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1962 Falcon V8

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30K views 69 replies 16 participants last post by  MOONRNR  
#1 ·
Does anyone know anything about a 1962 Falcon Futura that came out with a 260 V8 and had 5 lugs. This car has what they are calling a Thunderbird roof. I never heard of it, but the back window is certainly different than the 1960 Falcon that I Just sold.
 
#4 ·
You guys are probably right. The man who has this car for sale says it had a 260 in it and looked like the motor mounts had never been changed. It has 5 lug drum brakes all the way around. Here is the really weird part. He says it has a 9" rear end in it, that looks like it has never been changed or narrowed. I am having him to send me a photo of the Vin plate, but he says it has a 1962 title. I have seen some photos of it and it has a 1962 grill, and don't have any V8 emblems on the front fenders.
 
#5 ·
Not aware 63's or uh.. 64's comig with a 9".. I bet its a maverick 8" rear end. It will directly bolt in.. And is same width as factory rear but beefier..
If its a 62' didnt know they had 5 lug that year.. 63's had 260 V8's..

Not an end all solution.. But what does grill or tailights look like? Note the Grill and Tail Light Buckets.. Not end all of end all.. Since it can easily be changed, and also depending on how early the 63 was in production it may have 62' grill and tail light buckets..

1962
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1963
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#9 ·
1962 1/2 FALCON FUTURA DELUXE-

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Available as a 6P (Bench Seat) or 5P (Bucket Seats)

The 260 was cataloged as available in a 1962 FALCON.

Waiting on VIN PLATE.
 
#10 ·
1962 1/2 FALCON FUTURA DELUXE-

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Available as a 6P (Bench Seat) or 5P (Bucket Seats)

The 260 was cataloged as available in a 1962 FALCON.

Waiting on VIN PLATE.
That's it. That is exactly how it looks, but it don't have any hubcaps. It originaly had a column shift. I don't know if that means it had a bench seat or not. You are saying it could have came with a 260 engine?
 
#17 ·
According t Wikipedia the 260 V8 was a mid 1962 year introduction. But according to the read, it was not introduced to the Falcon until mid 1963.
Ford Windsor engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

But that is what it says.. Vin plate should tell the truth..
I am still waiting for the photos, but the guy texted me yesterday and said someone was trying to trade a couple of 1950 Chevy pickups for it. I haven't heard anything else from him. Just waiting.
 
#19 ·
Good info Bryan. You hit the nail on the head with little or no deflection... :tup:

Not all cars that come off assembly are RPO but may be SPO or a special customer request build (Police for instance).

While this particular drive-train was not given in sales literature (not accurate anyways), it may be a test mule or have a special DSO code.

It may or may not be a factory assembly. I have nowhere stated that the 62 FALCON came through with a 260. I only said there is a very strong possibility. The truth will be either on the VIN PLATE and/or build sheet (plates are not always accurate).

I would try to contact the owner and if it has been sold try to get either a photo of the plate - or, the first five characters of the VIN and Body Code.

This guy may be sitting on a pot of gold or someone very good transferred a period FAIRLANE drive-train into it.

I learned many moons ago to never say never regarding FOMOCO.
 
#20 ·
Don't forget before the 260 there was the 221 , found in some 62 Fairlanes . Same basic block only smaller so it's possible Ford dropped a few in the Falcon. and they are going to look a lot like a 260 /289 . The first small block of that engine family i saw was in a new 62 Fairlane , a 221 .


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#21 ·
I am not upset at all. What I said and you copy/pasted the last stentence is .. The VIN Plate should tell the truth. Ford did do some low production cars for dealers who wanted to race.. Or what Chevy would say was COPO.
The vin should decode.If you get codes that are not represented on the websites it might be a pilot or test mule..

But Macnamara was not a speed freak and when Iaccoca took over in 63' is when they started putting V8's in Falcons and making Mustangs, and created the Thunderbolt..And Shelby got involved with Ford..

Here is one of the online VIN Decoders.
Ford Falcon VIN decoder
 
#22 ·
A 62 Falcon could have an uncut 9" rear in it . The first ones came in 57/58/59 full size fords , Rancheros , station wagons , very hard to find now days . They were 57.25" wide the same as 65 / 66 mustangs . I had one from a 58 in my 64 Falcon , on it even the spring mounting pads were in the right place . It bolted in easy and looked stock. I think on the older Falcon the spring pads need to be relocated.

.
 
#23 ·
More than likely its a car put together with parts from several cars, it could be a 63 titled as a 62, it could be a hot car from 45 years ago.

I have friend that put a 68 Dart together only to find out that it was a 67, a typo at the DOT years ago made for a lot of hassle.
 
#25 ·
More than likely its a car put together with parts from several cars, it could be a 63 titled as a 62, it could be a hot car from 45 years ago.

