BBC Honors the Argentine Ford Falcon
December 12th, 2010 12:45 PM
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When I researched the subject of cars built in relatively unchanged form for 20 or more years, the only American machine that met my criteria was the first-gen Ford Falcon (no, the Model T was not built during 20 model years and, no, the Ford Panther and GM B platforms changed too much to be considered single models). As late as 1991, car shoppers in Argentina could step into a Ford showroom and choose between a new Falcon and a new Sierra XR4… or they could walk across the street to Peugeot and drive out in a new 504. How’s that for a set of choices?
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Ohh the south! I miss my country... http://www.todofalcon.com.ar/Fotos/Modelo62_03.JPG As you can see by this picture ( http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tYj3qrH6YCw/Su79waBaulI/AAAAAAAAAIA/QJ0H5VbxZwE/s1600-h/dirty+war.jpg )The Argentine Falcon was used by the military during the dirty war between 1978-1982. These car were often seen 'kidnapping' people. In 1986, my dad had a red one with CNG - http://www.nexoautos.com.ar/FotoVehiculo/d305829faa5eba1b38859ab30bd83dea.jpg
Rico, They're still popular! I have an uncle that buys them, scrubs their faces and sells them on and it's a brisk business. As long as they're powered by the CNG, ppl love them as daily drivers! I've always thought hauling my convertible Mustang down there would be a load of fun, but now I'm begining to believe it would be best of have a Polara GTX hauled up here and having it refitted w/ a behemoth powerplant! Maybe one could fund the other????
I was just reading about the green Falcons used by the security forces. Ford of Argentina had a cozy relationship with the junta. Ford supplied the Falcons for the security service. The security service arrested, tortured, and imprisoned right on the factory premises any union organizers or sympathizers among the workers. Seeing them daily was a better example to the other workers than just making them disappear would have been.