The one I loved back then...

Codger_64

Codger_64

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Back last century ( :o ), I had a car that I just loved. It was as fun to drive slow as it was to drive fast. Man, did it turn heads and get complements. She was a labor of love, restored over a year's time back when new/reproduction parts were just not to be found. I picked thru junkyards for clips, lenses, trim pieces and accessories.

Finally, she was complete enough to go to shows. In fact, we attended the first three Falcon National meets. No, she wasn't a 100 point restoration. Those cars arrived in enclosed trailers and still spent hours being groomed and polished for the judges.

Mine was a driver, but what a driver she was. And I miss her. I've raised two children since then and worn out two wives. I've been thru another dozen cars and trucks too. Some of them were Falcons. I tried them like knives. A '60 tudor coupe, a '61Ranchero, a '61 fordor Squire wagon. But I miss my 'coon convert. I recently was cleaning out my Mom's house and ran across some pictures circa 1981.

1963 Falcon Futura Convertible:

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[youtube]tFciUhOKfCQ[/youtube]

Sigh.... :p So... I an thirsting for another one now. Probably a Sprint Sport Hardtop this time though.
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The hunt is on. And many of the harder to find parts are reproduced now, unlike back in the '80's. :)

So what cars did you old pharts have that you miss? '36 Nash Lafayette coupe?
 
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Codger_64 said:
Back last century ( :o ), I had a car that I just loved. It was as fun to drive slow as it was to drive fast. Man, did it turn heads and get complements. She was a labor of love, restored over a year's time back when new/reproduction parts were just not to be found. I picked thru junkyards for clips, lenses, trim pieces and accessories. Finally, she was complete enough to go to shows. In fact, we attended the first three Falcon National meets. No, she wasn't a 100 point restoration. Those cars arrived in enclosed trailers and still spent hours being groomed and polished for the judges. Mine was a driver, but what a driver she was. And I miss her. I've raised two children since then and worn out two wives. I've been thru another dozen cars and trucks too. Some of them were Falcons. I tried them like knives. A '60 tudor coupe, a '61Ranchero, a '61 fordor Squire wagon. But I miss my 'coon convert. I recently was cleaning out my Mom's house and ran across some pictures circa 1981. So what cars did you old pharts have that you miss? '36 Nash Lafayette coupe?
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1963 Falcon Futura Convertible:
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Codger, you are dredging up some great memories. When I graduated high school in 1969, my father gave me the choice of a new car, or he & mom would put a down payment on a house for me for my graduation present.
Really hard to guess which one I took, huh . . . :)
The following week there was a 1969 Z28 in our drive-way just ready for those Friday & Saturday nights in Columbus. Unfortunately, Uncle Sam had other ideas for my next 4 years so the car was stored. Then came college & wife, then the home "we" had to put the down payment on, so you probably already know where this story is heading. Every once in awhile I will find pictures like you did of it sitting with the Cragar's, the M/T 50 series tires, the Hooker Headers stickers, etc. etc., & I wonder if it is still in someone's garage to this day. Life is funny and I truly believe what goes around comes around. Our son just graduated from college, & we gave him the same choice my dad gave me, guess which one he took ?? Yep, he is the proud new owner of a 3br/2ba ranch w/ 2 car garage & 2ac. lot . . . :thumbup:
(I know my father is looking down with a big smile on his face telling me we did ok raising him to make the right choices).
Thanks for the pictures, I wish you the best in your search for your new "dream". As my football coach always said, "Don't ever give up your dreams". Good luck.
Be safe.
 
Had a '72 El Camino that I had to sell because of space considerations
a few years ago. It was nothing special but I bought it from a good
friend who has since passed away. Everytime I see one I miss them both.
 
Codger was yours a V8?I had a friend in HS that had a Futura with the little V8 in it,they were sharp little cars.I've had more cars over the years than I can remember,although I remember a lot of them.I started "collecting" when I was 12 but most of those went to scrap when metal prices were high back in the 1970s.The one that I really miss though was a 1967 Chevelle SS396 that I bought off of my cousin around 1974 or so when he got out of the service,he was the original owner.Sadly that car spent most of it's time close to the ocean,he was in the Navy and a few years after I got it it was starting to rust pretty bad and I got rid of it.If I had known then that they would be making replacement pieces for just about anything on that car,I would have kept it.I have a 1957 Chevy pickup that I'm finally getting more time to work on,there's very little original on it except body panels though.:D
 
Nostalgia over old cars once owned is a gadget? :confused: Well, it did have gears.

beau5278 said:
Codger was yours a V8?I had a friend in HS that had a Futura with the little V8 in it,they were sharp little cars.I've had more cars over the years than I can remember,although I remember a lot of them.I started "collecting" when I was 12 but most of those went to scrap when metal prices were high back in the 1970s.The one that I really miss though was a 1967 Chevelle SS396 that I bought off of my cousin around 1974 or so when he got out of the service,he was the original owner.Sadly that car spent most of it's time close to the ocean,he was in the Navy and a few years after I got it it was starting to rust pretty bad and I got rid of it.If I had known then that they would be making replacement pieces for just about anything on that car,I would have kept it.I have a 1957 Chevy pickup that I'm finally getting more time to work on,there's very little original on it except body panels though.:D
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No, it had the 170 inline six and automatic. Given the car's light weight, it was still peppy neough to scoot along pretty good on 100+ h.p.

I could make a list a page long of cars and trucks I have owned, but since you mentioned it, here is my '57 "Ol Black Betty".

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Why the name you ask? Well I was into some hard music at the time and it was my cruise tune...

