Falcon

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Falcon
The Round bodies.
1960 Ford introduced this compact in this year. It was available in 2 door, 4 door, 2 door and 4 door wagon and a ranchero, and several trim packages. The little car had a wheel base of 109.5 inches and 6x13 rims and tires. The standard motor was a 144 ci six cylinder with 90 horsepower. The base price was $1912. The grill was divided into six sections and was concave in shape. There was a single headlight with the turn indicators set into the grill just inboard of the headlights. Tail lights were round and did not have backup lights.

1961 It was available in 2 door, 4 door, 2 door and 4 door wagon and a ranchero, and several trim packages. The little car had a wheel base of 109.5 inches and 6x13 rims and tires. The standard motor was a 144 ci six cylinder with 85 horsepower. There was a larger 6 six cylinder available at 170 ci. There was a Futura model that had 3 darts on the rear fenders and special hubcaps. The grill was divided into six sections like the 1960 but was now convex. There was a single headlight with the turn indicators set into the grill just inboard of the headlights. Tail lights were round and did not have backup lights.

1962 It was available in 2 door, 4 door, 2 door and 4 door wagon and a ranchero, and several trim packages. The wagon could now be ordered with wood side panels called a Squire. The little car had a wheel base of 109.5 inches and 6x13 rims and tires. The standard motor was a 144 ci six cylinder with 85 horsepower. There was a larger 6 six cylinder available at 170 ci. There was a Futura model that had 3 darts on the rear fenders and special hubcaps and the Deluxe model had a polished trim piece behind the rear wheel well. The grill was now a series of vertical bars with no horizontal elements. There was a single headlight with the turn indicators set into the bumper below the headlights. Tail lights were round and backup lights were on the rear panel.

1963 It was available in 2 door, 4 door, 2 door and 4 door wagon, sedan delivery, new convertible and a ranchero, and several trim packages. The wagon could now be ordered with wood side panels called a Squire. The little car had a wheel base of 109.5 inches and 6x13 rims and tires. The standard motor was a 144 ci six cylinder with 85 horsepower. There was a larger 6 six cylinder available at 170 ci. This year there was a 164 horsepower V8 available as well. There was a Futura model that had 3 darts on the rear fenders and special hubcaps. The grill was now a series of vertical bars with no horizontal elements. There was a single headlight with the turn indicators set into the bumper below the headlights. Tail lights were round and backup lights were on the rear panel. Introduced at mid year were two additional models; the Sprint and the Scatback. The Sprint was also available in a convertible.

1964 The Falcon was restyled for 1964. It was again available in a Sedan, Convertible, 2 and 4 doorwagons, ranchero, a Sedan Delivery and the Sprint option. The 170ci six cylinder was now standard; a 260 V8 engine was also available. The base price was now $2211 and the car had a very square shape with angled fenders. A long trim stripe went all the way all the side and the grill featured vertical and horizontal separations. There was a single headlight and the turn indicators were in the bumper below. The tail lights were round without backup lights.

1965 The Falcon was very similar to the 1964. It was again available in a Sedan, Convertible, 2 and 4 door wagons, ranchero, a Sedan Delivery and the Sprint option. The 170ci six cylinder was now standard; a 260 V8 engine was also available. The Falcon could now be ordered with 13 or 14 inch wheels. The base price was now $2211 and the car had a very square shape with angled fenders. A long trim stripe went all the way all the side and the grill featured a single vertical bar in the center and seven horizontal separations. There was a single headlight and the turn indicators were in the bumper below. The tail lights were round and had a chrome cross with a center circle for backup lights.

1966 The Falcon was again restyled for 1966. It was still available in a Sedan, 2 and 4 door wagons, a ranchero and a Sport Coupe. The wheel base was increased to 111 inches. The 170ci, 105 horsepower six cylinder, a 200ci, 120 horsepower six cylinder, and two 289 V8 engines, 180 – 200 horsepower were also available. The prices were from $2284 for the 2 door, $2555 for the sport coupe with vinyl roof, $2669 for the wagon and $2781 for the Futura. While the car was still square shape with angled fenders it had a more sloping roofline. The grill featured a vertical badge in the center and horizontal separations. There was a single headlight and the turn indicators were in the bumper below. The tail lights were still round with backup lights in the center but the chrome cross and ring was gone.

