My New Old Car

[David Conwill]

I’ve had her for three or so weeks now, but she’s still “new.” I’m sorry it’s taken so long to get pictures, I had misplaced my digital camera.

She’s a 1961 Ford Falcon Futura. The Futura was the “sporty” Falcon introduced in 1961 as a response to the Corvair Monza, it was a deluxe two-door sedan with special trim and a vinyl, bucket seat interior and console.

Mine is Cambridge Blue with a blue interior. Somebody replaced the old 144 cubic-inch six cylinder with a 170 cubic-inch version from a 1968 Falcon. She has a column-shift 3-speed with an unsynchronized first gear.

In these pictures she’s wearing the funky 1970s-style “turbine” wheels that the seller had put on her. Just this past weekend I completed my set of 14-inch steel wheels that will take the stock hubcap, and I intend to get them cleaned up, painted, and mounted with whitewall tires ASAP.

This is my new daily driver, BTW, though I car pool, so it’s more like “weekly driver.”

-Dave

 

[Big Man]

That's a nice looking car. My grandmother Dobson had a Falcon (I believe it was a '62). One of my cousins bought it after she died. He "fixed it up" and it is a real looker now.

 

[dhermann1]

My mom bought a brand new Falcon in early 1961. It was a dark electric blue, it was 2 door, like yours, and it had the small engine. It was SUCH A DOG! We went on a trip to the Adirondacks in June of 1963. The muffler fell off the car somewhere around Tupper Lake, and we drove the last 80 miles to Lake Placid with the muffler in the trunk. We pulled into the driveway of the ever so swanky White Face Lodge with our car blasting and roaring away like a berserk Sherman tank.
She soon traded it in for a 1962 Chevy II, which wasn't much better. These are the kind of stories that eventually led to the American auto industry's present parlous situation.
Anyway, I'm sure you little Falcon has been rebuilt and restored to the point where it purrs like a kitten. She's a cutey. I can't look at an old Falcon, however, without remembering that hilarious episode in my family's life.

 

[BellyTank]

I had a '63 (same thing) but "unfortunately", it had the added oomph! of
a hot HP289 and 4 spd.

Nice car.


B
T

 

[jac]

This looks identical to my 1st car... boy, did I love that thing.
All these years later, and I'm driving another straight-6.
Cars just don't smell like they used to, to say nothing of what passes for style. Take good care of this baby.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

Looks great! Congrats! I'll bet you're getting in the 20's on mileage too.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Wonderful! I hope to own a vintage car someday. Or maybe I already do, driving a 12 year old Honda!

 

[cookie]

My wife had the Aussie later version.

 

[David Conwill]

@dhermann1: That blue color was apparently only offered in 1961. It was promoted as “Cambridge Blue” but I’m not clear on whether it’s even a remotely close match to what the Cambridge athletes wear. According to the door plate, my car originally came with the small (144ci) engine, but it’s since been replaced with a 170ci engine that was optional in ‘61 and became standard once the still-larger 200ci engine was introduced. I’m grateful, as the 144 was notorious for its lack of suds - except in certain classes of motor boat racing. Lots of guys put V8s in these, but the early cars weren’t designed for them, and it makes things pretty tight. I’ve already got a hot rod, so I’m going to stick with an inline six. I’m planning to eventually upgrade to the 200ci version, with a few modifications for more power, but keeping a period-correct appearance. The car is in nice shape, but it’s an older restoration that has deteriorated somewhat. It needs a bit of body work and is in desperate need of paint.

@BellyTank: When I was conducting the search that ultimately led to this one, I tried to go look at a ‘63 four-door, but it was sold out from underneath me. That one came with two inline sixes, and since I’d have had to put an engine in anyway, it’s possible I might have used a 5.0, though I don’t really want to go through the suspension upgrades that are wise when doing such a swap. A 5-speed manual is in the mix for this one. I hate to lose the column shifter, but having a synchronized first gear, an extra cog between low and passing gear, plus an overdrive sold me on the idea.

@jac: I will take very good care of her, I’m planning on never buying another car, so I figure I’ve got a car payment each month to put into her. And I agree with you on the smell! What are you driving?

@AtomicEraTom: 20s is about accurate. I think it could be even better, if it had larger-than-stock tires on the rear instead of shorter-than-stock.

@PrettySquareGal: I feel your pain on the 12-year-old car bit. This is replacing a Ford Escort that is old enough to drive this year.

@cookie: I love the Aussie Falcons. They look so close to ours, but just different enough to make you look twice. They remind me of the “typical” U.S. car that advertising illustrators used to draw.

-Dave

 

[OldSoul]

Clean as a whistle! I love 3 speeds, theres just something fun about tripping out your 'uneducated' freinds when you row therough them on the column shift haha.

If your looking to 'spice up' that inline of yours, check out Clifford Performance, they specialize in inline speed products.

Enjoy it!

 

[Chas]

Take good care of that car, and there's no reason why she can't be on the road for a few more decades.

It's nice to be able to skip down to Lordco for a part when you need one. Simple is beautiful.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

That would definately help your mileage, so would tuning your carburetor to run lean and at a lower RPM. I played with my carb on my 60 Chevy and went from 6mpg to 19mpg.

 

[Foofoogal]

very cool. love the look at vintage autos. thanks.

 

[BellyTank]

Australian Falcons are great fun.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/iroc-z/oz/oz2.html

1971 Falcon GT-HO Phase III. Factory homologated race car.
351C- 4spd/380hp, 0-60 in 6.4 seconds.

A little faster than the six.


B
T

 

[David Conwill]

Looks great! Congrats! I'll bet you're getting in the 20's on mileage too.

I figured it this morning. My drive to work is 28.32 miles, and it took 1.211 gallons of regular for an average of 23.39mpg. Not too shabby for a nearly-half-century-old car.

-Dave

 

[AtomicEraTom]

Definately a good deal in my opinion. My 87 Chevy Caprice Wagon gets 12 mpg City.

I figured it this morning. My drive to work is 28.32 miles, and it took 1.211 gallons of regular for an average of 23.39mpg. Not too shabby for a nearly-half-century-old car.

-Dave

 

[vitanola]

I figured it this morning. My drive to work is 28.32 miles, and it took 1.211 gallons of regular for an average of 23.39mpg. Not too shabby for a nearly-half-century-old car.

-Dave

Does about as well as my good old '26 coupe (with the KINGSTON Vaporizer), but I suspect that is is a mite faster than my little flivver.

 

[Tiller]

Very nice car congratulations.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

That's a real cream puff. Congrats!

My first car, back in 1983, was a '64 Ford Falcon. It had been meticulously restored and was a real beaut'. Straight-six and three-on-the-tree. Brings back memories...

 

[Talbot]

Great car Dave! I got close to getting one of these back in the 80's, but the seller changed his mind.

Great tradeoff between a mid size car and having something old and stylish to cruise in.

That is, when you're tired of your hot rod