I have friend that put a 68 Dart together only to find out that it was a 67, a typo at the DOT years ago made for a lot of hassle.

Well, I finally got the photo of the VIN plate. below is what I got from the decoder. You guys might get another result.

BODY CODE - Body 62C = Futura 2 Door Sedan (w/T-bird roof)

EXTERIOR COLOR - Color M = Corinthian White

INTERIOR TRIM CODE - Trim 82 = Blue Crush all Vinyl

DATE OF MANUFACTURE - DATE C = March 23, 1961

DISTRICT CODE (DSO) - District 63 = Memphis

REAR AXLE RATIO CODES - Axle Code 5 = 3.50:1 non locking differential

TRANSMISSION CODE - Trans 3 = Fordomatic (2 speed) Automatic

ASSEMBLY PLANT CODE - CODE H = Lorain

ENGINE CODE - ENGINE CODE U = 170 Cu Inch Inline 6

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#24 ·
The 60-63's were narrower than 65's.. They have a 56.5. You could put a 57 or wider but would only decrease your tire size then for what reason you would put a 9" under a car? If it was a factory mod car, they would have narrowed it.. The narrowest FORD factory rear ends were first gen Falcons and Mavericks.. No other factory car had a rear end narrower.. Why possible they put a 57.25" wide rear under the car that would be .5" wider than factory on each side. With a 56.5" rear on my 1st gen Falcon I am only able to get 215/60/15's on a 15x7 rim currently. Now it is all possible that they put a 9" on it to replace a hosed rear end. But without narrowing it the tire would be extremely narrow. As I get rub issues now and my rearend is narrower.
Here is a chart of rear end widths. The 60-63 Falcon is not on it, but its 56.5
Rear End Widths
 
#26 ·
Well there you go.. Alot of the conversion work already done.. And it is titled wrong.. It is really a 61.. My 63' wagon was titled as "Blue".. But really its a Green "Ming Green".. So when I registered it in Hawaii then in Oklahoma I had it corrected on the title.

With the Ford-O-Matic 2speed and 170 I-6.. I doubt the 9" (or 8") came with it new. Would have been overkill for the 170..I bet the trans now is a C4 if it has a bigger rear end in it..

What type of money is he asking?

Curious what it looks like.. prices recently has jumped on Falcons..

Falcons have some rust areas that you should check... Floor pans (both driver and passenger side), right below the rear tailight that lip/ledge, lower part of doors, and the pannel right behind the rear wheel..
 
#28 ·
Well there you go.. Alot of the conversion work already done.. And it is titled wrong.. It is really a 61.. My 63' wagon was titled as "Blue".. But really its a Green "Ming Green".. So when I registered it in Hawaii then in Oklahoma I had it corrected on the title.

With the Ford-O-Matic 2speed and 170 I-6.. I doubt the 9" (or 8") came with it new. Would have been overkill for the 170..I bet the trans now is a C4 if it has a bigger rear end in it..

What type of money is he asking?

Curious what it looks like.. prices recently has jumped on Falcons..

Falcons have some rust areas that you should check... Floor pans (both driver and passenger side), right below the rear tailight that lip/ledge, lower part of doors, and the pannel right behind the rear wheel..
actually no, look at the vin number again and you will see that the first number is a "2" which means it is in fact titled properly as a 1962 model year vehicle.

oh and the date code is 23c, not just c
 
#31 ·
Here's the thing-

If the conversion was clean, the car can be restored to original condition (or driven as is) as the body type is unique. If the car was butchered, one has to balance the cost vs. the final desired outcome.

Had the conversion been done with period correct FAIRLANE take-offs, I would think it would be more valuable as opposed to say having a 5.0L upgrade which would make it a resto-mod.

Where is this car at again?
 
#32 ·
Here's the thing-

If the conversion was clean, the car can be restored to original condition (or driven as is) as the body type is unique. If the car was butchered, one has to balance the cost vs. the final desired outcome.

Had the conversion been done with period correct FAIRLANE take-offs, I would think it would be more valuable as opposed to say having a 5.0L upgrade which would make it a resto-mod.

Where is this car at again?
I agree. I hope it was done right, but I don't know what other improvements have been made. The guy is asking $6500 for it. I only paid $2400 for the 1960 Falcon that I sold. All that new rubber an window seals are expensive. I paid $100 just for the door seals for my Falcon. If all that needs to be replaced, I could have a lot of money in it. I know it needs a headliner. That is not very expensive, but quite a job, to do it right. I don't know. I am still thinking. Thanks to all you guys for your input. I really appreciate it. :tup:
 
#33 ·
What I dont get is.. the production date and the model..
a March 1961 would clearly be a 61' model car. But the model is a 62C.
Only thing I can think of is this may be a pre-production for demo/magazine/car show car used to show to what the 62's going to look like.
Someone hinted at that this. Those Vin plates can be bought and stamped. But not sure why someone would fake something like that.. It might be a typo and they mean to stamp it as a 61C.
The cars had a few body changes in 62' the bumpers changed. It had a straight body line bumper where the 61' had a hump around the tag. And ofcourse the grill and tailights are different.

