1967 54A Ford Falcon 4-Door Sedan

Owner: Matt Hansen, Utah

My 1967 Ford Falcon was a fleet car, built on February 13, 1967, in Kansas City, Missouri. It was sold at Bradshaw Ford Mercury in St. George, Utah, on February 27, 1967. While I don’t know its original fleet or owner, it spent many years in southern Utah. The dry desert climate kept the car virtually rust-free, except for some small holes in the floor where water had leaked through the cowl.

How I Found It

This Falcon almost fell into my lap. I had been talking to my neighbor about finding a project car to tinker with alongside my son. Coincidentally, my neighbor’s son had this Falcon but lacked the time and resources to restore it. I purchased it from him for $500, though it came without a transmission and was largely disassembled.

Original Specifications

• Engine: 200-1V 6-cylinder
• Transmission: 3-speed manual
• Rear Axle: 3.20 conventional
• Interior: Parchment cloth/vinyl bench seat
• Exterior Color: Originally light green (resprayed orange by a previous owner)
• Mileage: Odometer shows ~54,000 miles (unverified)

Inspiration

Initially, the plan was to simply get the car running, but after discovering the Ford Falcons of Australia, I found inspiration in their muscle car heritage. These Australian Falcons, such as the XRGTs and GTHOs of the late 1960s and 1970s, became my design benchmark. This restoration has been my first major project, and I’ve learned everything from online resources and friends I’ve met along the way.

Restoration Highlights

1. Bodywork:

   • Stripped to bare metal.
   • Floor pans repaired and replaced.
   • Engine bay sanded and painted black.
   • Body painted orange.
   • A 1969 Mustang rear spoiler added to the deck lid.

2. Suspension & Brakes:

   • Front Suspension: Grab-a-Trak 1-inch lowering springs, new lower control arms, shocks, bushings, and hardware.
   • Front Brakes: Disc brake conversion with a dual master cylinder.
   • Rear Suspension: New shocks, 1-inch lowering blocks, and a Ford 8-inch rear axle with Yukon 3.25 gears.
   • Wheels & Tires: 17x8-inch Torque Thrust wheels with 235/45ZR17 Sumitomo HTRZ II tires.

3. Engine & Transmission:

   • Replaced the 6-cylinder engine with a 302 Windsor V8 sourced from a late-70s Bronco.
   • Engine bored .040 over, decked, honed, and rebuilt with:
     • Mild cam.
     • Summit Racing aluminum intake manifold.
     • 600 CFM Holley carburetor.
     • Pertronix distributor.
     • Headers from a 1968 Mustang.
   • Transmission: Rebuilt C-4 automatic with a Lokar shifter, kick-down cables, and throttle cable.

4. Finishing Touches:

   • Super Roo stripes sourced from Australia.
   • Almost every visible component refinished or replaced.

Challenges

Restoring a 1967 4-door Falcon sedan has been a unique challenge, as this model is incredibly rare. Finding the parts necessary to convert the car to a V8 was especially daunting, but the process has been rewarding. Over three years, I’ve only seen two other similar Falcons on the road.

Acknowledgments

I couldn’t have completed this project without the help of Brad Jones, Steve Wilstead, and Jeff Parrish, along with my son Jack. My love for Ford cars began as a kid, inspired by my father’s 1959 Ford and my own Mustangs, including an ’86 GT, 2006 GT, and 2010 GT.

Current Status

The car is mechanically complete. I’m now working on the glass and interior with the help of parts from Ecklers.com. While I don’t belong to a car club, I’ve enjoyed connecting with others passionate about classic Fords.