Wednesday 2nd September 1959

Henry Ford II introduced his company’s newest model, the 80 hp, 30 mpg Ford Falcon, in the first nationwide closed-circuit television news conference in the United States. Dubbed “the small car with the big car feel,” the Falcon was an overnight success. Originally envisioned as a compact economy car, the Falcon name grew to include everything from sporty convertibles to the Ranchero truck, though all Falcons essentially remained small, fuel-efficient cars. When the Mustang was introduced in 1964, Ford used the Falcon’s unitised chassis, as well as elements of the Falcon drive train, to “re-market” and “re-adapt” the Mustang. The Mustang was an immediate success, leaving the Falcon to exist in the shadow of its more powerful cousin. The Ford Falcon was discontinued in 1971.