Mike & Donna Parks, Shepherdsville, KY    

1962 2-door Sedan 

The year was 1961 and a bright, shiny, new 1962 black Falcon Futura rolled off the assembly line in Loraine, Ohio. For forty years it went through various owners until it came to live at Mr. Daryl Reynolds’ home in southern Jefferson County. Having too many projects, he decided to part with the little Falcon. While at the Carl Casper Auto Show in Louisville, he came to the Bluegrass Chapter of the Falcon Club of America’s booth. He wrote his name and number on the back of a Falcon Club business card and told them he was interested in selling it to a good home. I happened to be friends with the club’s president and came by the booth later that day. I was without a Falcon. I guess you can see were this is going. I dropped by Daryl’s house and instantly fell in love with the little bird. 

The little bird with a broken wing (flat tire), its feathers a dull black and in places missing (rust in the rear quarters). She still had heart and started on the first turn of her dangling ignition switch. She had suffered a fire at one time and her interior had seen better days. But I didn’t care because I saw potential, a work in progress. I saw past the ugliness to the bright, shiny, little bird she used to be.

This is not my wife!  

My wife and I have had her for two years now and she’s still a work in progress. Probably always will be. That’s the fun of it. A very good friend of mine, Mr. Tom Hayes and I have worked over the body and she is in black primer. I painted the rims red and I’m trying for that 60’s retro look. Her 170-cubic-inch six-cylinder engine starts every time and she has fewer miles on her than my 1992 Ford Explorer. I’ve replaced the headliner and carpet and redid the door panels in aftermarket material. She still has her problems but don’t we all. In twenty or so years, when my wife and I are in our sixties, she’ll still be our pride and joy. That little black bird with the big Ford heart.