Yes, it is original, but there is rust started, so it needs work fast to preserve it. It is also a very basic wagon, including the base engine. A 144 is NOT enough engine to keep up with modern highway driving. It would be able to handle in town, but not much more. With that engine, my guess is the top speed is not much more than 70, especially when carrying a load of people and stuff.
another hmmm My 74 Mustang II topped off at about 70/75, with a 2300... A pic of the odometer was polite, but, with the age of the car and an obvious re-paint, that could easily be saying 1 or 250,000. Ford's 175 inline 6 was rated at 76bhp... I'm guessing, that means a 144 puts out 45bhp?.. No, not much power. Old VW Beetle or van power. Not that much...
The '63 Futura sedan with 2-speed Fordomatic that I learned to drive on had the slightly larger 170 cu in 6, and it could barely get out of its own way.....
I'll take it. Now this with a inline 6 would not go anywhere fast...... http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26718
Funny thing to me is, I've driven a early 60's Falcon sedan with a 6 and I'm driving (rite now) a VW bug..... I'll put money on the bug in a 1/4 mile I'll still take the wagon though, I'm not in a hurry to get any where, any more
At the same time we had the Falcon (which was the step-mom's car), my dad had a '63 ChevyII Nova with the 194 cu in 6. I never drove the Nova myself, as this was before I was 16, but comparing what I remember of my passenger 'seat-of-the-pants' feel of the Nova to what the Falcon was like, the Nova seemed much peppier. Almost like the Nova had a light, nimble feel, while the Falcon seemed....heavy. After the Nova got stolen in '65, dad had a '64 Nova rental that had the 230 cu in 6 in it. I remember dad saying it felt even better. We ended up replacing the '63 Nova with a '65 Nova wagon with the 283.
You nailed it, any 6 banger ford had in the 60's and early 70's had that heavy feel. I had a 289 2V in high school so I was better off, yet the parking lot was full on 6 banger beaters from all the big 3, the Fords all ways got to the party last.
Have just changed the 144 and 3 speed in my 62 Falcon for a 170 with a 4 speed box. Man that thing feels like a rocket compared with before! I know guys like the bigger 6's and v8s but I think it has enough power for the weedy brakes and suspension now......
oh those options, or lack there-of always understood that the early Mustangs with 6's didn't have the front disk brakes the V8 Mustangs did. and that their rims had four lugs instead of five. not sure if different suspension came with 8's over 6's... although, one would think stronger suspension would be needed to hold up a bigger engine. AND, I have seen V8 Mustangs people put 6's in to, and they sat a little high in front. Also heard that basic Ford suspension is there, just to keep the engine from dragging on the ground. Not specially tuned for performance or comfort. But then, those people usually wanted me to buy a VW or a Chevy instead...
Yup, the 6 bangers had a 4 lug wheel. If I remember correctly even in 67/68 the 6 bangers had 4 lug also. As for disc brakes that was an option for V8 cars, not standard equipment.
