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Thread: 1965 Falcon Sprint - Dad's Toy 2

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    East Wenatchee
    Posts
    37

    1965 Falcon Sprint - Dad's Toy 2

    Thought it was time to do a formal introduction, especially since I've been lurking for the past month. I'll provide a little background on my families affection with Falcon's then get into the story of the '65 Sprint.

    My Dad has had a place in his heart for Falcons since they first came out. Growing up he told me a story of test driving a 63 1/2 Sprint one afternoon and having a blast with the car until he had to return it. He never said it but considering we had 3 Falcons growing up that he liked having something other than a Mustang. But it wasn't only Falcons that he/we had an affection for, it was anything Ford. Always said I was born and bred Ford and it is still holding true (for the most part!).

    Our first Falcon was a '65 Futura. Nothing fancy but a car that my two older brothers shared during HS and college. It was eventually sold to an individual in our home town (Colfax, WA) who restored it. To my knowledge it is still there but I have not seen it in ages.

    The second Falcon was a '64 Sprint. Dad and my brothers performed a top-end rebuild on it, had it repainted and reupholstered the interior. In the early 80's that was about as close as we got to a "restoration". The 289 backed by a toploader close ratio 4 spd and 5.14 posi gears hooked up and was a blast to drive, until you hit 70 and that was about all you got! The car had matching gold Enkei wheels (which have been on the '65 Sprint since it sold) and looked great. Dad sold the car to an individual in the Edmonds area who wanted the stock wheels on it. Dad said it was one of the scariest drives he had when he delivered it. Unfortunately he did not maintain the individuals name and I was unsuccessful in attempts to track it down.

    The '65 Sprint was purchased (ok, bartered for) in the early 80's. The engine needed rebuilt and Dad decided to build a 302 for it and use a local mechanic to help. After several years of no progress Dad towed the car home so we could complete the engine build. In the process of breaking the engine in we scored the engine and it always smoked a little from one of the banks, which didn't please Dad, and resulted in another engine build (see below). It was a 15 year project for Dad, my brothers and I to complete the work on it, which included suspension, interior and paint. The headers alone were a task by themselves and I remember many an evening leaning over the front fenders trying to get the bolts started since I had the smallest hands!

    Dads Toy 2 came about as a result of another car. Dad also had a '61 Galaxie Starliner, which didn't require as much work as the Falcon so it took precedence for several years. When it was in the body shop I gave Dad a Father's Day gift and asked the bodyman to paint "Dad's Toy" on the trunk. It was nothing fancy but just a little something. Dad appreciated it so much that when the Falcon was painted he had Dad's Toy 2 painted on it.

    During those 15 years Dad considered selling the car more than once and I was able to convince him to keep it, while I was still living with him but as HS ended and college and marriage progressed I didn't have the ability to stop the inevitable. In 1998 Dad put the Falcon up for sale and the day before I made him an offer he sold it. To say I was disappointed was an understatement but at that time in my life, newly married etc. it was probably for the best.

    About 10 years ago I decided that it was time to start looking for some of Dad's old cars, they all meant something to me personally as well as the family. Searches took several forms but Craigslist was by far the easiest. This summer, in the midst of a move to Central WA, I came across a '65 Sprint on the Seattle Craigslist site residing in Reno, NV. Told my wife that it was Dad's and she said not possible. I asked for one photo, of the trunk, and the next morning I was shaking as I looked at a picture of Dad's Toy-2! I contacted the seller and stayed in touch with him through our move and settling into a new town. In November I was able to fly to Reno and see the car, which was an incredible experience to see it after all of these years. The weekend before Thanksgiving my Dad, brother and I made a 3-day trip to pick it up and bring it home. One of the photos is Dad with the Falcon after 16+ years. He was speechless the first time he saw and heard it.

    Ok, that was a little longer than you probably wanted. About the car, it is still running the second engine that Dad built for it, a 347 Stroker. The last owner changed out the cam (we can't determine why) and added the Milodon oil pan (nothing like 12 qts of oil) but that was about all that was done to the engine. Drivetrain items that we didn't complete were done, which included a Toploader, Auburn locker with 4.11 gears in the rear-end, traction bars and sub-frame connectors. Other than the addition of the teardrop hood and blacked out treatment the paint job is the same one Dad had sprayed on it 18 years ago (and yes, it will need a repaint eventually).

    My plans for it are cruising and car shows with the family. Have a list going and can't wait for winter to be over so I can take it out and enjoy it. There are little things that I want to do but it will depend on the cost (would like to eliminate the blacked out look and get back to chrome bumpers etc). That and I am balancing time/$ on the Falcon with working on my '66 F-100 4x4 as well as getting my '70 Mach I back up and running.

    Hope you enjoyed the story and the photos and I'm looking forward to participating in the Club.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Fredrickson
    Posts
    977
    Wow!!! What a great story!!! Happy to hear that your search/acquisition was such a success. Thanks for the story and pictures (we all like pictures, as I'm sure you've seen in your lurking). Hope to see you at some of our meetings/functions.