1967 The 1967 Falcon was similar to the 1966. It was still available in a Sedan, 4 door wagon, a ranchero and a Sport Coupe. The wheel base was 111 inches. The 170ci, 105 horsepower six cylinder, a 200ci, 120 horsepower six cylinder, and two 289 V8 engines, 180 – 200 horsepower were also available. The prices were from $2284 for the 2 door, $2555 for the sport coupe with vinyl roof, $2669 for the wagon and $2781 for the Futura. The grill was restyled and featured a vertical badge in the center and a single large center horizontal bar. There were three smaller horizontal bar above and below with three dividers between the center and the single headlight. Turn indicators were again in the bumper below. The tail lights were the same and the front fenders had two cowl indentations.

1968 - 1970 The Falcon was again restyled for 1968. It was still available in a Sedan, 4 door wagon, and a ranchero. The wheel base was increased to 111 inches (113 for wagons). The 170ci, 100 horsepower six cylinder, a 200ci, 115 - 120 horsepower six cylinder, a 289 V8 engines 195 horsepower and a302ci 220 V8 engine in 1969 and 1970. While the car was still square shape with angled fenders and sloping roofline, the grill was again restyled with a vertical badge in the center and oblong rings around each side with many small horizontal separations within. There was a single headlight and the turn indicators were in the bumper below. The tail lights were now square with backup lights in the center trimmed by a chrome enclosure. The wagons had vertical rectangular tail lights. Production ended in early 1970 and the badge was retired.

Thunderbird
Introduced in the fall of 1954
1955 The Thunderbird was a 102 inch wheel base two seater, which was available with a removable hardtop or true convertible roof. All models had a V8 engine rated at 193 horsepower. Tires were 6.70x15 and were available through 1956. The car featured a long hood, smooth sides and round tail lights. The 1955 Thunderbird started at $2944.

1956 The Thunderbird was still 102 inch wheel base two seater, which was available with a removable hardtop or true convertible roof. The hardtop now featured a porthole. All models had a V8 engine with horsepower increased to 202. The car featured a long hood, smooth sides and round tail lights. Both the 1955 and 1956 had single headlights set high on the fender ends with turn indicator in the body below. There was a continental kit available with stored the spare tire on the rear bumper. The Thunderbird script was on the rear fender.

1957 The Thunderbird was still 102 inch wheel base two seater, which was available with a removable hardtop or true convertible roof. The hardtop still featured a porthole. All models had a V8 engine with horsepower again increased to 212. Tires were now 7.50x14. The car featured a long hood, smooth sides and round tail lights. The car now had small fins set on the top ridge of the rear fenders. The 1957 had single headlights set high on the fender ends with turn indicator in the restyled bumper below. The bumper was now dropped below the grill instead of straight across in front. The Thunderbird script was also relocated to the front fender. The 1957 Thunderbird started at $3408.

Squarebirds
1958 The 1958 Thunderbird was totally restyled and made into a four seat car. The wheel base was now 113 inches. The V8 engine now had 300 horsepower and the car rode on 8.00x14 wheels. The expanded metal looking grill was set into a large oval of chrome and the dual headlights were set under a front fender defined brow. The tail lights also became dual and were enclosed in large ovals under slightly larger fins. The rear bumper was split into two pieces that rose up inboard of the tail lights to leave space for the license plate. The side while still flat was trimmed by an arrow like pod passing over the rear wheel and terminating halfway across the drivers door. The pod like shape had five vertical chrome pieces set on it.

1959 The 1959 Thunderbird was very similar to the 1958. It again was offered with a convertible roof that folded into the trunk, which opened backwards. The trim on the side pod was changed to a chrome nose trim. The grill was the same shape but now was made up off horizontal stripes.

