1961 Ford Falcon
2019.0019.0001, Savoy Collection
Engine: 144 cu. in. (2.4L) Cast-iron block, OHV, V-6
Output: 65 HP @ 4,200 RPM
Transmission: Automatic
Wheelbase: 109 in.
Overall Length: 181 in.
Weight: 2,254 lbs.
Top Speed: 91 MPH
No. Produced: 149,982
Original Price: $1,912
Manufacturer: Ford
Launched in 1960, the Falcon was Ford’s response to consumers’ requests for compact cars. Shorter than standard models, the interior comfortably accommodated occupants over six feet tall. Price-wise the Falcon was a perfect first or second car. The Falcon Club of America listed several factors for the car’s success. It wasn’t a “sports car” so sacrificing comfort and safety for novelty’s sake was avoided.
There were no gimmicks or unproven technologies.
Dealers, confident in the car’s reliability, extended the warranty to a full year or 12,000 miles (whichever came first). The Falcon was a brand-new type of smaller car offering true 6-passenger comfort. Does a bird ever give birth to a pony? Without the Falcon, the Mustang would never have come to market. To produce the Mustang, Falcon parts were the go-to solution. Eventually, the Mustang’s popularity forced Ford to reduce the Falcon’s production which finally ended in 1971.