1963 Ford Falcon Sprint

Description

For those of you not up on your Ford Falcon history, this 1963 Sprint hardtop is one of the rarer models thanks to one-year-only production and lots of performance. Cleverly upgraded and beautifully finished, this jaw-dropping little hardtop provides Mustang-grade punch with a decidedly un-Mustang look that's worth a closer examination.

Of course, this little Falcon Sprint is pretty far from stock, but we'll get to those details soon enough. The first thing you'll notice is that gorgeous copper metallic paint, which practically leaps off the sheetmetal and slaps you around for a few seconds when you first see it. Finish quality is extremely impressive, with a spectacular gloss that only comes from hours and hours of tedious sanding. The Falcon had new styling in '63 and it was clearly inspired by big brother Galaxie, so while this was an affordable car, it sure didn't look cheap. Great panel alignment is critical on this car with those dramatic side spears and deeply sculpted body panels, so they did their homework and got this one right. Nice chrome and trim was obviously restored and someone with vision put it together, because there's not a single cut corner or half-hearted piece anywhere to be found on this car. It sparkles at every single level.

The tidy black bucket seat interior was a big part of the Sprint package's appeal. Foreshadowing the arrival of the Mustang a few months later, the tidy buckets look racy and work well with the Sprint's split personality. Gorgeous door panels were standard equipment in the Falcon, one place where Ford really seemed to splurge on the design budget, and a body-colored dashboard and tilt steering column emphasize the twin cockpit design. A modern 4-spoke billet steering wheel and modern gauges are the most obvious modifications, but you'll also find a trick tach mounted on top of the dash, which was original equipment on the Sprint. We love the industrial look of a 4-speed shifter just sticking out of the transmission tunnel, and the back seat is roomy enough to be comfortable for adults. There's also a well-finished trunk with a reproduction mat that helps blend the old and new.

As you'd expect, most of the big upgrades are under the hood. The Sprint was the first Falcon to offer Ford's 260 cubic inch V8, but in this car it's a stout 302 cubic inch crate motor that dressed up for show. A Holley 4-barrel carburetor, chrome air cleaner and valve covers, and a stock-looking ignition system all work together to give it a sporty look that performs extremely well. The polished intake manifold works well with the engine, which, along with everything else under the hood, has been painted to match the bodywork. A T-10 4-speed manual transmission feeds an 8-inch rear that's plenty stout for the 302's torque, and it sounds like a nasty 5.0 with long tube headers and a custom glasspack exhaust system under it. The front suspension is a Mustang II setup that includes rack and pinion steering and disc brakes, while the entire rear suspension has been rebuilt with fresh shocks and hardware. Big 17-inch billet wheels tuck neatly under the fenders and they carry 225/45/17 BFGoodrich radials at all four corners.

Rare, fast, and ready to show or go, this Falcon Sprint offers a lot of big car fun in a small package that will make everyone smile, especially the driver. Call today!