcome just about anywhere it goes. The chrome is in good shape for its age, all the stainless shines up nicely, and the emblems look crisply rendered against the red paint. This car looks a lot more expensive than it is, but don't worry, we won't tell!

The Futura's interior was built for comfort and practicality, with wide bench seats that'll carry four in style and six in a pinch. We're guessing that the upholstery has been replaced at some point, simply because the seats are just too nice to be original, and they're matched by a pair of gorgeous door panels with bright metal inserts that look expensive. The dash hasn't been baked by the sun, and the carpets show minimal fading, which is important in a convertible. The instruments are original and might be showing their age a bit, but they work correctly and the lettering is bright and crisp. There's a factory AM radio in the dash, which still works and appears to be one of the few options this car carries. This modest Falcon also carries a nice-fitting white power convertible top and a correct red boot to give it a finished look. The trunk is also correct, with a plaid mat and full-sized spare with matching hubcap.

The lightweight Falcon carried a 170 cubic inch inline six that was all about fuel economy. However, it scoots around town and feels lively from behind the wheel and has a great six-cylinder burble from the single tailpipe out back. The block wears black paint and the bright orange valve cover makes it look sporty, and with a few factory-style details like the decal on the air cleaner, it looks fairly correct. The rest of the powertrain is made up of a 3-speed manual transmission that's fun to row through the gears and a 3.50 gearset out back, so the Falcon cruises on the highway without working hard. The floors are shockingly clean, suggesting that this car has lived a long, healthy life someplace warm and you'll have no worries about this unit-body ragtop getting weak in the middle. It also wears 185/70/13 blackwall radials on a set of wire wheelcovers that were part of the Sprint package, so it has the right look.

With bulletproof mechanicals and an honest look, you can buy this Falcon with confidence without spending too much. Drop-top Ford fun at a bargain price. Call now!