FEATURE – 1963 Ford Falcon Sprint
Words: Mike Ryan
Photos: Des Kelly
We all know the Falcon was born in the USA and enjoyed a long life in Australia, but what about some of its cousins?
Here in Australia, we initially followed US practise by offering a Futura version and added a Fairmont later, while later still, Fairlanes would be built off modified versions of the same platform.
In the US, the Falcon had far fewer relations. The Mustang was the sportier, sexier member of the family, but of all those siblings, one had a European birth…
Since its debut in 1959, the Falcon – a compact in US terms - had been known as an economical car, but not a particularly exciting one. That made no difference initially, as the Falcon comfortably outsold its rivals, but by 1962, there were calls to offer style and performance as well as economy.
Chevrolet had been the main driver behind this, given the surprisingly positive reaction to the ‘Monza’ versions of their Corvair.
Ford had already released a Futura version of the Falcon for 1961, that featured bucket seats and sporty trim, but no actual performance upgrades. The Monza was created in the same mould initially but started adding actual mechanical upgrades like a four-speed transmission, larger engines and, in 1962, a turbocharger. The Monza line accounted for around half of all Corvair sales by this time and was being well supported by the aftermarket industry, which certainly captured Ford’s attention.
Ford was throwing its weight around internationally in the early ‘60s, too, so it was thought that the addition of a performance version of the Falcon – and a European introduction for it - would be a good thing.
Ford didn’t do things by halves back then, so decided to enter three Falcon coupes in the 1963 Monte Carlo Rally. A new variant of the Falcon – the ‘Sprint’ - would be introduced at Monaco at the same time, with Ford flying more than 100 automotive journalists in to cover its launch.
Available as both a convertible and coupe, the Sprint was an attractive package, with the V8 – available on a US Falcon for the first time – being the main attraction and fitted as standard.
The 260ci V8 engine had already been used in Fairlanes and would also power the earliest versions of the Shelby Cobra. Beyond the V8, Falcon Sprint specification included a less restrictive air cleaner and mufflers, while a 3-speed column manual, 4-speed floor-change manual and 2-speed column auto were the transmission choices. Stiffer suspension, wire wheel covers, bucket front seats and a dash-mounted tachometer also defined the Sprint.
The Falcons entered for the Monte Carlo Rally ran V8s, too, but these cars were far removed from a standard Sprint, with extensive preparation and modification by Ford ahead of the event.
Rally rules that favoured smaller-capacity cars would disadvantage the “big” Fords, so an outright win was unlikely, but victory in the over 3,000cc class was expected.
Of the three teams entered by Ford, the one made up of Bosse ‘Bo’ Ljungfeldt and Gunnar Haggborn was thought to be the best. Once the Monte got underway, Ljungfeldt duly delivered on expectations, winning all six of the special speed tests, but the class win actually went to the second team Falcon, crewed by Peter Jopp and Trant Jarman.
The invited press and Ford’s advertising agency ensured everyone back in the US knew about both the Falcon’s achievements in Europe and the new Sprint. The result was 19,479 Sprint coupe and 4,602 Sprint convertible sales in its shortened introductory year.
The car featured here is one of those first-year Sprint convertibles.
Rust Belt
Given that he’d grown up with Holdens and been bitten by the hot rod bug back in 2006, you’d be forgiven for thinking something like a Falcon Sprint wouldn’t be on Geoff Hallett’s radar.
Geoff was of the same mindset, too, but at the 2007 Bright Rod Run, he spotted a Sprint convertible and instantly fell in love - he had to have one!
Having one was easier said than done, though. While early Falcons are prodigious, both here and in the US, Falcon Sprints are rare there and virtually non-existent here.
Nonetheless, Geoff scoured the internet and, after six months of searching, turned up a genuine Sprint. The car looked good in the images provided, but the selling price - around 60 per cent of what these cars normally go for in the US – told Geoff it needed some work.
Decoding the VIN showed the Sprint was built in March of ’63 with the Fordomatic auto for the 260 V8 and finished in Oxford Blue with blue vinyl trim.
Purchasing the car in January of 2008, Geoff found he’d got more than he bargained for when it arrived, or should we say ‘less’, as the car was full of rust.
A Pittsburgh delivery on the VIN tag suggests it spent many winters accumulating corrosive salt off the snowy roads, which explains the sad state of the body.
With so much frilly metal below the beltline all around the car, the only solution was to replace the lot. Braced and placed on a rotisserie, the Sprint was done over from top to bottom, with what seemed like endless amounts of new steel welded in. Thicker steel was welded into the sills and torque boxes, as Geoff had some plans for the Sprint… that didn’t include returning it to factory spec.
Falcon old, Falcon new, Falcon hell!
