Front and rear views of a very cool half-year introduction pillarless hardtop version of the first generation Ford Falcon.
Once in a while I jump from my favored $1.19 car of the week, all the way up to $9.99. I bought this 1:18 scale 1963 1/2 Ford Falcon Sprint hardtop last fall at a clearance-type place. I paid $9.99 and I'm pretty sure it's more like $25.00 model. Even at that it's certainly no Franklin Mint-type model, but is really well-proportioned and a fairly rare car in real life. It's badged as a Futura, no Sprint nameplate at all. I thought all '63 1/2 hardtops were Sprints, but perhaps only those with V8s were badged that way. This model has a 170 cid I6, one of Ford's mainstays in that period.
You appear to have a thing for copper colored cars. I had a 75 Maverick in copper, and it's a popular color again - seen it frequently on the Edge, for example.
ReplyDeleteYour Falcon has a lot of detail for 9.99 - you got a great deal !
I've amassed at least 300 scale models of varios makes in 1/18, 1/24, 1/43. They're scattered about this house of mine - or is it a hobby store - LOL ! You'll probably find this hard to believe, but I really find it hard to resist purchasing a model of a vehicle I find aesthetically pleasing ! LOL
you're right about copper colored cars, although the flash made the Falcon seem a bit lighter than it is. I saw one of those original Chrysler Turbine cars in '63 or '64, going by our house of all places. It must have been one of the 50 they leased to private buyers. The paint was VERY metallic, and pretty special for the time. I don't find it hard to believe at all about your model cars, I have the same 'illness.' When i find a new small car, it's like I'm buying the actual car, which of course I never could. Small thrills!
ReplyDeleteThey had a Chrysler Turbine on display here in Detroit at our Historical Museum - been there for what seems like forever - so I know exactly the color you're talking about. I love "heavy" metallics like that
ReplyDeletei'm sure you remember the gorgeous metallics that were optional on FoMoCo cars back in the '70s. They had beautiful dark blues and greens and golds and coppers... Cadillac has some 'extra' metallic finishes back then too. I have to go through my old brochures soon—i'm getting rusty, and not in a good metallic way!
ReplyDeleteYes I do. In the late 60's - early 70's these optional paints used gold metal flake as opposed to silver metal flake to great effect. Lincolns were "Moondust", Thunderbirds " Fire", and Cadillacs "Firemist". They were the premier paint colors on those cars - and my favorites.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the model..we had a 1963 Ford Fairlane (sp?) that dad bought new. I remember it had no air conditioning and we took it on vacation...he covered the red seats (it was black outside) with PLASTIC PATTERNED seat covers and of course we wore no seatbelts and I would lean over the front seat and when we would get out of the car, I would have a "pattern" all up and down my arms! Funny.
ReplyDeleteMy mother-in-law had a gold Maverick in the early 70's...I was so envious of it. :) My folks had a GREEEN metallic car in the 70's and a burgundy in the late 70's early 80's..you are so right on about the colors...I don't know much about cars, but I do know the color..lol
Would love to see a pic of your model collection...or even part of it if it won't all fit in the frame!:)
mare
Keith: awesome trivia! i never knew about the gold vs silver metallic, but it totally makes sense now. it makes sense they were extra cost too! thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteMare: i remember lots of summer vacations in cars without air conditioning! i don't think we had AC in a car until our '72 LTD, even though we had Caddys and Tbirds before that. They just didn't sell AC in cars in New England back then unless you ordered them. Times have changed!
MARE, I REMEMBER THOSE DAYS WELL. I REMEMBER RUNNING DOWN TO THE CORNER AND WAIT FOR DAD TO COME DOWN THE ROAD FROM WORK. WE HAD A 1937 FORD AT THAT TIME. [RUNNING BOARDS OF COURSE]. HE'D STOP AND I'D STEP UP ON THE RUNNING BOARD AND HE WOULD PUT HIS ARM OUT THE WINDOW, PUT IT AROUND ME TO HOLD ME SAFE. THEN ON HOME. IT WAS JUST FUN. TODAY YOU'D BE PUT IN JAIL FOR CHILD ABUSE. WE CALLED IT FUN. WE WOULD PUTT ALONG ABOUT 5 OR 10 MILES AN HOUR TILL WE'D GET TO THE DRIVEWAY. HE'D STOP, I'D GET OFF AND RUN ALONG THE SIDE TO GET TO THE BACK OF THE HOUSE SO I COULD GET MY HUG WHEN HE'D GET OUT OF THE CAR. MOM WOULD BE IN THE KITCHEN COOKING DINNER FOR HIM.TO BAD KIDS DON'T HAVE THOSE PLEASURES TODAY.
ReplyDeleteGRANNY
what a great memory, Granny! thanks for sharing it here.
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