NEW! Award 56: 1961 Ford Falcon Wagon – Now Dealer Listed

May 25, 2021 Update – The Internet and Guys With Rides never forgets! As we were preparing our latest Wagon Wednesday features, we spotted this 1961 Falcon wagon we’ve been tracking since early last December when it initially won our “NEW!” (short for “No Effin Way!) Award for its initial optimistic $19,610 asking price.  In this latest ad, (the seller is now relying on a dealer to sell), the price has been dropped to $14,999 or best offer.

April 27, 2021 Update – while this “Classifind” expired recently, given the seller’s past history we suspect may not actually be sold yet.  For now, we’re labeling this ride “Sold?” However, we will keep an eye out for an updated listing.

March 22, 2021 Update – After nearly a month with no Craigslist ad posted, we came across a fresh listing for this 1961 Ford Falcon Wagon. Unfortunately, they have the asking price back up to $18,500. While not the optimistic original asking price of nearly twenty large wanted back in December, the current price still puts this Falcon back into our “NEW!” (Short for “No Effin Way!”) Award territory as that asking price is well above the #1 Condition values for both pricing guides referenced below. This time around, the seller enlisted the services of a classic car dealer to help with the sale.

February 2, 2021 Update – We just confirmed the listing for this “Classifind” expired, so with no replacement found we’re assuming this ride “Sold?”

January 12th Update – Two weeks after initially listing their ’61 Falcon for a “NEW!” Award-winning $19,610, the seller of this great-looking wagon just reduced their asking price to a more market-correct $15,999, which is about $200 more than Hagerty’s #2 “Excellent appraisal.  We respect the seller’s quick response to their flexibility on price and hope that aids in a quicker sale.

Call it the Hipster effect.  In the short time since we started this website, a number of prominent young YouTuber hipsters capitalized on the simplicity and low cost of early Ford Falcons. Ever since prices have slowly been on the rise. However, those rising prices remain below the $20,000 threshold for all six-cylinder models. So while things change, the more they stay the same.  A prime example is the 1961 Station Wagon version. A nicely restored example offered at $15,000 back in September 2019 received one of our early “NEW!” (short for “No Effin Way”) Awards for that ask as it exceeded the Hagerty Insurance top estimate at that time. Eighteen months later we find ourselves featuring a similar 1961 Falcon wagon variant originally listed in December 2020 and subsequently relisted in March 2021 on Craigslist in Red Bank, New Jersey featuring a rebuilt engine and an asking price of, ahem, $19,610.  Unfortunately, comparing this price against the Hagerty Insurance Online Valuation Tool confirms this seller has Falcon priced $1,310 above this guide’s current #1 “Concours” appraisal of $18,300.  As a second data point, the Collector Car Market Review Online Tool also proves the seller’s current ask is $3,000 more than this guide’s #1 “Excellent” appraisal of $16,600. Unfortunately, these facts leave us no choice but to award the seller our latest “NEW!” award for what will very likely be an optimistic price they will be forced to lower soon.  To their credit, the seller is open to “Best Offer” so you can leverage these guides to help settle on a more realistic price.

Ford produced the Falcon from model years 1960 through 1970 in three distinct generations: 1960-1963, 1964-1965, and 1966-1970 (savvy readers may be quick to point out the ’70 1/2 model, but for us, that was just a rebadged Torino doesn’t really count!)  In the late fifties, two trends in the U.S. emerged. First, the post-World War II prosperity saw an increase in female drivers; consequently, many households could now afford a second car, provided it was inexpensive and economical.  Second, the U.S. recession of the late 1950s had some consumers longing for a small car rather than the typical full-size offerings the “Big Three” historically focused on.  Ford’s market research confirmed these emerging trends and the company launched its new Falcon line in the fall of 1959.  All of the domestic manufacturers came to the same conclusion and launched their own line of compacts cars in the early 1960s.

Early Falcons relied on a small 144 cu in Mileage Maker straight-six that produced 95hp using a single barrel carburetor. Relying on a modern unibody construction, the suspension was simple a scaled-down version of front coil springs and a solid axle mounted on leaf springs in the rear.  Despite being smaller than full-size cars of the time, Falcons offered room for six passengers in reasonable comfort with its nondescript interior. Boasting about the Falcon’s 31.5 mpg fuel economy, the car was a huge sales success during its first two years of production, with one-and-a-half million sold during that time frame.

So big was Ford in the early 1960s they were able to convince Cartoonist Charles Shultz to hock their new compact Falcon with his beloved Peanuts characters.  Here’s one from the series of commercials featuring them:

Other than the high asking price, there is a lot to love about this Falcon. The faux wood side paneling is a great example of what can be accomplished these days with modern vinyl wraps.  While the seller currently does not provide any pictures of the rebuilt engine, the only thing we can nitpick is the headliner which is showing early signs of sagging. Otherwise, this will be a fun wagon to take cruising once the car show circuit finally starts up (we all hope that does happen!) this summer.  Good luck with the purchase!

Here’s the seller’s description:

“Once again another B & V Classic 🚙!!!
For Sale-
-1961 Ford Falcon Station Wagon
-$19,610 or b/o
-3 speed on the column
-4188 miles on rebuilt engine
-rust free original everything working on car
-new paint
-new interior
-how about those sexy rear window shades… -call or text with questions…
Vance
PS. wreath and tree sold separately!!!
Happy Holiday“

Show or Go: What would you do with this Falcon Wagon?  Comment below and let us know!