The Sprint’s standard 260 V8 was a capable enough engine but Geoff decided his Sprint would get a modern upgrade, in the form of a complete 5.0-litre Windsor V8 out of a 1993 EB Falcon.
The EB also donated its four-speed auto, diff and rear disc brakes to the project, plus some other parts.
The driveline change sounds easy, but fitting the Windsor and rebuilt transmission, as well as modifying the diff to suit, took a hell of a lot of work.
Geoff must be a glutton for punishment, as he also decided to make the custom-built 2-inch dual exhaust system run flush with the sills, so the floorpan was scalloped to suit, with the rear bumper getting complementary cutouts, too.
The engine itself was reconditioned but left largely stock, with the main difference being a modified sump to suit a non-standard crossmember.
The car’s front brakes were upgraded from the factory drums to HQ ventilated rotors, with the aforementioned EB discs fitted at the rear. A dual-circuit master cylinder from an XY Falcon tied it all together, with an inline bypass valve also added.
That EB Falcon donated its radiator and cooling fan, while an all-new steel fuel tank was fitted, with 3/8-inch steel fuel lines made to suit.
To make the modern Falcon running gear work, an entirely new wiring loom had to be fabricated, which was matched to an instrument package that Geoff devised using the EB Falcon gauges. Retaining the original Falcon Sprint bezel, the dash carries all the essential info, with a bank of switches also retaining the C1963 look, but similarly updated to suit.
A Touch of Japan… or Two… or Three
A Mitsubishi L300 front end has been applied to numerous hot rod builds over the years, but Geoff’s Sprint would have to be one of the very few Falcons to get the same treatment. It works well with the larger engine, custom-built strut brace and Holden stub axles, but Geoff’s decision to keep the car LHD presented some challenges when it came to the steering.
The solution, as Geoff tells it, sounds deceptively simple. A power steering rack out of a FWD Daihatsu Terios was found to be the ideal fit… when inverted to suit a RWD Ford! Of course, there was a bit more involved than just flipping it over, but it proved to be an effective solution to the problem of how to package everything under the bonnet and keep the Falcon’s factory lines intact.
Accenting those lines is a 2-inch suspension drop, achieved through modified original springs and new hydraulic shocks.
The steering wheel is a genuine Falcon Sprint item, carrying identifying badging on the boss and fitted to a column that Geoff modified to suit the Terios rack.
The other Japanese touch on this build is its paint – it looks like it’s off a Benz or BMW, but it’s actually Toyota Blue Mica Pearl. Most commonly seen on RAV4s and Prados, the slight lavender tint of the pearl adds a touch of ‘Euro Chic’ to this project, which is what Geoff was going for.
The Euro Star
Understanding the Falcon Sprint’s European origins, Geoff was inspired to add detailing touches to show what an early Falcon may have looked like if Ford had decided to aggressively market it on the Continent.
Aside from the paint, the most obvious expression of this is the wheels. Early plans to run BMW wheels were scuppered when the stud pattern wouldn’t fit. Much internet searching turned up a set of Advanti alloys. With their split-10-spoke design, these 17 x 7 rims not only have that “Euro” look, but pick up on the big chrome spear that graces the Sprint’s flanks.
Inside, the front bucket seats and rear bench were trimmed in luxurious cream leather that would look at home in any Audi or Beemer, with the dash reskinned in complementary vinyl material.
The boot was completely retrimmed, too, with storage pockets added for cleaning gear and tools.
The white power-operated top is the finishing touch, but Geoff says he rarely drives his Sprint with the top up – it’s just too munch fun to drive with the top down and the wind in the hair!
Five years in the making, Geoff’s Falcon Sprint is something different and that’s what impresses casual observers, but what the man himself loves is that he was able to make a diverse collection of non-1963 Falcon parts work together.
It should also be noted that Geoff did most of the work himself, with the help of a few mates. Only the painting required the Sprint to be leave the garage.
If he didn’t have a new ’35 Ford hot rod convertible project needing his attention, Geoff says he wouldn’t be selling it (see breakout). The asking price reflects the work and componentry that’s been put into the car, with Geoff adding that the new owner’s sure to get as much fun out of the Sprint as he has.
As much as we hate seeing Aussie-made and Aussie-modified cars leaving our shores, we’d make an exception with this car. Given its origins and inspiration, wouldn’t it be cool if this Sprint found a new home cruising the boulevards of Monte Carlo?
FOR SALE
With a hot rod project on the go, Geoff’s got his special Falcon Sprint on the market.
The time, effort and money put into the project have paid off, with the car still in outstanding condition five years after it was completed and no work needed on the part of the next owner.
With its combination of classic looks (with a twist!) and modern performance, this car is a hassle-free cruiser that’ll eat up the miles in style.
Asking price is $65,000 ono. Phone 0413 941 439 or email: [email protected] for more details.
View online with more photos at justcars.com.au using the ad code: JCW4095738.