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Now granted, she don't look wild in that picture, but she came to me with big-n-littles, dumped on her nose, a '67 Corvette 327 for go. The picture is after I semi-restored her. I say semi because she was originally a cameo with all the chrome, but without the glass bed.

macdo said:
oooh, there's a 64 for sale just down the road from me. Needs a bit of work.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/Ford/futura/auction-345996842.htm

If I had the cash I'd be more tempted by this one.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/Ford/Galaxie/auction-341910124.htm
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That first one doesn't need that much work and the parts are included! Gophur it! :p:thumbup:
 
That's a good looking '57,one of the first trucks that I learned to drive was my Grandfathers '57 but Dad got rid of that one a few years before I started driving.I don't have any recent pics of mine but it's sitting on a Camaro front end,I still need a donor to finish the rear,I'm looking for something with a GM 12 bolt.The engine that I have for it is a 4 bolt main 350 that's been stroked and bored to just short of 400ci.I'm about done stripping paint,then I just need to finish the body work and interior and reassemble it,hopefully it'll be on the road this summer.
 
Ahhh yes, first cars. My first was a '62 Falcon as a matter of fact. I gave $50 for it and towed it home with a tractor. Dad got it running and bought the glass for it (it had none). I used a screwdriver for a shift lever. I drove it a while before I put in the missing freeze plugs. You wouldn't think that lil old 144 L6 would run air cooled, but it did. Of course I grew up on a farm and drove on gravel and dirt so the missing parts (including exhaust) didn't matter. I could "Dukes of Hazard" my way from one end of the county to the other without driving on pavement, and county gravel didn't require licenses for cars or drivers.

My '62 was much more beat up than this milestone car, but this is what it looked like before the dents and rust.
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I had a 68 Lincoln with a 460 about 10 years ago. I hated working on it but it still made me smile every time I saw or heard it.



Now I have a 1985 Mercedes 300D. Much easier to work on and great fuel mileage.

 
My first car was a '61 Chevy Bel Air 4-dr w/348 engine. I thought it was hot, for $150 in 1970.

After that I also had the '62 Falcon wagon with the woody sides. Drove that tripping on LSD.... YIKES!

Then the '62 Olds 88 with the alum 215 v8, buckets, and a Borg-Warner 4 speed.

Soon after that came the '68 Camaro 396. I went 11.86 @ 112 mph in 1972. THAT was stout then.

I watch all the Mecum and other auctions. I love the muscle car era, but we ALL had those Falcons or Bel Airs to really reminisce. :)

Coop
 
I've had owned way to many cars over the years...

My first was a 69 Chevelle SS 396. I bought it when I was 15 (1976). Spent a few months detailing it, until I was old enough to drive on my 16th birthday.

My best friend and I went out cruising,the night of my 16th birthday. On the way home, I got in a race with a Z-28 and broke a connecting rod :mad:
I did however win the race :D

Since then I've owned countless muscle cars, Corvettes, and pickups.

The 69 is one I wish I still had... I paid 800 dollars for it when I bought it, now it would be around 35,000
 
Oh the memories. My first car was the 62 Falcon, white hardtop. Very reliable car it was. I sold it to a high school buddy for ten bucks and bought a 66 Mustang GT. Had a lot more girlfriends with the Mustang:D
 
Ohhh! Stangs! I had a few of them too. My first "new" car was a green '67 fastback. Then a gold '70 Mach 1 'M' code (351 Cleveland). Later I bought a '66 bench seat coupe. Ever seen one with a factory bench?
 
Factory bench seat, wow. that's a new one on me. I made do with the bucket seats and factory installed 8 track stereo:D
 
Nice one's Codger. I'd love an old school, but I hate workin' on stuff now
 
First car that I shared with my older brother was a 31 Model A Tudor Sedan. Partially restored(clean bodywork and paint with new houndstooth check upolstery) that the high school girls loved - or so my brother told me since I never got to drive it. Then I upgraded to a 73 Gremlin - with the Levi interior, no less.
 
IUKE12 said:
Factory bench seat, wow. that's a new one on me. I made do with the bucket seats and factory installed 8 track stereo:D
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Eight track? I had a four track first. With a reverb. And finally an FM converter. :p
RedbeAR15 said:
Nice one's Codger. I'd love an old school, but I hate workin' on stuff now
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Well, the old school stuff is all I can work on. Fuel pump? Yup... right there. Two bolts and the fuel line and out she comes. Change plugs and wires? Yup. there they are right out in the open. Pull the motor? One hour tops. In fact, I can change the oil, starter, generator and belt, fuel pump, water pump, points, plugs and wires, air filter easily in an afternoon without stress or a computer, just a feeler guage and timing light.
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stevewest said:
First car that I shared with my older brother was a 31 Model A Tudor Sedan. Partially restored(clean bodywork and paint with new houndstooth check upolstery) that the high school girls loved - or so my brother told me since I never got to drive it. Then I upgraded to a 73 Gremlin - with the Levi interior, no less.
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Hmmm... by then I had been thru the '62 Falcon, two first Mustangs, an Opel GT and a Charger SE. But I did diddle with the aforementioned '36 Nash Lafayette business coupe before the Falcon. I just never got it highway worthy. Fine for farm roads though as long as you stopped and topped off the radiator every few miles. ;)
 
great cars, codger! I had to show my wife this thread with the pics - she had a '64 falcon that was white when she was in high school - called it the caddy. She got pretty excited when she saw your pics.
 
A white '64? Like this?
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The '64-65's were nice too. It is an interesting fact that the new Mustangs were reskinned Falcons, using most of the components of the Falcons.

And economy? There was a Mobil gas challenge for fuel econemy records in 1960 and a Falcon won with just over 30 MPG. Not bad for an American sedan seating six adults in 1960. :thumbup:
 
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