The Falcon may not be the first model that car enthusiasts would associate with Ford, but it’s still iconic.
A big launch, particularly of something as globally significant as a new model of vehicle, is rarely particularly smooth. The long-running Ford brand certainly has its share of experience with this phenomenon. The Falcon may not be the first model that car enthusiasts associate with Ford, with the iconic likes of the Thunderbird and (of course) the Mustang immediately springing to mind in its stead. Perhaps something of a humble little car in comparison, the Falcon nonetheless proved to be a fascinating introduction to the company’s lineup and would have a lasting impact on Ford’s business.
First revealed in September of 1959, the Falcon’s modest dimensions marked an attempt to diversify the range and capture some more of the smaller-car zeitgeist that was wafting around the industry at the time. With this came affordability, more room for Ford to expand into the economic sphere. It may all sound quite simple and logical, but there’s so much more to the history of the Falcon than that. Here are some fascinating facts about the vehicle and its creation that even seasoned car enthusiasts may not know.Harsh Australian conditions proved very damaging for the Falcon (literally)
After World War II, the growth of Ford Australia was a hard-fought process. Victoria’s Henry Bolte would sell Ford Australia some prime land in the Melbourne region in 1956, and along with the company’s existing Geelong plant being renovated earlier in the 1950s, it was time for Ford Australia to introduce the region to the Falcon (boss Charles Smith canceled work on the Zephyr to do it).
This was the very same Falcon that arrived in North America at around the same time, and that was the issue. Though it had been extensively tested in its home nation, racking up a collective three million miles during the process, there wasn’t time to really determine whether it was equipped to handle conditions in Australia. Global brands typically want to adapt their offerings to the region, but Ford really dropped the ball here.
How Stuff Works reported that then-New South Wales regional sales manager Max Gransden said the result was “front suspension and clutch problems from day one. The XK sedan was introduced with boulevard ride and [six-inch-wide] tires as standard equipment. The combination was totally unsuitable for Australian conditions.” This particular Falcon model sorely underperformed there as a result. The Falcon Wagon, released as a sturdier alternative, served Australian motorists until 2010, and was succeeded by the Ford Mondeo.Charlie Brown and his Peanuts friends helped to advertise the Falcon
Companies are always seeking effective ways to sell their products. One popular technique is wrangling a celebrity endorsement.
