Time to bid farewell

[Dan Hiebert]

To the Falcon.  Some of you expressed interest in my '63 Falcon project.  This is the car we bought as our daughter's first car when she was a Junior in high school when we were living in New Mexico.  She couldn't take it when she went to college so we brought it to Michigan, then on to our current digs here in western New York.  Didn't have any real plans for it until we went to her college graduation a couple years ago, and she asked about "her" car.  (I guess I was wrong when I assumed mom and dad gained ownership by possession.)  So the game was afoot to "refurbish" it.  The mechanicals were all good, so we took it apart (more so to paint it "right" than to fix anything), repaired what little rust there was, replaced all the weatherstripping, and installed a new interior and aftermarket gauges, as well as a bunch of tertiary stuff for good measure.  Got delayed a few times by life, it was supposed to be done last year, but now it's as done as I'm going to get it (our daughter asked us to leave a few things for her to do - Attagirl!).  Anyway, we're taking the Falcon back to New Mexico next week.  I'll be kind of sad to see it go, but at least it's still in the family....and I can move the Terraplane from the shed to the garage.  I got so absorbed in getting started on it that I never took any "before" photos (it was blue-greenish, was missing some trim, the interior was "rough", and it had a beat-up '62 grill) but here are the "afters".

 

[Young Ed]

Dan you should be proud of the work you did. Thats a fine looking car. I think there will always be a soft spot in me for those little cars. I know you and I have talked before about the same green 60 2dr that was around for most of my childhood.

[pflaming]

Wow what a neat car for your daughter. Looks like there is a 47-48 gray plymouth in the garage that needs to be driven.

[Dave72dt]

I remember the neighbor's Falcon.  As a kid, my brothers and I would try guessing how many times the elderly man would grind the gears as he tried downshifting it before he finally would get it into gear.  Even my father would occasionally get into it with us. They're neat little cars, very dependable and great gas mileage.

[Dan Hiebert]

Thankee kindly.

 

The car is "Meadowvale Green", and it is a 1960 color.  My parents had a 61 4dr Falcon for the longest time (white over red), thing wouldn't quit, but after a while, it was my brother's and my job to look out the back window after we ran over RR tracks or hit a good bump to make sure something didn't fall off.  One of my uncles had a light blue 60 Falcon for the longest time, too.  Our daughter wanted an older car, and knowing what I do about them, I talked the missus into getting a Falcon.  She had the coolest car in school, and now she'll have one of the coolest cars in Capitan, NM. 

 

That'd be our 48 Dodge in the garage.  It gets driven, but not so much this last year since most of my spare time was spent getting the green'un done - but we'll make up for it.

[1940plymouth]

In Oct of 1961, my Father traded his 1954 Chevy 4dr sedan in on a new 1962 Falcon with the 6 cylinder and three speed on the column.  Mechanically it was a good car, but what I remember most is Dad saying that it was very underpowered.

 

I too have had a special spot for the '60-63 Falcons, but no so much after 1963.

 

Glad that it will still be in the family Dan and in a warmer climate.

 

Now to see some photos of the progress on the Terreplane

[JamesF]

Hi,

I live in Clovis, NM, and was raised in Roswell, NM. Where in NM did you live?

James Fuller

[Mark D]

My first car was a 64 ford falcon four door. Fond memories of working under the hood of that car, sitting on the fenders.

[greg g]

Always liked Falcons, my neighbor's sister had a Futura Convertible white with red int,  The next door neighbor traded his Renault Dauphine, Gordini for a yellow 63 Sprint hardtop with the big 6, then he traded that for a Black 64 Sprint with the 4bbl 289 and 4 speed. That was a sweet running ride. 

So you driving the car to NM ???

[GlennCraven]

A very pretty Falcon, Dan.

 

My mother's first car was a light blue 1960 Falcon coupe.

[Dan Hiebert]

Hi,

I live in Clovis, NM, and was raised in Roswell, NM. Where in NM did you live?

James Fuller

 

Hello!  We lived in Carlsbad for 5 years from 97 to 03.  I was the agent in charge of the US Border Patrol station there, and we covered 7 counties in SE NM, including Chaves and Curry Counties, so I got to spend a lot of time in Roswell and Clovis.  My daughter went to Eastern NM there in Portales.  We really enjoyed NM, and that was my favorite place to work so far, but Uncle Sugar was closing the BP station so we had to mosey on.  Otherwise, I'd probably still be there.  We'll be going through Clovis next week, keep an eye out on 70 Tuesday or Wednesday and you may see the "Green Ghost".

 

 

Always liked Falcons, my neighbor's sister had a Futura Convertible white with red int,  The next door neighbor traded his Renault Dauphine, Gordini for a yellow 63 Sprint hardtop with the big 6, then he traded that for a Black 64 Sprint with the 4bbl 289 and 4 speed. That was a sweet running ride. 

So you driving the car to NM ???

 

Greg;  Very tempting, but no.  It's got the bigger 6 and the 2-speed Ford-o-matic tranny, but apparently a higher ratio rear end.  I'm sure It would make the trip, but it's all we can do to get it up to 55, and we don't have the time to toddle down there that "slow".  We're putting it on a dolly, but we'll probably take it off in Lincoln and drive it into Capitan (where our daughter lives now) just for giggles.  It'll be kind of odd to the more astute observer, a NY vehicle towing a NM vehicle TO the southwest rather than FROM.

[JerseyHarold]

The first car registered in my name was a '64 Mercury Comet, which was the upscale cousin of the Falcon.   I got it for free from someone in our neighborhood and had it running within an hour.   The reason I sold it was because the non-integral power steering cylinder began leaking and I couldn't get a replacement for it. 

[pflaming]

Question: Do the 'space craft' passengers that 'frequent' your area give you any helpful tips on how to make a light weight vehicle?

Edited October 30, 2013 by pflaming