By Robert Emslie
This third generation Falcon was on a car carrier along with a ’56 Ford Panel, and – surprisingly – a pair of brand-new shorty ‘Slades. The writing on the window caught my attention, and I was able to grab a quick snap of it while we were both stopped for traffic on the freeway transition. There in wax pencil, was written “SOLD Going to New Zealand.”
The encounter was fleeting, but that one hastily scribbled sentence made me want to know what the future – and New Zealand – has in store for this arrest-me red Ford. If you happen to live “next door to down under” keep an eye open, and should you come across this Falcon, let us know how she’s doing.
Last Call indicates the end of Hooniverse’s broadcast day. It’s meant to be an open forum for anyone and anything. Thread jacking is not only accepted, it’s encouraged.
Image: ©22015 Hooniverse/Robert Emslie, All Rights Reserved
Latest
Cars, Trucks, Bikes, Project Cars, DIY, Travel, Adventure, Podcast, Videos
Jeff Glucker
Why do they need our Falcons??
They can still get them!!
They can send us their original Minis in exchange.
Same reason that XA-XC coupes and other Aussie Falcons appear from time to time on your side of the Pacific – they never made them quite like that over here.
We didn’t get those,but we did get these… http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/cars/ford/auction-873961096.htm. Maybe we could swap?
http://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/376460670.jpg
It’s amazing where one can go with a ’57 Ford hubcab.
Good catch! Maybe ’58 as well, right? Same?
Not officially, but Ford must have made these in abundance, as a friend of mine who prepped cars at a dealership remembers shipments of new cars arriving from the factory with these wheel covers well into the mid-1960s. They apparently had stockpiles on hand to use whenever they were running short of the correct covers. It would not surprise me to learn that many ’58s had them from new.
My first ’59 had a set, which is why I spotted this one, but in my case I suspect it was just a swap by a previous owner. The ’57s are a lot easier to come by than ’59 (or ’58) covers.
Interesting. I did not know that about later years after 58. It is a nice cap anyway with a lot of detail.
Ford produced such an overabundance of ’57 hubcaps that Great-Grandma’s ’54 was delivered from the factory with them.
For such a high level of production it’s best to get an early start. Still, on 15″ wheels that must have been a bit of a stretch.
Just what I was going to post – a wheelcover from a ’57.
Talk me into or out of leasing a new Nissan Leaf. I live in Georgia and the $5000 tax credit is expiring July 1. I can get a 24 month/ 12k miles/yr for $283/month. Both my current vehicles get 15-16mpg. Depending on driving and the price of gas my net cost will be between -$5 to $50/month when you count gas savings. This will be a third vehicle in the family and make one our other vehicles rarely used.
Well how many miles do you drive per year? Do you have a place to install a level 2 charger, if so how far is it from the power panel? Do you live in an area where you can install it yourself? Can you get by with 80% of the advertized range for your daily driving? If you can hit that 12k per year on mileage, it won’t cost too much for the level 2 charger, and it is something you will be OK with driving then I say go for it. The people I know with them are happy with them.
Don’t forget to factor in the cost of an extra insurance policy with full coverage, extra state registration fees, etc.
Why do you want one? You don’t have a soon-to-be-licensed teen in the family. It isn’t a cash-positive transaction except best case $120 over the lifetime of the lease, which could easily be wiped out if it has a door ding when you turn it back in. If you log enough miles to worry about fuel cost, a 24K allowance would be pretty confining.
Buy a ~$3K “fun” car instead. In 24 months, it will probably still be worth $2.5K and you can get rid of it and start the cycle over.
This will keep my wife from complaining about the 11 year old car that she is currently driving., that is starting to have lots of little issues. The 12k/year isn’t an issue, we will be keeping our two current vehicles. The costs included insurance and registration. It is more about having a basically worry free car to drive for very little if any cost.
Keeping the wife happy probably factors in with more weight than dollars do, but in that case, are you better off buying something that’s nicer than a Leaf and perhaps getting rid of one of the guzzlers?
She actually likes the Leaf. Another nicer car is out of the picture until my truck is paid off in two years. I plan on keeping the truck forever or 300-400k miles, whichever comes first. I have no problem justifying having a full size truck and a mid-size SUV. The plan is to get another SUV in two years, or when the current one wears out, whichever comes last.
Well, why not? Here in Norway, Nissan offers a buyback program (not a lease) guaranteeing 130000kr after 3 years, which is 100000kr off the new price. The nominal value doesn’t matter much, but they expect a quite substantial value left in them after three years.
In my case, an electric car would probably be sufficient, bar some weeks during the summer. Yet, I compare the financial side with 13 year old cars fully financed in our driveway. Not worth th effort.
Economically, it appears to be a marginal decision one way or the other. Insurance and charging station probably make it net negative. Will the utility of having a third vehicle and the pleasure you’ll take from your new appliance compensate for that?
Sorry, didn’t see your comment about insurance factored in. It sounds to me, though, like you want to do this. I’d say go for it.
I think I am, but I also just found out about the new $200/year EV tax, so that adds another $400 to the equation. Worst case, gas is $2.25/gal and I only save 55 gal/month, it costs me $50/month to have a new car. Best case, if gas goes to $3.25/gal (which IS bad) and I save 66 gal/month,(gas use depends on mileage and driving) I get a new car AND an extra $40/month in my pocket. The big plus is that it will keep the wife happy either way and have the safety net of a 3rd vehicle. I have factored in saving $500 in tires, oil changes, repairs, depreciation, etc. on the other two vehicles over 2 years/24k miles too, which might be really low, AAA figures $0.163/mile for a small sedan.
Thet’s a pretty choice Fulcon, eh bro. Fush and chups, sheep jokes, etc.
/Australian.
That’s a big Falcon deal.