Alright folks, let me tell you about this 65 Ford Falcon Sprint project I tackled. Buckle up, it’s a ride!
First things first, I found this Falcon sitting in a barn. Seriously, a barn! Covered in dust, looking like it hadn’t seen the light of day in decades. But underneath all that grime, I saw potential. I mean, it was a ’65 Sprint! I had to have it.
Got it home, and the real work began. Started with the engine. It was seized tighter than a drum. Pulled it out, completely disassembled it. Man, there was rust everywhere. Cylinders were a mess. Had the block hot-tanked, bored out, and honed. New pistons, rings, the whole shebang.
While the engine was out, I tackled the body. Rust, rust, and more rust. Cut out the bad sections, welded in new metal. This took forever, seriously. But gotta get it right, ya know? Then came the body filler, sanding, priming… you know the drill. Hours and hours of elbow grease.
Next up, the interior. Seats were ripped, headliner was sagging, carpet was…well, it wasn’t carpet anymore. Stripped it all out. New seat covers, new headliner, new carpet. Found some original-style fabric online. It looks awesome. Even replaced the door panels. Feels like stepping back in time when you get inside.
Then, the fun part: the paint. Decided to go with a classic Wimbledon White with a blue stripe down the side. Spent a whole weekend masking it off, making sure the lines were perfect. Sprayed it myself in my garage. Not a professional job, but I think it came out pretty damn good. Few little imperfections, but hey, it’s a driver, not a show car.
Put the engine back in. New wiring harness, new fuel lines, new everything. Turned the key… and nothing. Cranking, but no start. Turns out, I forgot to hook up a ground wire. Doh! Fixed that, turned the key again, and she fired right up. Sweet music to my ears!
Brakes were next. New master cylinder, new lines, new shoes all around. Safety first, right? Didn’t want to end up in a ditch somewhere.
Suspension got some love too. New shocks, new bushings. Tightened everything up. Makes a huge difference in how it handles.
Finally, the little details. Chrome trim, emblems, all that stuff. Polished it all up, made it shine. New tires, new wheels. Gives it that classic Sprint look.
After months of work, it was finally done. Took it for a spin, and man, it was a blast. That little 289 V8 sounds amazing. Cruises down the road like a dream. Get thumbs up everywhere I go.
Was it worth it? Absolutely. A lot of blood, sweat, and tears went into this project, but now I have a classic ’65 Ford Falcon Sprint that I built with my own two hands. Can’t beat that feeling.
What did I learn? A ton! Learned a lot about engines, bodywork, and patience. Lots and lots of patience. Would I do it again? Probably. Maybe a Mustang next time. Who knows?
- Engine rebuild
- Body work & paint
- Interior restoration
- Brake system overhaul
- Suspension upgrades
Things I would do differently next time:
- Hire a professional for the body work, maybe.
- Buy a rotisserie. Seriously.
- Drink more beer. Just kidding (sort of).
Hope you enjoyed hearing about my project. Now get out there and build something!
