42,943 original miles, three owners from new. One older repaint with beautiful original interior. Very clean throughout, straight bodywork, fits together nicely. Smooth 170 inline-6 with automatic. An economical hobby car that’s fun to drive!

The hobby is seeing a surging appreciation for cars like this 1961 Ford Falcon because they ask for very little. The buy-in is reasonable, maintenance is easy, and they get you into the cruise nights and cars-and-coffee events without any hassle. Plus Ford made sure their compact was fun to drive—after all, it formed the foundation of the Mustang. We’re sure to get a lot of interest in this pretty red and white Falcon simply because it looks right, drives right, and has the right price. With just three owners from new, it has been loved all its life and from the looks of things underneath, it has never spent any time in winter weather. It was probably repainted 20 years ago in the original Montecarlo Red (yes, Ford made Monte Carlo into one word) while the white top appears to be factory-applied enamel. The combination is always flashy and looks great on the early ‘60s 2-door. You’ll note the gaps are excellent, the doors close properly, and the sheetmetal is arrow-straight; with those character lines running from nose to tail, there’s no place for sub-standard work to hide. There’s also some nice chrome and stainless trim, upgraded headlights, and excellent glass all around. Look closely and you’ll see a really nice little car.

The red vinyl interior appears to be almost entirely original with perhaps the exception of the carpets, which just look too nice to be 60+ years old. On the other hand, the car only has 42,000 miles on the clock, so they may be factory-issue. Bucket seats and a mini console are a nice addition to the roster, giving the Falcon a bit of a sporty attitude. Part of the appeal of cars like this Falcon are their simplicity—there’s just not much that can go wrong, and that can be a relief to guys who like to drive rather than tinker. The big white steering wheel, combined with the six-cylinder’s reasonable weight, makes handling easy at anything but a dead stop and it adds just the right contrast to the otherwise all-red interior. Secondary controls are arrayed under the dash, including a hand choke—one of the last applications of that feature. The original AM radio is still in the dash, but it has been supplanted by a modern AM/FM/CD/Bluetooth head unit installed underneath with speakers on the rear package shelf. Seat wear is minimal, even on the driver’s chair, adding credence to the low-mileage claims, and someone has thoughtfully added seat belts along the way. The original headliner is excellent, and the sizeable trunk is outfitted with what appears to be the original mat and a full-sized spare tire.

Power comes from Ford’s tough little 170 cubic inch inline-6. Admittedly it won’t win any drag races, but around town it’s energetic and smooth, and you won’t complain about how easy it is at the gas pump. It keeps up with today’s traffic without much work and the durability of these engines is legendary—with proper maintenance, it’ll outlast us all. It’s neatly detailed with correct orange tinwork on a black block, and recent work includes belts and hoses, a full tune-up, and fresh fluids, so it’s ready to enjoy. It starts easily with just a bit of choke (manual, remember?) and basically just works like it’s supposed to. Maintenance parts are easy to get at your local auto parts store and it never seems to get fussy, even on hot days. The 2-speed Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission is a good partner, making its single shift at just the right time, and the 3.50 gears in back make it feel light on its feet without getting too busy at highway speeds. Look closely at the condition of the original floors, which are undercoated but nothing is hidden. The suspension is surprisingly supple and even though the brakes are manual drums, the car is so light that braking is impressive. There’s a new muffler out back that gives the car just the right 6-cylinder grumble and 13-inch wheels and hubcaps wear 175/80/13 whitewall radials that are inexpensive and ride well.

Extras include an original 1961 Falcon owner’s manual.

This is an easy car to love. It’s thrifty, as it was in 1961, making it one of the most economical hobby cars you can own this side of a VW Beetle. It’s also a little unusual, comfortable, and attractive in a way that will make it stand out at shows. With so few miles, this one still feels tight and the overall condition is just right for folks who just want to get in and drive without worries. Add everything up and the Falcon makes a lot of sense. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.