What kind of car is a Ford Falcon?
The Ford Falcon is best known as Ford Australia's large, rear‑wheel‑drive family sedan (and wagon) produced from 1960 until 2016.
In North America, the Falcon was a separate compact car introduced in 1960, with the two lines diverging over time as Ford expanded its lineup. This article explains the two main interpretations of the Falcon name, how they differed in design and market, and the current status of the name.
Australia’s Falcon: a large family sedan and more
Many readers associate the Falcon with Ford's Australian operations, where it grew from a traditional family sedan into a full‑size, rear‑wheel‑drive platform that underpinned sedans, wagons, and utility variants for decades.
Key traits that defined the Australian Falcon across its production run include the following:
- Rear‑wheel‑drive layout with progressively larger engines over generations, including V6 and V8 options.
- Multiple body styles: four‑door sedans, five‑door wagons, and one‑tonne utility "ute" models used by businesses and fleets.
- Performance variants in the XR and GT lines, culminating in high‑performance models that appealed to enthusiasts.
- Strong domestic focus, with widespread use as family transport, taxi fleets, and police applications.
The Australian Falcon evolved through several generations, shifting from early, simpler configurations to more modern technology while maintaining its identity as Ford’s flagship large sedan in the region.
North American Falcon: a separate compact legacy
In the United States, the Ford Falcon referred to a distinct, entry‑level compact car introduced for market reasons to compete in a growing small‑car segment.
Key traits of the American Falcon include:
- Designed as an affordable compact car with practical four‑door and two‑door body styles.
- Served as a budget‑friendly family car during its American run, often equipped with economical engines.
- Part of Ford’s strategy to diversify its small‑car lineup in the 1960s, eventually phased out as market needs shifted and newer compact models arrived.
The American Falcon’s lineage diverged from the Australian Falcon early in its history, reflecting different market demands and design priorities, and it was eventually replaced by newer entry‑level models in Ford’s U.S. lineup.
End of an era and ongoing legacy
Ford Australia ceased local manufacturing and the Falcon nameplate ended with the final generation produced for the Australian market in 2016. Since then, no new Falcon has been introduced in Australia, and the model remains a nostalgic chapter in Ford’s history there. In markets where the Falcon name existed historically, the badge is now primarily seen in the used‑car market or as part of Ford’s archival footprint.
In summary, the Ford Falcon refers to two distinct lines depending on the region: a long‑running, large, rear‑wheel‑drive Australian family sedan and wagon, and a separate U.S. compact car from the early days of Ford’s entry into the small‑car segment. The Australian Falcon is the more durable and culturally embedded of the two, having played a central role in Australian motoring for decades before its retirement in 2016.
Summary
The Ford Falcon is primarily recognized as Ford Australia’s large, rear‑wheel‑drive family car (sedan and wagon) that ran from 1960 to 2016, with a separate, earlier American compact car also bearing the Falcon name. The two versions reflect different market needs and design philosophies, and today the Australian Falcon remains a significant part of Ford’s regional history while the name lives on mainly in legacy and used‑car contexts.
What kind of car is a falcon?
A "Falcon" is a name for a car originally manufactured by Ford in North America and Australia, with production spanning from 1960 to 1970 in the US and continuing in Australia until 2016. In North America, it was a popular compact car during the 1960s that came in various body styles like sedans, wagons, and coupes, and its platform was the basis for the original Ford Mustang. The Australian-produced Falcon, however, was a larger vehicle and became an iconic car in its own right, serving in many fleet roles there until its production ended.
North American Ford Falcon
- Initial release: Introduced in 1960 as a compact, economical, and utilitarian car designed to compete with imported European cars.
- Body styles: Available as two and four-door sedans, two and four-door station wagons, and the Ranchero car-based pickup.
- Performance: Initially featured a 95-horsepower straight-six engine, with V8 options becoming available later, especially in the "Sprint" performance variant.
- Successor: Was replaced by the Ford Maverick in 1970 as Ford's economical compact offering.
Australian Ford Falcon
- Production: A different model than its North American counterpart, the Australian Falcon was a larger vehicle produced from 1960 until 2016.
- Body styles: Included sedans, station wagons, utilities (utes), and hardtop coupes.
- Popularity: Dominated taxi, police, and company fleets in Australia and New Zealand for many years.
- Last generation: The final Australian version, the FG X, was available as a sedan and utility.
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.
How much is a Ford Falcon worth today?
The price of a Ford Falcon depends entirely on whether you mean a classic model or a new one. Prices for used classic Falcons range from around $4,000 for a "poor" condition model up to over $90,000 for a pristine or rare model, with prices heavily influenced by condition, year, and model. For modern, classic, or newer Falcon models (which vary by region, e.g. Australia), prices range from approximately $24,000 to $43,000.
Classic Ford Falcon (1960s)
- Condition and price: The condition is the biggest factor. Prices generally fall into these categories:
- Excellent: Around $21,600
- Good: Around $14,900
- Fair: Around $7,700
- Poor: Around $4,000
- Specific examples:
- 1963 Falcon Sprint: Sold for over $65,995
- 1965 Falcon Futura Convertible: Sold for $94,900
- 1962 Falcon Wagon: Sold for $83,000
- 1960 Ford Falcon: Average price around $8,240
Modern Ford Falcon (Australia)
- Starting price: Approximately $24,090
- Top price: Approximately $43,230
Is a Mercury Comet the same as a Ford Falcon?
The Comet was initially based on the compact Ford Falcon, then on the intermediate Ford Fairlane, and finally on the compact Ford Maverick. Early Comets received better-grade interior trim than concurrent Falcons, and a slightly longer wheelbase.