1960 The 1958 Thunderbird was totally restyled and made into a four seat car. The wheel base was now 113 inches. The V8 engine now had 300 horsepower and the car rode on 8.00x14 wheels. The grill was set into a large oval of chrome that now had a horizontal bar and three vertical bars and the dual headlights were set under a front fender defined brow. The tail lights also became triple and were enclosed in large ovals under slightly larger fins. The rear bumper was split into two pieces that rose up inboard of the tail lights to leave space for the license plate. The sides, while still flat were trimmed by an arrow like pod passing over the rear wheel and terminating halfway across the drivers door. The pod like shape now had the Thunderbird script on the front part and nine vertical chromes bands were applied to the rear fender. A sliding sunroof was offered on the hardtop model as an option.

Bulletbirds
1961 The 1961 Thunderbird was totally restyled with three models being offered; a hardtop, convertible and sports roadster. The wheel base was still 113 inches. The V8 engine now 390 V8 and the car rode on 8.00x14 wheels. The front end and grill were integrated and the bumper swept up to house dual headlights with a center anti-climber. The grill was like expanded metal in the opening. The 1961 hood had a faux hood scoop and a wind splitter crease on either side of the scoop. The taillights were now large round buckets with the backup lights in the center. The car had a jet plane look coming and going. The fender tops had a small fin at the rear, which began at the front bumper and continued along the length of the car. It was topped by a chrome trim piece which also made up the had grab of the door handle. The 1961 had four horizontal chrome fingers on the rear fender and skirts over the rear wheel wells.

1962 The 1962 Thunderbird was much the same as the 1961. Two new models were offer; a coupe with a vinyl roof and a landau with decorative bars on the roof sides. The wind splitters were gone and the hood and the four chrome fingers were replaced with three long rectangles on the rear fender. The wheel base was still 113 inches. The V8 engine now 390 V8 and the car rode on 8.00x14 wheels. The front end and grill were integrated and the bumper swept up to house dual headlights with a center anti-climber. The grill opening now featured horizontal bars with small chrome squares filling in around.

1963 The 1963 Thunderbird was slightly restyled with a crease along the front fender that turned down on the doors. The trim was moved from the rear fender sides and applied in the form of three chevrons on the doors below the bodyline. The vinyl roof was again offered on a coupe and a landau with decorative bars on the roof sides. The sports roadster was also offered. The wheel base was still 113 inches. The V8 engine now 390 V8 and the car rode on 8.00x14 wheels. The front end and grill were integrated and the bumper swept up to house dual headlights with a center anti-climber. The grill opening now featured rectangular. Segments in the opening. The car was priced from $4529 to $5648.

Flairbirds
1964 The Thunderbird was again restyled in 1964. The engine options were still a 390ci V8 and a 429 V8. The jet plane look was replaced by more angles. The headlights were recessed under the fender tops and while still dual they were not a part of the grill. The grill was framed by a heavy chrome anti-climber and had a segmented metal look. The taillights were now rectangular and had a Thunderbird emblem on them and were separated by a depression in the trunk sheet metal. A panel now had Thunderbird in lettering across the center section. Tires size increased to 8.15x15. The models offered were still coupe, convertible and landau.

1965 The Thunderbird was nearly unchanged from 1964. The grill was framed by a heavy chrome anti-climber and had a segmented metal look that now had vertical separations. The taillights were rectangular and had five vertical strips. A Thunderbird emblem was set into the depression between the taillight defined by the lower center in the trunk sheet metal. Tires size increased to 8.15x15. The models offered were still coupe, convertible and landau.

1966 The Thunderbird was change from the two previous years. The grill was no longer framed by a heavy chrome anti-climber and the bumper was straight across the front end. It had a segmented metal look that now had vertical separations with the Thunderbird emblem set in the center. The taillights were rectangular and continuous across the rear end. They also worked in an outward sequential manner. A Thunderbird emblem was set into the center of the taillight panel. Tires size increased to 8.15x15. The models offered were still coupe, convertible and landau.

