Wednesday, May 18, 2005
1963 1/2 Ford Falcon Futura
Shows/events • Weekly Cruise Nights
BY BRIAN BEAULIEU
Journal Staff Writer
Ray Chevalier of Glocester has a bunch of old Fords -- six cars and a couple
of trucks in various stages of repair. But this 1963 1/2 Falcon Futura sport
coupe is his favorite.
He has restored it to original condition -- twice, in the 20 years that he
has owned it. He did all the work, except for the paint job. He tried to keep
it as original as possible, but there is an asterisk in there. "When I
replaced the floor panel, I had to use a Mustang part," he says. But he
is quick to point out that the Mustang was derived from the Falcon chassis,
so it's really all the same.
In the '60s, Ford liked to use the 1/2 designation for cars introduced in
the spring. The Mustang came out a year after this Falcon, and was dubbed a
1964 1/2 model.
The Futura was the top of the line model for the economy car introduced for
the 1960 model year. It has a simulated hood scoop, bucket seats and a console,
though the two-speed automatic shifter is still on the column. The fender skirts
were not a Ford option but they were an aftermarket item made especially for
the Falcon.
The Guardsman Blue paint is a real attention-getter. "You don't see cars
this color any more," said an observer at the photo shoot. You also don't
see engine compartments as clean as this one.
Chevalier, president of the Northeast Chapter, Falcon Club of America, has
another Falcon, a red convertible that he is redoing. But this blue beauty
is his pride and joy.
Engine/transmission: 170-cubic-inch 6-cylinder; Ford-O-Matic.
Color: Guardsman Blue.
Mileage: 270,000.
Plate: Kool63.
Can be seen: McDonald's in Cumberland on Fridays.
Condition: Pristine restoration.
If you have a classic car you wish to be considered for this feature, please
e-mail bbeaulie@projo.com with
details.
Shows/events •
Weekly Cruise
Nights
Cruise nights that are not held weekly are listed by date
in our shows/events listing.
MAY
May 18 -- American
Legion post, Route 79, south of Route 140, Berkley, Mass., 5-dusk.
May 20 -- Shawmut Diner, Hathaway Road, Exit 3 off Route 140, New
Bedford, Mass., 5-9.
May 21 -- Market Place Plaza, 1160 Stafford Rd., Tiverton, 4-dusk.
May 21 -- Kruse auction, Topsfield Fair grounds, 200 Boston St.,
Topsfield, Mass., 10 a.m.
May 22 -- Judged show, Topsfield Fair grounds, 200 Boston St., Topsfield,
Mass., 10 a.m.
May 22 -- Italian car day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street,
Brookline, Mass., 9-3. May 26 -- Regional High School, Route 106, South Easton,
Mass., 6-9.
May 28 -- Elks Lodge, Route 152, Attleboro, Mass., 4-9.
May 29 -- Bristol Stomp rally, driving events, Elks Lodge, Route 152, Attleboro,
Mass., 9-3.
May 29 -- Riverside show, Fred's Service Center, 3730 Pawtucket Ave., East
Providence, 9-2:30.
May 30 -- Johnston Memorial Park, Route 6, Johnston, 9-3.
May 31 -- Brooks Pharmacy plaza, Washington Street, Canton, Mass., 5-dusk.
JUNE
June 3 -- Mattapoisett wharf, Mattapoisett, Mass., 5-9.
June 4-5 -- Concours d'Elegance, Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, 100 Arch St.,
Greenwich, Conn., 10-5. American cars on Saturday, European cars on Sunday.
June 4 -- Rock 'n' roll ramble, Heritage Gardens, 67 Grove St., Sandwich,
Mass., 10-2.
June 4 -- British car dyno day and car show, New England Dyno and Tuning,
7 Lenora St., Worcester, Mass., exit 10A off Mass. Pike, 8-5.
June 5 -- All-Pontiac show, Fiore Pontiac, Route 2, Warwick, 9-3.
