Ford Falcon (North American)

Ford Falcon
1963 Falcon Sprint hardtop
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford
Production	1960–1970
Body and chassis
Class	Compact
Layout	FR layout
Related	Mercury Comet
Chronology
Successor	Ford Maverick

First generation
1960 Ford Falcon sedan
Overview
Production	1960–1963
Assembly	Oakville, Ontario, Canada Claycomo, Missouri Milpitas, California Edison, New Jersey Cuautitlán, Mexico Campbellfield, Victoria, Australia Buenos Aires, Argentina Arica, Chile
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door sedan 4-door sedan 3-door station wagon 5-door station wagon 2-door hardtop 2-door convertible 2-door coupe utility 2-door sedan delivery
Related	Ford Falcon Ranchero Mercury Comet Ford Frontenac Ford Falcon Van Ford XK Falcon (Australia) Ford XL Falcon (Australia)
Powertrain
Engine	144 cu in (2.4 l) Mileage Maker I6 170 cu in (2.8 l) Mileage Maker I6 260 cu in (4.3 l) V8
Transmission	2-speed automatic 3-speed manual 4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	109.5 in (2,781 mm)
Length	181 in (4,597 mm)
Width	70.1 in (1,781 mm)
Height	54.4 in (1,382 mm)

Second generation
1964 Ford Falcon convertible
Overview
Production	1964–1965
Assembly	Edison, New Jersey Claycomo, Missouri Cuautitlán, Mexico, San Jose, California
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupe 4-door sedan 3-door station wagon 5-door station wagon 2-door hardtop 2-door convertible 2-door coupe utility 2-door sedan delivery
Related	Ford Econoline Ford Falcon Ranchero Mercury Comet Ford Mustang
Powertrain
Engine	144 cu in (2.4 L) Thriftpower I6 170 cu in (2.8 L) Thriftpower I6 200 cu in (3.3 L) Thriftpower I6 260 cu in (4.3 L) Windsor V8 289 cu in (4.7 L) Windsor V8
Transmission	3-speed automatic 3-speed manual 4-speed manual 2-speed automatic (Ford-o-matic)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	109.5 in (2,781 mm)
Length	181.6 in (4,613 mm)
Width	71.6 in (1,819 mm)

Third generation
1967 Ford Falcon Futura coupe
Overview
Production	1966–1970
Assembly	Edison, New Jersey Claycomo, Missouri Cuautitlán, Mexico Talbotville Ontario Canada Casablanca, Chile
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupe 4-door sedan 5-door station wagon
Related	Ford Econoline Ford Ranchero Ford Fairlane Mercury Comet Mercury Cougar Ford Mustang
Powertrain
Engine	144 cu in (2.4 L) Thriftpower I6 170 cu in (2.8 L) Thriftpower I6 200 cu in (3.3 L) 120 hp (89 kW) Thriftpower I6 260 cu in (4.3 L) Windsor V8 289 cu in (4.7 L) Windsor V8 302 cu in (4.9 L) Windsor V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	111 in (2,819 mm) (coupe, sedan) 113 in (2,870 mm) (wagon)
Length	184.3 in (4,681 mm)
Width	73.2 in (1,859 mm)

1970 1⁄2 Falcon
1970½ Ford Falcon 2-Door Sedan
Overview
Production	1970
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door sedan 4-door sedan 5-door station wagon
Related	Ford Fairlane Mercury Montego
Powertrain
Engine	250 cu in (4.1 L) I6 302 cu in (4.9 L) V8 351 cu in (5.8 L) V8 429 cu in (7.0 L) V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	117 in (3,000 mm) (sedans) 114 in (2,900 mm) (wagon)
Length	206.2 in (5,240 mm) (sedans) 209 in (5,300 mm) (wagon)
Width	76.7 in (1,950 mm) (2-door sedan), 76.4 in (1,940 mm) (4-door sedan) 75.4 in (1,920 mm) (wagon)
Height	52.3 in (1,330 mm) (2-door sedan), 53.1 in (1,350 mm) (4-door sedan) 55.7 in (1,410 mm) (wagon)
Curb weight	3,242 lb (1,471 kg) (2-door sedan), 3,258 lb (1,478 kg) (4-door sedan) 3,635 lb (1,649 kg) (wagon)

The Ford Falcon is an automobile that was produced by Ford from 1960 to 1970 across three generations. It was a sales success for Ford initially, outselling rival compacts from Chrysler and General Motors introduced at the same time. The television marketing for this model featured the first animated appearances of the characters from Charles Schulz's acclaimed comic strip, Peanuts, with announcer contribution from Paul Frees.

The Falcon was offered in two-door and four-door sedan, two-door and four-door station wagon, two-door hardtop, convertible, sedan delivery and Ranchero pickup body configurations. For several years, the Falcon name was also used on passenger versions of the Ford Econoline van.

Variations of the Ford Falcon were manufactured in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile and Mexico.

Edsel Ford first used the term "Falcon" for a more luxurious Ford he designed in 1935. He decided the new car did not fit with Ford's other offerings, so this design eventually became the Mercury.

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 realized that this strategy would no longer work. Large automobiles were becoming increasingly expensive, making smaller cars such as Fiats, Renaults, Toyotas, and Volkswagens increasingly attractive. Furthermore, many American families were now in the market for a second car, and market research showed women especially thought the full-size car had grown too large and cumbersome.