1967 - 1968 The Thunderbird was completely restyled in 1967 and stayed nearly unchanged for 1968 as well. The engine options were still a 390ci V8 and a 429 V8. A two door model was offered with a 115 inch wheel base and new for this year a four door was offered on a 117 inch wheel base. The entire car was restyled and the grill was a flattened oval with hideaway headlights. The center of the grill had a Thunderbird emblem in 1967 and no emblem in 1968. The 1967 grill was like expanded metal and the 1968 grill was segmented both vertically and horizontally. The 1968 had side marker light and both models featured a single taillight the rear end of the car. The price for the two door was $5263 and $5471 for the four door model. Tire side increased to 8.15/8.45x15 for both years.

1969 The Thunderbird for 1969 changed little from previous years. A sunroof was offered and the tire size again increased to 8.55x15. The four was still offered, as were the hideaway headlights. The grill was slightly restyled into four large segments with the Thunderbird emblem in the center.
1970 The Thunderbird was restyled for 1970 and now carried a large beak or peak front end and grill. The four door was offered one last year and then dropped.
1971 The Thunderbird was nearly unchanged from 1970. The four door was dropped and the grill was changed with every third horizontal bar appearing a bit heavier.

Fairlane
Introduced in 1962
1962 The Fairlane was introduced as a new compact/intermediate car that was formerly a full-sized car. The car had dual headlights and a angled back grill. The taillights were round and set just above the straight bumpers and under slight fins. The Fairlane came in a two or four door version. The 1962 had three chrome trim pieces on the rear fender and a trim strip running the length of the car. It was priced starting at $2392.

1963 The Fairlane was nearly unchanged for 1963. Models offered were two and four door, wagon and squire wagon and hardtop. The car could be ordered with a vinyl roof and now featured a concave grill. The rear trim was moved to the front fender and integrated into the body strip trim piece.

1964 The Fairlane was restyled in 1964. It now featured a side scoop trim with a trim strip running the length of the car. The car could be had with a 289 V8 and the hood sheet metal now featured a scoop shape. The headlights were part of the grill and the taillights were still round. The same models were available as the year before. Ford built a number of bare-bones 1964 Fairlanes called Thunderbolts with 427ci engines.

1965 The Fairlane had a new grill with the dual headlights set into a plate and the front was blockier. The side lost the scoop trim and the taillights were now oblong square. The same models were available.

1966 - 1967 The Fairlane was once again restyled for 1966 and remained similar in 1967. The models offered were the 500, 500XL, GT, convertible, wagon and fastback or sportroof. The wagon featured a tailgate that opens like a drop down gate or a door. The headlights were now stacked and the fender tops were flat. The taillights were tall rectangles with backup lights in the center. Ford began to introduce the Torino name badge and the last Fairlane was build in 1970. The car had a 116 inch wheel base and could be had with a 200ci 120 hp six cylinder, 289 200hp V8 or a 390ci 335hp in the GT.

1968 – 1969 The Fairlane/Torino was once again restyled for 1968 and again remained similar in 1969 with the exception of certain models being offered. The models offered were a Formal H/T, GT, 500, convertible, Fastback and four-door sedan. The grill was changed and the taillight became squarer except on the wagon where they remained vertical rectangles. The engine options were a 200ci 115hp six cylinder, 289 195hp V8, 302ci 210hp V8, 390ci V8.
1969 The Fairlane/Torino received a new grill and had side by side headlights like the 1968. The taillights stayed square. The 1969 had front and rear side safety lights like the 1968 however they were slightly repositioned. Two new models were offered in 1969, the Talladega and the Cobra Jet. The Talladega had a longer and dropping front end while the Cobra Jet had side badges and a hood scoop. The engines offered were similar to 1968 with the addition of the 250ci six cylinder and a 428ci 335hp Cobra Jet.