This helped Ford greenlight the Mustang which shared a lot of the mechanics of the first generation Falcon. The sales for this first generation car were a huge success, and proved to Ford that bigger wasn't always better. The Futura was the higher trim level for the sedan, hardtop, and convertible models. They came in several variations including a fun Futura Convertible option. The Falcon was Ford's first “compact car” they ever produced that boasted about good fuel economy (30 mpg with 6 cylinder models) and enough room to fit the family in. And, there’s the Falcon Club of America at Auto Gallery is pleased to present this 1963 Ford Falcon Futura Convertible for purchase. It’s an affordable, entry-level collectible that can be restored or modified without destroying its integrity. Nevertheless, the Falcon continues to hold a special place in people’s hearts. There would be two more generations of Falcon, the 1966-’70 version and the 1970-1/2 but the bird had flown and people had moved on. One of the cars driven by Phil Bonner won Top Stock and Stock Eliminator at the ’64 AHRA Nationals while Brannan won S/SX at the ’64 AHRA Summernats. Photo Credit: Tony Thackerīack on the home front in the U.S., the Falcon was doing equally well in SCCA road racing, Trans-Am, and on the drag strips where, according to driver Dick Brannan, there were a couple of “factory” Falcons powered by 427 ci engines. The following year, Frank Gardner driving a Group 5 Falcon for AMR won the British Saloon Car Championship. In ’66, an AMR Falcon set the first ever 100+ mph lap of the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit with Sir John Whitmore driving. It was a great little car.” Photo Credit: Tony Thacker According to Ron, “I bought a brand new Falcon, swapped out the 2bbl carb for twin 4bbls, drove to Bonneville from Los Angeles and went 136.77 mph. Meanwhile, at the Bonneville Salt Flats, the California-based team of Hope & Schottmuller ran a 260-powered Falcon in E Production Coupe and Sedan. In ’64 Bo Ljungfeldt and Fergus Sager set the fastest time on every stage of the rally. In England, Alan Mann Racing (AMR) became a Ford factory team racing cars in events as diverse as the Monte Carlo Rally to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In ’63 Ford had contracted Holman & Moody to build three cars for European rallying in a laudable effort to promote the Falcon as more than family transport. On the track, however, the Falcon continued to excel. Just over 15,000 ’63 Sprints were made of which 4,602 were convertibles. To accommodate the power increase the body and suspension were stiffened, 10-inch drums replaced the previous 9-inches and five-lug wheels replaced the 4-luggers. At the same time, a convertible became available, as did the 260 ci V8. Introduced midway through 1963, the Sprint had sporty pretentions with bucket seats, a tach, chrome valve covers, and wire wheel hubcaps. Tires: Milestar MS 775 Touring SLE All-SeasonĬhallenger II was not so much raced as used as the prototype for the Falcon Sprint. Vehicle: 1964 Ford Falcon Sprint Convertible “The World’s fastest Falcon,” driven by Marvin Panch and Jocko Maggiacomo won its class. For example, in 1962 Holman & Moody entered Challenger I in the 12 Hours of Sebring. With an advantageous power-to-weight ratio, the Falcon made for an obvious racecar especially when the “Challenger” V8 became available, however, even before the factory fitted the V8 Ford outfits such as Bill Stroppe in California and John Holman & Ralph Moody of Charlotte, North Carolina, were shoving V8s under the Falcon hood. To begin they were copies of their American cousins, albeit with right-hand drive, but eventually, they took on an Aussie personality and ultimately, millions were sold. The Falcon would become the first Ford to be truly manufactured in Australia. The Falcon was such a hit at home-over a million sold by the end of the second year-that Ford’s overseas branches, particularly Australia and Canada, wanted their own. The Falcon was introduced to the world in the fall of 1959 and immediately set a Ford Motor Company sales record of 417,000 units.
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