Were Ford Falcons sold in the US?
Yes. The United States did sell its own Ford Falcon models in the 1960s and into the early 1970s, while the Australian-made Ford Falcon was not offered as a regular new-car model in the U.S. despite sharing a name.
Two Falcons, two markets
To understand the question, it helps to keep straight that there are two distinct families of cars that used the Falcon badge in different parts of the world. The American Falcon was Ford’s compact car for North America, while the Australian Falcon evolved into Ford Australia’s main sedan/wagon lineup for that market. They are not the same car, even though they carry the same name.
- The Ford Falcon sold in the United States was a compact car introduced in the 1960s as Ford’s entry in the U.S. small-car segment.
- The Australian Ford Falcon is a separate lineage developed for Australia, growing into a long-running family of sedans and wagons there.
- Because they were built for different markets with different engineering, engines, and dealer networks, the two Falcons are not interchangeable and were not sold side by side as the same model in the United States.
In short, there was a Ford Falcon in the United States, but the Australian Falcon never became a regular U.S. model.
The US Falcon: timeline and features
The U.S.-market Ford Falcon debuted in the early 1960s as Ford’s response to the growing demand for compact cars. It offered a range of body styles—sedans and wagons—for buyers seeking economical transportation. Over the years, the Falcon name appeared on various trims and configurations and helped Ford build a foothold in the evolving small-car segment. The nameplate continued through multiple generations into the late 1960s and early 1970s, by which time Ford reorganized its lineup to emphasize other models alongside the Falcon family.
The Australian Falcon: a distinct lineage
Conceived for the Australian market, the Australian Ford Falcon began production in the early 1960s and grew into Ford Australia’s staple family of rear-wheel-drive sedans and wagons. These cars developed their own distinctive styling, engineering, and market identity, and they remained primarily confined to Australia (with limited export activity in other markets) rather than serving as a regular U.S. offering.
Clarifying common questions
Because the same badge appears in different places, people often confuse the two. The key point is that the U.S. Falcon and the Australian Falcon are separate vehicles. If you’re researching a classic car labeled “Falcon,” verify the country of origin, year, and VIN to determine whether you’re looking at the American compact Falcon or the Australian Falcon lineage.
Summary
The name Falcon has traveled differently across markets. The United States did have its own Ford Falcon lineup in the 1960s and early 1970s, while the Australian Falcon developed into Ford Australia’s flagship sedan/wagon family and was not marketed as a regular new-car model in the U.S. The two are distinct models sharing only a badge, and buyers should check regional details when identifying a Falcon.
Was the Ford Falcon sold outside of Australia?
Over 3 million Ford Falcons and its derivatives were made over seven generations to 2016, almost exclusively in Australia and New Zealand, but also South Africa and some RHD Asian markets.
Is the Ford Falcon legal in the US?
Going with the Aussie theme, the Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo can now be imported. The 'Barra' 4.0L straight six is an absolute monster. It's already seen its way into a few foxbody's, with more to come.
Why didn't America get the Ford Falcon?
From what Ive heard/remember Ford USA didn't want the Falcon to cut into the sales of their fleet car, Crown Victoria or the sports car, Mustang. That's why Falcon was never sent to the US. Plus making it LHD would've been a pain too for the small amount of sales over there.
Was the Ford Falcon sold in America?
The basic body and mechanical specifications remained the same as 1966–1967 models. The final model year for the Falcon in North America was 1970.