If this is a pre-production car it would be worth more to put it back the way it was stock.
Post up some pics. curious..
 
#34 · (Edited)
What I dont get is.. the production date and the model..
a March 1961 would clearly be a 61' model car. But the model is a 62C.
Only thing I can think of is this may be a pre-production for demo/magazine/car show car used to show to what the 62's going to look like.
Someone hinted at that this. Those Vin plates can be bought and stamped. But not sure why someone would fake something like that.. It might be a typo and they mean to stamp it as a 61C.
The cars had a few body changes in 62' the bumpers changed. It had a straight body line bumper where the 61' had a hump around the tag. And ofcourse the grill and tailights are different.

If this is a pre-production car it would be worth more to put it back the way it was stock.
Post up some pics. curious..
Well, I think they are manufactured the year before they came out. My 1960 said it was manufactured in 1959. Here is some photos of the car.
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#36 · (Edited)
its a 62 grill and bumper.. Yes I understand but usually its late in the previous year that new models are introduced.. like October? but not March..
Yes, you have a point. That is pretty early, especially for the thunderbird top, that was supposed to have came out in Mid-1962. It is also '62 side molding.

I ran the VIN check on another site and this is what it gave me. About the same, but added bucket seats.
Your Data as Interpreted by falconparts.com
Model Year = 1962
Model Series = Falcon 2 Door Sedan
Engine = 170 Cu. In. 6 cylinder
Body Type = Falcon 2 Door Sedan (Bucket Seats)
Exterior Color = White (Corinthian White)
Upholstery Color = Light Blue Crush Vinyl
Date Born = 23March 1961
Transmission = 2 Speed Fordomatic Transmission
Axle = 3.50:1
DSO = Memphis
Assembly Plant = Lorain
 
#45 ·
I think I stirred up a hornet's nest when I started this thread. I was just trying to see if the guy that had to car for sale was honest. I don't think, after seeing this many replies, that there is a real answer. I will just look at the car, and if I like it, I will buy it. Thanks to everyone for your input. :)
 
#46 ·
I think I stirred up a hornet's nest when I started this thread. I was just trying to see if the guy that had to car for sale was honest.

I don't think, after seeing this many replies, that there is a real answer. I will just look at the car, and if I like it, I will buy it. Thanks to everyone for your input. :)
Well, I personally think it is a good discussion point. Lots to learn from threads like this.
 
#59 ·
Hey guys,i rang the guy about the delivery back in Feb,i'm in Melb-Australia so I wanted a description of the car over the phone as he was going over it.From what he was saying about it being a genuine v8 seemed highly likely,5stud,8''diff,big radiator,m/cyl,b/pedal.He assured me the body was pretty straight and the only real rust issue was the front floors.Anyway the deal was done and it was picked up in March and I received it 5days ago.I'm impressed ,I can't believe how straight it is,the engine looks like it's been there forever or replaced the 6 along time ago.I will post the VIN later after I've been to the shop and I'd appreciate it if you could 'decode'it for me.It appears to have had a rear seat,and a full headliner.I found the rego papers in the glovebox dating back to 85,it was reg as a 62 Wagoner,Mr J. Taylor from Coweta Oklahoma.BTW,i got it fired up and it runs sweet,no smoke and shifts ok,anyway i''ll get back later,thanks Gaz!
 
#52 ·
That 62' Sedan Delivery on Craigslist you posted is so so..I am in Oklahoma, that would be a drive though. Has correct tailights and tailight buckets for a 62.
It has been butchered and has a 69' mustang console, and god knows seats.. Awesome candidate for a pro-street hot rod..
The area code is like Tulsa/Broken Arrow that is near Ripley OK where the Ford Lightweight museum is.
The car for a foundation is good. The rear bumper is tweaked. The tailgate has alot of surface rust. I bet it has more issues.
Reason he dont want to give up the VIN is maybe he thinks you may do something bad like put a lean on it or something. Or he might not have a title for it..
If I wasnt upside down on my wagon I would be all over it..
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#54 ·
As far as I know. No 63 and older Sedan Delivery came with a V8.. And all the research I have done Falcon Wagons didn't come with a V8 option til 64'. I think I saw 1 63' Squire Wagon with factory buckets that had a V8 claiming to be factory. I dont think any 62' Falcon anything came with a V8.

Sad to see that Sedan Delivery in such a butchered state. Looks like they did it in the early 80's. Itis all fixable.. Body looks good.

Here is the Sedan Delivery I want.. I remember when it was for sale too.. First car Carol Shelby put racing stripes on when he started Shelby Racing..
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