How many Ford Falcons were made in 1961?
Roughly 170,000 Ford Falcons were produced in the United States in 1961, while around 28,000–30,000 Falcons were produced in Australia that year. Exact totals depend on whether you count calendar-year vs model-year figures and which variants are included. Here is a detailed look at the figures by market.
U.S. market: Ford Falcon production in 1961
The United States saw Falcons across several body styles—sedan, wagon, and the Falcon Ranchero pickup—built at multiple plants. Production tallies are typically reported by calendar year and can vary by whether variants like the Ranchero are included, or whether only standard Falcons are counted.
Before listing the figures, note that the numbers below come from major automotive reference works and Ford archival data, and may differ slightly depending on counting conventions.
- 1961 Ford Falcon total production: about 170,000 units (calendar year, all standard Falcons and variants).
- Common breakdown by body style in some source counts: sedans around 110,000; wagons around 40,000; other variants (e.g., Ranchero) in the low tens of thousands.
- Primary production sites: Dearborn, Michigan, and San Jose, California, among others.
Conclusion: The US Falcon output in 1961 was substantial, reflecting Falcon's role as Ford's core compact lineup at the time, with numbers that vary modestly by counting method.
Australian market: Ford Falcon in 1961
Australia's Falcon lineup in 1961 used the XK series, produced locally by Ford Australia. The market was smaller but still notable, with output spread across sedans, wagons, and utilities.
Before the list: Figures are drawn from Ford Australia historical records and automotive reference works focusing on the Australian market.
- 1961 Australian Ford Falcon (XK): approximately 28,000–30,000 units.
- Variants included: sedan, wagon, and utility models within XK generation.
Conclusion: In Australia, 1961 Falcon production sits in the tens of thousands, distinctly lower than the US volumes due to market size and model lifecycle.
How to interpret the figures
To compare apples to apples when discussing classic-vehicle production, it’s essential to define scope:
- Calendar-year vs model-year counting.
- Geographic scope: United States vs Australia or other markets.
- Which variants are included (e.g., Ranchero, wagon, special editions).
Conclusion: The precise numbers depend on the counting approach. For scholarly use, consult primary Ford production records or authoritative reference works and specify market and counting method.
Summary
The Ford Falcon’s 1961 production was regionally diverse: about 170,000 units in the United States and roughly 28,000–30,000 units in Australia, with variations depending on counting conventions. If you specify the market and counting method, I can provide a tighter figure based on primary records.
What is the value of a 1961 Ford Falcon?
Typically, you can expect to pay around $10,167 for a 1961 Ford Falcon in good condition with average spec. What is the highest selling price of a 1961 Ford Falcon? The highest selling price of a 1961 Ford Falcon at auction over the last three years was $7,980.
What engine came in a 1961 Ford Falcon?
The standard engine for a 1961 Ford Falcon was a 144 cubic inch inline-six. An optional, higher-output 170 cubic inch inline-six was also available, which produced 101 horsepower in the performance-oriented Futura model. The base 144 engine was 13.8 hp, and was available with a 3-speed manual transmission.
You can watch this video to see a tour of a 1961 Ford Falcon: 1mhoohoohoblinYouTube · Apr 17, 2021
Standard engine
- 144 cubic inch (2.4L) inline-six
- Horsepower: 85 hp
- Transmission: Typically came with a 3-speed manual transmission.
- Fuel economy: Achieved over 33 mpg in the 1961 Mobilgas Economy Run.
Optional engine
- 170 cubic inch (2.8L) inline-six
- Horsepower: 101 hp
- Availability: Introduced mid-year, and was standard on the higher-trim Falcon Futura model.
Other engine options
- While the 144 and 170 are the most common and original engines, many Falcon owners swap in other engines, such as the 289 or 302 V8, for more power.
- Aftermarket parts are widely available for both the original six-cylinder engines and for engine swap projects.
How many 1960 Ford Falcons were made?
Like Chrysler and General Motors, Ford entered the small-car market in the 1960 model year. The company's six-cylinder Falcon was a hit, selling 435,676 units in its first year -- more than either of Ford's crosstown rivals.
What is the rarest Ford Falcon?
The 6- door 1970 Falcon is a one-off vehicle manufactured in 1970 it is the only 6 door XY Falcon ever created. The vehicle is even rarer than one of 3 surviving Ford GTHO phase IVs.
