Cheap V8 1968 Ford Falcon Futura Sedan
This 1968 Ford Falcon Futura Sedan has a known history, with the seller purchasing the car from the original owner’s son. It appears to have been used sparingly, with the odometer showing what is claimed to be 23,970 genuine miles. The seller recently coaxed its V8 engine back to life, and with its rust issues seemingly minor, restoring the car to its former glory should be straightforward. The Futura is listed here on Craigslist in Sandpoint, Idaho. The seller’s price of $3,000 makes it an affordable project candidate, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Gunter K for spotting this fantastic Ford.
Ford introduced the Falcon for the 1960 model year as its compact offering. It was updated in 1964, with the Third Generation model hitting showroom floors in 1966. The company offered several trim levels and body styles, with our feature car the range-topping Futura 4-Door Sedan. The car’s history is known, with the seller’s ninth-grade English teacher the first owner. It was inherited by her son, who eventually sold it to the current owner. That means it has only been part of two families for fifty-six years. It hasn’t seen much active service, with the Futura only recently emerging from four years of hibernation. Its factory Lime Gold paint has aged, and the panels have accumulated minor bumps and marks. However, the car is straight, and the gaps are as consistent as expected from any unrestored vehicle from this era. Rust is always a consideration for those assessing the worth of a project candidate, and this Falcon springs a surprise. The seller claims the rust visible in the lower rear quarter panel is the extent of its issues, with the rest of the car said to be rock-solid. Only an in-person inspection will confirm this, but the lack of visible problems in the remaining lower extremities bodes well. Some trim pieces are slightly damaged, but there are no visible glass issues.
If I could ever give sellers one piece of advice when listing a classic for sale, it would be to take the time and effort to grab a decent array of clear photos. There is nothing better than a selection of crystal-clear images to entice potential buyers to give a listing more than a passing glance. That is where this seller has fallen flat, with no engine shots and a couple of poor interior photos. We know the original owner ordered the Futura with the mid-range 289ci V8 and a three-speed automatic transmission, although it is unclear whether it scored such niceties as power assistance for the steering and brakes. This V8 produced 195hp and 288 ft/lbs of torque, and while that doesn’t equate to muscle car performance, it would have been a capable open-road cruiser that offered the extra “squirt” required for rapid overtaking. The seller claims the car has a genuine 23,970 miles on the clock. However, they don’t mention supporting evidence, meaning the claim must be taken at face value. It has hibernated for the past four years, but the seller dropped in a battery and fresh fuel, and the engine roared back to life. They suggest it requires a tune-up, and I would add a thorough inspection before attempting any long journeys.
Sadly, this is probably the better of the two interior shots, which tells us very little about its condition. The first owner selected White vinyl trim, and the other image suggests it features bucket seats. An in-person inspection will reveal whether a retrim is in order or if a deep clean will produce acceptable results. One item that definitely requires replacement is the pad, which is cracked well beyond salvation. Reproduction pads are available, typically retailing for around $220. Otherwise, this is a case of “your guess is as good as mine!”
This 1968 Ford Falcon Futura Sedan isn’t the most desirable classic on the planet, but potential buyers shouldn’t dismiss it lightly. It has enough positive points to warrant serious consideration as a project candidate. It is an unmolested survivor that would suit an enthusiast seeking a practical classic. The V8 engine should provide respectable performance, but extracting additional ponies would be easy and cheap if the buyer isn’t worried about originality. Its lack of apparent rust is excellent news, and the odometer reading, if verifiable, is extraordinarily low. However, let’s cut to the chase. It’s cheap! There’s no other way to say it. That could make it ideal for someone on a limited budget considering a first project. Are those factors enough for you to pursue it further?
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Comments
I drove through Sandpoint about seven years ago after
being there years ago,& hardly recognized the place.Seems
that a lot of Southern Californians have “Discovered” it,& turned
it into the type of place they came from.
Yes…The Hive is one of the best music venues of it’s size.
An amazing sound system, I believe built from Silicon Valley money.
I see this one being exported to Australia where four doors are appreciated…
Not likely for this generation Falcon, it’s too similar with an Aussie one. A couple of 2-doors have crossed because they didn’t get any local ones. Maybe a Ranchero or wagon since theirs were on the sedan wheelbase and the Aussie Falcon ute had the short front doors of the 4-door model which necessitated a thick B pillar.
You mean “Californicated”, unfortunately, that has been the fate of many once desirable places
Yup,just like here in Arizona.
