Ford Falcon (North American)
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- This article is about the north american car model. For models produced for other countries, see Ford Falcon (disambiguation).
The Ford Falcon was an automobile produced by Ford Motor Company from 1960 through 1970. It was manufactured in the USA, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Mexico and Chile. It was a huge sales success for Ford initially, handily outselling rival compacts from Chrysler and General Motors introduced at the same time. During its lifespan, the Falcon was offered a wide range of body styles: two-door and four-door sedans, two and four door station wagons, two door hardtops, convertibles, and a sedan delivery and the Ranchero pickup. For several years, the Falcon name was also used on passenger versions of the Ford Econoline van.
[edit] History
Historically, the "Big Three" auto manufacturers (GM, Ford and Chrysler), focused purely on the larger and more profitable vehicles in the US and Canadian markets. Towards the end of the 1950s, all three manufacturers realised that that former strategy would no longer work. Large automobiles were becoming increasingly expensive thanks to wage inflation, making smaller European cars such as Volvos and Volkswagens increasingly attractive. Furthermore, many American families were now in the market for a second car, and market research showed that women especially thought that the full-size car had grown too large and cumbersome. At the same time, that research showed that many buyers would prefer to buy US or Canadian if the domestic manufacturers offered a smaller, cheaper car. Thus, all three introduced compact cars: the Valiant from Chrysler (becoming the Plymouth Valiant in 1961), the rear-engined Chevrolet Corvair, and the Ford Falcon. Competition also came from smaller Studebaker, with the Lark, and AMC with its Rambler.
By American standards of the 1960s the Falcon was a small car, but elsewhere it would be considered a mid-size car. It was powered by a small, lightweight 90 hp (67 kW), 144 in³ (2.4 L) straight-6 with a single-barrel carburetor. Construction was unibody, and suspension was fairly standard; coil springs in front, leaf springs in the rear. There was room for six passengers in reasonable comfort in the simple interior. Body styles available at launch were two and four-door sedans, two or four-door station wagons, and the Ford Ranchero car-based pickup, transferred onto the Falcon platform for 1960. A Mercury derivative, the Mercury Comet, originally intended for the defunct Edsel marque, was launched in the US midway through the 1960 model year.
In 1960, Ford's Canadian subsidiary introduced the Falcon-based Frontenac. It was designed to give Mercury-Meteor dealers a smaller model to sell since the Comet was originally intended as an Edsel, which was sold by Ford-Monarch dealers. Produced for the 1960 model year only, the Frontenac was essentially a re-badged 1960 Falcon with its own unique grille, tail lights and external trim including red maple leaf insignias. Despite strong sales (5% of Ford's total Canadian output) the Frontenac was discontinued and replaced by the Mercury Comet for 1961.
Robert McNamara, a Ford executive who became Ford's president briefly before being offered the job of U.S. Defense Secretary, is regarded by many as "the father of the Falcon". McNamara left Ford shortly after the Falcon's introduction, but his faith in the concept was vindicated with record sales; over half a million in the first year and hitting over a million sold by the end of the second year.
The 1961 model year introduced an optional 101 hp, 170 in³ (2.8 L) six, and two new models were introduced; a bucket-seat sedan model with a higher trim level called the Futura, and a sedan delivery.
1962 saw a Squire model of the station wagon, with fake wood trim on the sides. Also new that year, the "Futura" option was offered with in slightly upgraded interior, different fender trim (spears), and a handful of different emblems. Halfway through the model year, they changed the roof line at the back window to more of a Thunderbird design.
In 1963 even more models were available; there was now a 4-door Futura, a Deluxe wagon and Ranchero, convertibles were introduced, and the new "Sprint" model was introduced. Halfway through the model year, a 260 in³ (4.3 L) V8 engine was offered for the first time. The Falcon was climbing in trim level from its budget beginnings as Ford attempted to wring more profit from the line.
A redesign changed the Falcon's looks for 1964. The new look was more squared-off, more modern, as Ford chased the youth market. Later in 1964, Ford's new offering for that market was launched: the Ford Mustang, based heavily on the Falcon's frame design but with no compromises about its youthful, fun intention. The Mustang dealt Falcon sales in North America a blow from which they would never recover.
The Falcon received another redesign for 1966, with a long-hood/short-deck look much in the Mustang vein. The two-door hardtop and convertible were dropped, while the station wagon and Ranchero were moved to a larger platform shared with the contemporary Fairlane. The Ranchero would leave the Falcon line and adopt the Fairlane's front sheetmetal for 1967.
The final model year for the Falcon in North America was 1970. Continuing sales declines and the inability of the car to meet forthcoming safety standards resulted in a short run of 1970 models identical to the 1969 version being sold through the end of December, 1969. On January 1, 1970, the Falcon name was transferred to a low-line version of the contemporary Ford Fairlane/Torino. This "1970 1/2" Falcon was available as a two and four door sedan and a four door station wagon. While the number of luxury and convenience options available was limited, the car was available with the full range of Fairlane/Torino powertrains.
[edit] External links
- FalconRegistry.com
- FalconParts.com
- Falcon Club of America
- Northwest Classic Falcons
- The Ford Falcon News
- FordForums
- Ford Six Performance
- Falcon restoration, tv commerials, literature, etc