June 5 -- Mopar show, Golfland, Manchester, Conn., 9-3.
June 5 -- French car day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline,
Mass., 9-3.
June 10 -- St. Mary's Church, Dartmouth Street, Dartmouth, Mass., 5-9.
June 12 -- July Fourth committee show, Guiteras School, Route 114, Bristol,
9-3.
June 12 -- Corvette day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline,
Mass., 9-3.
June 17 -- British car rally, leaves from Gazebo at the Village Green, Route
116, North Scituate, to mystery location, 6-6:30
June 18 -- British cars, Heritage Gardens, 67 Grove St., Sandwich, Mass.,
10-2.
June 18 -- Camaro-Firebird day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline,
Mass., 9-3.
June 19 -- Corvette show, New England Institute of Technology, off Jefferson
Boulevard, Warwick, 9-3.
June 19 -- German car day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline,
Mass., 9-3.
June 25 -- Orphan car day (Packards, Studebakers, etc.) Museum of Transportation,
Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 9-3.
June 26 -- Forever Ford show, Goddard State Park, 345 Ives Rd., Warwick, 8
a.m.-2:30 p.m.
June 26 -- Smith's Castle, 55 Richard Smith Drive, off Route 1, North Kingstown,
10-3.
June 26 -- All-Chevy show, Diamond Hill State Park, Route 114, Cumberland,
9-3.
June 26 -- Oddballs Sports Bar, 105 Chases Lane, Middletown, next to Home
Depot, noon-dusk.
June 26 -- British car day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline,
Mass., 9-3
WEEKLY CRUISE NIGHTS
Sundays
Sam's Club, Route 6, Seekonk, Mass., 5-dusk.
Mondays
Burger King-Krispy Creme lot, Sockanosset and Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, 6-9,
begins May 16.
Seekonk Speedway, Route 6, Seekonk, Mass., 6-dusk.
Towne Pizza, Plum Corner, off Route 105, Rochester, Mass., 5-9.
Motorcycles, Chan's Restaurant, 267 Main St., Woonsocket, 5:30-8:30.
Tuesdays
A&W, Route 44, Smithfield, 6-9.
Oakland Beach, Warwick, 5-9, begins May 24.
Jukebox Diner, Route 6, Somerset, Mass., 5-9.
Slater Park, Pawtucket, 5-9.
Patriot's Bar and Grille, Routes 140 and 126, Bellingham, Mass., 6-9.
Wednesdays
Warwick Mall, food court entrance, Route 2, Warwick, 6-9, begins May 18.
Denny's, Exit 7 off Route 95, Coventry, 6-9.
Main Street, Woonsocket, 5:30-8:30, begins June 1.
Thursdays
Scramblers diner, off Route 122, Woonsocket, 5-9.
Star Drive-In, exit 10 off Route 140, Taunton, Mass. 5-9.
TGI Fridays, Routes 117 and 2, Warwick, 5-dusk.
Paddy's Bayside, 159 Atlantic Ave. Misquamicut Beach, Westerly, 5:30-dusk,
begins May 26.
Fridays
MacDonald's, Stop & Shop plaza, Route 122, Cumberland, 6-9.
Firestone tire store, Post Road, Route 1, Warwick, 6-9, begins May 20.
Gazebo at the Village Green, Route 116, North Scituate, 5-dusk. British cars
and others.
Milk Bottle restaurant, Route 138, Raynham, Mass., 5:30-7:30.
Saturdays
Carousel at Crescent Park Drive, Riverside, 5-8.
Cliquot cruise, Route 109, Millis, Mass. 6-9.
Gillette Corner, behind MacDonald's, Routes 10 and 202 Southwick, Mass., 6-9.
To list an event, e-mail information to Bbeaulie@projo.com, phone
(401) 277-7179, fax (401) 277-8175 or write to Brian Beaulieu, Journal Features
Department,
75 Fountain St., Providence, RI 02902.
