Ford Falcon

In the late 1950s the ‘Big Three’ all scrambled to release smaller, cheaper cars in response to the rise in sales of compact imports, and the drop in big car sales resulting from the 1958 recession.

Ford’s answer was the pretty little Falcon, intro’d in 1959 along with Chevy’s radical rear engined Corvair and Plymouth Valiant. By 1963 the Falcon model range was expanded to include a hardtop and convertible as well as a V8 and other performance goodies. Engines included the straight six in sizes from 144, 170 & 200 cubic inches, to the same small block V8s offered in the Mustang - starting with the 260, then 289 & 302 cubes.

Due to relatively poor sales, Ford pulled the Falcon after 1970. Refusing to die - the Falcon lived on in Argentina and Australia - becoming a regular best seller Downunder until its’ demise in 2016. View the Aussie Falcon gallery here