Name: Andy Barcheck
Vehicle Year/Make/Model: 1962 Ford Falcon
Built By: Owner
Engine Details: 1997 Ford Taurus SHO V-8 (made by Yamaha) 3.4 liters, 207 ci, 235 hp at 6,100 rpm, 220 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm; PCM tuned to remove unused functions including the transmission controls
Transmission: 5.0 Ford Explorer 4R70W overdrive automatic, standalone U.S. Shift controller (also used to calibrate speedometer), Mustang 4.6 torque convertor
Chassis and Suspension Details: Rearend is 5.0 Ford Explorer V-8 3.73 gears, Detroit Truetrac differential, disc brakes
Wheels & Tires: Team III LT-III Minilite style eight-spoke, custom offset 17×7 front, 17×8 rear; Michelin Pilot Sport A/S3 tires, 205/50 front, 245/45 rear
Interior Details: Custom Autosound Falcon-looking radio with 6×9 dual voice coil speakers; Italian Nardi wood-rimmed steering wheel with Falcon horn button; Vintage Air Gen IV Magnum, three-knob controller in Falcon-style housing; Rostra Global cruise control; Dynamat Extreme, Dynaliner, Dynapad; Rostra heaters installed for heat therapy on long drives
Body and Paint Details: Specialty Power Windows with GM switches in console; 1970s F-Series/Bronco two-speed wipers with intermittent feature; late-model Ford with Mustang tank in fenderwell
Awards: Won class at the Portland Roadster Show, Best Ford awards
Miles Driven in to Date: Since completing the car in 2022, 7,000 miles
Background on the Car: It all started in 1960 when my parents bought a 1960 Falcon. I learned to drive in that car. Of course, I snuck some baby moons and “cheater” whitewalls on it when they weren’t looking. Fast forward to 2011 I bought a 1962 Falcon Futura. Most Falcons by then had returned to the earth as rust but this one was a pretty sound survivor. I had the idea that I could improve it in some way while trying to keep the Ford Design Language. This project could not have been completed without the support and help of my wife, Sandi. She may not always understand what I do but she knows that the projects will get done eventually and will work and look good. The Falcon took me 10 years of my spare time to complete. Many ask me how I can stay so focused on one project for that long. For one thing, I only work on one project at a time. Also, to me it is a series of little projects and eventually they all get done. In the mean time I always have something to do when I have nothing to do. I did most of the fabrication but there were others beside the painter and upholsterer who helped. Thanks must go out to the SHO and Falcon support groups and parts suppliers. Dan Jones powdercoated many parts for me. Spencer Winslow rebuilt the rearend and transmission. Chuck Schoenberg provided woodworking expertise. Doug Barley helped with the adapter plate and the rear end narrowing.
