1963 Ford Falcon

As the 1950s were coming to a close, the Big Three began to discover the importance of the small car market and the popularity of more efficient and more affordable cars. Both the Ford Falcon and its main competitor, the Chevrolet Corvair, were compact (small by American standards) nameplates introduced as 1960 models. The Corvair used rear-engine placement and styling inspired by European influences, while the new Falcon was a front-engine, rear-drive car with traditional American styling.

The 109-inch wheelbase Falcon was built for three model years with very few changes, and for 1963 Ford gently refreshed the successful little company, making minor trim changes and adding a new grille. The revised appearance resulted in a slightly more substantial look for the 1963 Falcon.

As in 1962, when it was first introduced, the Squire Station Wagon was the most expensive Falcon model in 1963. 1963 body styles on the base Falcon included a 2-door sedan priced at $1,990 and a 4-door sedan priced at just over $2,000. The Futura trim level added a 2- and 4-door sedan, hardtop coupe, sport hardtop, and a convertible. The Squire was the company's compact version of the full-size Country Squire wagon with similar faux wood-paneled styling. Along with the wood appliqués, the Squire continued to be the only Falcon to carry a trio of decorative bars on its rear flanks. The four-door six-passenger Squire had a base list price of $2,700 while the premium model added approximately $300 more. In total, 6,808 Falcon Squire wagons were built for 1963.

The base Falcon models had chrome windshields, two sun visors, armrests on the front doors, and a horn button instead of a chrome horn ring. The overhead-valve, 144 CID, six-cylinder engine had a Holley single barrel carburetor and delivered 85 horsepower at 4,200 RPM. Optional engines included an OHV 170 CID six rated at 101 hp, a 200 CID six with 116 horsepower, and a 223 CID six with 138 horsepower. For eight-cylinder line included a 221, 260, 289, 352, 390, 406, and 427 CID displacements. The Sprint trim level used the 260 CID V8 which had 164 horsepower at 4,400 RPM, although a few examples were equipped with sixes.

The Futura trim levels replaced the prior Deluxe models of 1962 and they offered V-8 engines or the first time in the series history. The Ford Falcon Futura Series added rear armrests, a chrome horn ring, ashtrays, Futura wheel covers instead of hubcaps, the Futura nameplate on the top C-pillar, additional chrome on the rear window and the windshield, a horizontal chrome strip between the taillights, and a horizontal chrome-style on the bodyside. The Sprint and Sport Coupe added wire wheel covers, bucket seats, and a full console.

62,365 examples of the base 4-door sedan and 70,630 of the 2-door sedan were built. An additional 265,518 examples of the Futura and sprint series were built including 10,479 of the Sprint Hardtop and 4,602 of the Sprint Convertible.

by Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2020