1965 Ford Falcon Futura 'Gasser' Coupe (LHD)

Description

Largely overshadowed by the legendary Mustang, Ford’s Falcon range launched several years earlier was equally significant to the company and ultimately provided the platform for the first Ponycar.  Competing with rivals from Chevrolet and Chrysler for the burgeoning compact market, the Falcon offered simple but attractive styling allied with reliable underpinnings and a sturdy 144-cid six-cylinder engine was the only option for the first couple of years.  Ford envisaged the Falcon as an affordable second car for an increasingly affluent American middle class, one suitable for transporting the kids to school and as such only offered a sedan and station wagon in the first year of production.  With sales taking off, Ford expanded the range in 1961 with a new Futura two-door model and the optional 170-cid six.  Few changes took place the following year, although two different lines – the Standard and Deluxe series – were offered.  Bigger things were in store and in 1963 Ford added both a convertible and V8 power to the Falcon range, turning the model’s staid image on its head.  Only sold in upmarket Futura guise (which replaced the Deluxe series for 1963), the convertible was equipped with Ford’s 170 Special engine as standard and a power-operated hood, along with the optional Sprint package that added wire wheel covers, bucket seats and a “personal” centre console.  The 1964 Falcon range saw aggressive new styling in keeping with Ford’s “Total Performance” image, with sculpted sides and a raked grille and few changes were made the following year.  The Futura was again the top trim level, with the Sprint hardtop and convertible only sold in V8 guise using the small block 260-cid V8 under the bonnet.  It’s easy to overlook the importance of the Ford’s compact now but the significance of the Falcon’s place in the history of the Blue Oval cannot be ignored - indeed without it there would have been no Mustang.  Similarly, Ford Australia turned to the American Falcon to provide the basis for its first locally built model and for several years our Falcons closely mirrored their US counterparts.