![]() One unique feature of the Ranchero was that it was always patterned after a selected Ford car line. Chevrolet saw the success of the Ranchero and tried to duplicate their own version of the Ranchero in 1959, but the Ranchero was the original. In the total of 23 years production, there was a total of 508,355 cars made. This vehicle was the first of its kind being the first car with a “truck bed” design. The Ford Ranchero was produced between 1957 to 1979. There are many similarities of the Falcon to the Mustang, but these cars definitely hold their own in terms of features, design, and new product developments. ![]() In 1970, the Falcon name was used on the Torino body frame and was called the “1970 ½ Falcon” which would become the final year of production for the Falcon name. In 1968/1969 Falcons changed only slightly and sales nearly doubled from the previous year to 131, 419. However sales this year shrank by approximately 65%. The 1967 Falcon was virtually the same to the previous year with the addition of a 225 horse 289 v-8 engine. The Falcon was still available as a Futura model and now offered a new “sports coupe” model. The production figures were solid with a total of 182,669 Falcons produced in 1966. Now more of a mid size vehicle, these cars were more practical and offered more of the Fairlane size frame. The 1966 Falcon changed the body shapes again with new lines and larger size. One significant change was the change to the 289 V8 engine in 1965 which was offered for the first time in the Falcon. This new style was a aggressive change from the previous rounded lines of the earlier Falcons, but also proved to be equally successful with the public. The popularity of the Falcon body style continued and Ford introduced a new finned body design for 1964 and continued this style through 1965 on both the Falcon and the Rancheros. The Sprint could also be ordered with a 4 speed gearbox. The Sprint had a standard 260 v-8 engine, bucket seats, 6000 rpm rev counter as well as deluxe interior trim package and exterior molding. From the factory option was, 260 V-8 engine and Falcon convertible available in both Sprint and Futura models. In 1963 Ford released two major improvements to the Falcon. From 1961 a new 170 special six cylinder was an upgraded six with more horsepower, available as an option. The original conception of the Falcon was a family vehicle with enough room for 6, while still maintaining fuel economy, (“32.68 miles per gallon” in Ford testing,) fitted with the 144 cubic inch six cylinder engines with 3 speed manual and 2 speed automatic transmissions. If were not for the Falcon, there would be no Ford Mustang. It was Lee Iacocca’s ideas to develop a car based on the Ford Falcon chassis. Many of the Falcon designs and chassis parts were used to build the original 1964 ½ Mustang. The original Mustang evolved from the development of the Ford Falcon. During these years, the Falcon was offered in many shapes and sizes to include two and four door sedans, two and four door station wagons, two door hardtops, convertibles, sedan deliveries and Rancheros. The Ford Falcon was built between 1960 through to 1970.
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