Nostalgia is the driving force behind every hot rod build. Whether it's nostalgia for a long lost car that continues to generate great memories after half a century, or nostalgia for a period of time when life seemed simpler and more fun, this hobby is our way of keeping the good old days alive. For Bill Estridge of Oakdale, Minnesota, those good old days go all the way back to the Sixties when hot rodding made its first impression on him.

Bill has bought and built a variety of specialty cars since those days. This 1964 Ford Falcon is his most recent. One look at the car is a ticket back in time for anyone old enough to remember those days.

"I was looking for a nice Sixties hot rod," Bill explained to us when we met him here at Back To The 50's in St. Paul. His search took place online and ended when Bill found this Falcon Futura two-door hardtop on eBay Motors. He says he purchased the car sight unseen. It was originally from Philadelphia, but had ended up at a dealership in Chicago and in February of 2016, it was shipped to Oakdale. It arrived on an open car hauler in the middle of a snowstorm, covered in road salt, and in dire need of a clean-up, which began immediately.

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When Bill started continually chasing oil leaks, he decided to replace the engine. "I wanted a better-built engine for the car and the Ford Performance 302 was my first choice," he said. Tim Dohm of Lindstrom, Minnesota, built the four-barrel-fed Ford engine for the Falcon. Other upgrades include the Ford 8-inch banjo rearend with a locker and 3.55 gears. Bill says the car is as fast as it looks and he is very happy with the conbimation. In addition to Back To The 50's where the car was our pick for the STREET RODDER Best Ford In A Ford award, presented by Ford Racing, Bill takes the Falcon to as many smaller local shows around Minnesota and Wisconsin, keeping the old days alive.