Don’t see the newer Falcons very often. The seller’s description of its history reminds me of my high school geometry teacher: she was single, very plain, had a simple lifestyle (as far as I could tell). If the first owner was similar and lived close to the school, the mileage is likely correct. Interesting that the top level Futura trim still has the dog dishes. Too bad about the rust. Certainly not a desirable car, but it’s cheap and might be fine as a low-stress runabout car.
An early model year with the 289, these were good little cars, if someone can live 4 doors, hopping up that 289, along with some nice period wheels, could make a fun and not commonly seen little classic, without the crazy price tag
There’s a guy in the Bay Area running around with this Falcon’s twin. Except he’s got a set of Magnum 500s and RWL tires on it with what sounds like a hopped up 289 in it – definitely a decent sized cam and throaty dual exhaust. Honestly, it’s a cool little Ford and as you said, don’t see many Falcons, especially the square taillight 68s. The one featured here could be a lot of fun for relatively little money.
Four doors just look bad on this Falcon. If it was a coupe it might be worth it.
Beauty of course is in the eye of the beholder. This 4 dr would look great cleaned up and with a mildly hopped up motor and chassis.
I don’t think two door Falcons are particularly attractive. This car is a steal if the corrosion isn’t too bad.
Yep, not just a sedan, but a 4 door sedan. Yuk
All these negative comments above…! What’s wrong with you people?
Decent, low mileage, v-8 powered, lightweight car will be quick, easy availability of parts, easy to work on, no electronics or computers, probably the original paint, uncommon car these days, perfect daily driver in my opinion. What’s not to like? Or would you rather spend three times as much for the 1984 4-dr. Skyhawk with similar low miles, a couple of listings down from this one? Lots of electronics, under-powered four-cylinder, nearly impossible for the backyard mechanic to work on, and lousy parts availability? I know which one I choose–no contest!
’80s cars and ’60s cars tend to attract different crowds, the ’80s-car crowd is more appreciative of what was seen as a grandma car in its’ time while the ’60s-car crowd still mostly seems to want what they wanted in high school.
My mom had a 2 door 68 Falcon. Nice little car.
Rode back and forth to college in one of these Falcon’s for a while. Not the most exciting ride, but it never let us down. Even in a raging snowstorm.
I had a ‘68 Falcon Sport Coupe. (A notch above the Futura) 289/C4. Gold with “bone” colored bucket seat interior. White vinyl top, with a cool “Sport Coupe” insignia on the rear post. It was a great car! Peppy, but not bad on fuel. Unfortunately, it was totaled. Looking back, I wish I would have paid extra to have it repaired.
This would be a wonderful car just to enjoy the experience of weekend “shunpiking” (driving only on secondary or back roads and avoiding turnpikes and interstates.) Essentially a Mustang with a more comfortable passenger compartment, this car would be a treat to take the family out to the country, roll down the windows, and enjoy the ambiance of the rural. Other than checking safety items (brake hoses, flexible fuel lines, etc.) I’d leave just as it is, frozen in time, and not “too good to use.” I worked for a gentleman who had a near-twin to this car, and it was a gem!
The Falcon from Ford is comparatively anonymous today, but back in the day, they were competitive with the GM X-Body offerings (Nova, et al). Now, the Novas and her sisters from BOP get all the love and attention, while the few of these that survive languish in obscurity. This one’s worth saving, if for no other reason than so few are left. The four-door examples are even more rare, as most of them were run hard and put away wet in family daily driver duty, before the unibody succumbed to an attack of the tin worm and went to the crusher. Since the Mustang was derived from the Falcon, underbody parts, at lest, should be plentiful, at least for two-door examples.
I have a shop manual for 66 Fairlane, Comet and Falcon. If I’m reading it correctly, the body/chassis repair section shows the same frame dimensions. Maybe Fairlane/Comet big-block parts would bolt-in (excepting wheelbase/driveshaft). I don’t recall seeing any of these with an FE.
The only Falcon ever available with a big block motor, was 1970 1/2, which was a stripped down Fairlane/Torino
Correct. I dug out my 1966 Ford shop manual for Comet, Falcon, Fairlane and Mustang. Section 17 is General Body Service which shows chassis dimensions for accident repair. Figure 1 shows Comet and Falcon, figure 2 is Fairlane and figure 3 is Mustang. If the manual was correct, Comet (390) parts would bolt to the Falcon chassis. I think they have the names switched because Fairlane and Comet are the same chassis, drivetrain, interior, glass, etc.