10 Ford Falcon

While US importers were well established in the UK by 1960, what they peddled tended to conform to buyers’ perceptions of what the American dream should represent. But with the Falcon, classed as a ‘compact’ across the pond, Ford wanted to challenge more mainstream European fare. Built in Ford’s Canadian factory, the conservatively-styled Falcon packed a 2365cc straight-six producing just 90bhp, and mated to a smooth-shifting ‘Fordomatic’ automatic transmission. It was still a large car by UK standards, at 11/2 in longer than a Jaguar Mk2, but its easy-going, soft-riding demeanour – not to mention its exclusivity – would have held a certain appeal. Motor Sport’s Bill Boddy tested an early model and praised its spacious cabin (large enough for six occupants), generous equipment levels and the relative ease with which it could cruise at 80mph – though he was less complimentary about its ‘finger-light steering’ with 41/4 turns lock-to-lock ‘…or five if sponge is taken up.’ But objectively, the Falcon was never going to compete with home-grown talent such as the Jaguar Mk2 3.4, which at £1951 undercut the Falcon by £73 yet had a top speed 30mph higher and a chassis far more suited to the UK’S topography. Anorak fact As part of the Falcon’s preparation for British buyers, Ford’s UK concessionaires chose to respray each and every car