Ford Falcon (Argentina)

Ford Falcon
A 1970 Falcon manufactured in Argentina
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford Argentina
Production	1962-1991
Assembly	General Pacheco
Body and chassis
Class	Compact car
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon 2-door coupé utility
Powertrain
Engine	2,299 cc OHC Pinto I4 (from 1983) 2,786 cc "170" I6 3,081 cc "187" I6 3,620 cc "221" I6 2,393 L VM HR492 diesel I4
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,781 mm (109 in)
Length	4,597–4,732 mm (181.0–186.3 in)
Width	1,781–1,793 mm (70.1–70.6 in)
Height	1,402 mm (55.2 in)
Curb weight	1,230–1,406 kg (2,712–3,100 lb)

The Argentine Ford Falcon is a car built by Ford Argentina from 1962 to 1991. Mechanically, it was based on Ford USA's 1960 Falcon. The Falcon retained the same elegant body style throughout its production, with several substantial facelifts taking place during its lifespan, giving it a more European flavour and bringing it into line with other more contemporary Fords. However, several decades later, it was apparent that it was a 1960s design wearing a 1980s grille.

The robust Ford Falcons became popular as black and yellow taxi cabs and white and blue police vehicles. They also had a less tasteful connotation, with the dark green painted Falcons used by paramilitary government forces like the Argentine Anticommunist Alliance death squads of the 1970s and the secret police of the military junta.

Falcons are still raced in the Turismo Carretera stock car racing series.

The story of the Falcon in Argentina began in 1961 when Ford Motor Argentina imported two Falcons from the US to test.

In 1962, local production began with complete knock down kits imported from the US assembled at the Ford factory in La Boca. Only a sedan was offered, with Standard and Deluxe trim levels, and a 170 cubic inch Ford inline-six engine. The official unveiling of the Falcon to the country took place in the theater "Gran Rex" in February 1962.

The first restyle of the Falcon came in 1963 and was produced until 1965. The Falcon now had a horizontal aluminum grill. New models included the Taxi model in 1964, and the more powerful Futura in 1965, with a vinyl roof and bucket seats. The first Futura left the production line on 4 December 1964. A larger and more powerful 187 c.i. (3,081 cc) engine was added with the Futura, offering 116 hp (87 kW). More parts were manufactured locally. In 1965, the Falcon became the best seller in the Argentinian market for the first time, reaching an 11.6% share of the market.

The second restyling of 1966 brought a more ornate grill, hood and side panel ornamentation. Most parts were now locally produced. In late 1967, the new Falcon Rural station wagon model began production, with its own Futura and Deluxe variants. Unlike the North American Falcon wagon, the Argentinian Falcon Rural sat on the same wheelbase as the sedans. High compression engines producing more power were available from 1968, and in 1969 Ford introduced a higher performance 3.6-litre 132 hp engine that became available as an option (model 221XP), it employed a freer-breathing cylinder head and less restrictive exhaust system to boost power. A floor-mounted four-speed transmission became available for the first time.