    Gene Smith
    Fredrickson, WA
    '65 Ranchero Deluxe
    302, EFI, 4-Spd
    Granada Discs

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Mill Creek
    Posts
    1,224

    1965 Falcon Sprint - Dad's Toy 2

    Just a fantastic story and thanks for sharing it and the pictures with us. Hope we get to see it in person one of these days. What a beautiful car and it makes me want to start doing some more work on my car. thanks again.
    Larry Smith
    1964 Futura
    347 stroker



  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    Ellensburg
    Posts
    217
    Oldest brother here - we actually had 4 Falcons altogether but the 1962 sports coupe was owned and sold before my brother here, Cory, was part of the family. As my brother stated we're a true Ford family. At the same time we had these Falcons we also had a 66 F100. Our dad also owned a 67 Fairlane GTA at one point. We bleed blue.

    I have two real regrets in my life - selling the 65 Futura hardtop - had just gotten married and was going to college - and also selling the 61 Starliner. Hindsight sucks sometimes.

    A few other photos you might enjoy:

    The 64 Sprint



    The 65 Sprint before it was sold (and after the 64 was gone)





    Dad's Toy and Dad's Toy 2 together

    Last edited by Gitanesteel; December 18th, 2014 at 09:26 PM.
    Scott Zimmerman


    '65 Falcon Futura 2 door hardtop, 289 V8

  5. #5
    Saw the post for this car over on the FTE forum (Ford Truck Enthusiasts). Glad to see it posted here. Welcome!

    Let us know if we can help you guys in any way. We try to be a hands-on club when possible, so if you're close enough to allow for that, we'll help where possible.

    I've got my hands full at the moment with my new '66 F100 as well as with helping Smithkid's kid build his '69 Mustang Sportsroof. So don't hesitate to post info about your F100 or '70 Mach1 over in the ChitChat section if it's something you want to share as well.

    Roger Moore

    63 "Flarechero"
    powered by: 347ci stroker | Tremec T5 | 8" 3:45 TracLoc rear



  6. #6

    Falcons and Galaxie

    That is an amazing story. It is really surprising that no one had removed the "Dad's Toy" logo over the past sixteen years.

    The 1961 Starliner is a gorgeous car also (but a Falcon is easier to fit in my garage ).
    Dennis Pierson
    Tampa, FL
    "The Wonder Falcon"

    '63 Futura Hardtop (260, Ford-O-Matic, bench seat)

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    East Wenatchee
    Posts
    37
    I was actually surprised that not only Dad's Toy but also the Enkei wheels survived as well as all the parts that came with it. Parts that Dad put on were replaced and followed the car all these years. For instance, fiberglass rear leaf springs, rear bumper, T-10 transmission, rear-end (non-locking) etc. Still sorting through everything I received.

    I can see from the posts how much support ther is within the club. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone and seeing not only the Falcon's but also other projects (enjoying seeing Roger's work on his F-100 on the FTE site, which is useful as I plan projects on mine!).

    Fortunately the Falcon is complete and really needs very little to start showing. Not a top notch show car but is respectable. As for the Mustang and F-100 I'll post in Chit Chat when I start working on them. The F-100 is just little projects, great running vehicle and am enjoying using it and driving it and eventually a more thorough rebuild. The Mustang needs a little more, largely draining the fuel, dropping the tank and sealing and figuring what carb I want to put on it as I've rebuilt the current Holley way too many times and it is just time to replace it just to get it running. Then it is planning for how much I want to invest in it.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Federal Way
    Posts
    906
    Just catching up on this one! There's nothing like this kind of connection with a falcon. Thanks for sharing the story.
    Don Bartlett
    Federal Way, WA
    61 Four Door Sedan
    144-6, 3 on the tree



  9. #9

    Fiberglass leaf springs?

    Quote Originally Posted by Ferari View Post
    Parts that Dad put on were replaced and followed the car all these years. For instance, fiberglass rear leaf springs, ...
    Please say more about the fiberglass leaf springs. I googled "Ford Falcon fiberglass leaf springs" and couldn't find anything listed. Were yours custom made, or are they the same as would go on a Mustang?

    Does anyone make fiberglass leaf springs for 1963 - 1964 Falcon Sprints?

    I would guess that the fiberglass springs weigh probably 75 pounds less than the steel springs.

    Thanks, Dennis.

    Racing Into The Future (2).jpg
    Dennis Pierson
    Tampa, FL
    "The Wonder Falcon"

    '63 Futura Hardtop (260, Ford-O-Matic, bench seat)

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    East Wenatchee
    Posts
    37
    The fiberglass leaf springs were a Mustang part that Dad installed. Due to the torque of the Stroker we had issues with them winding up (didn't have traction bars at that time).

    Send me a PM and we can discuss more if you want to test fit them.

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