My buddy, K V Dahl, whose 1960 Chrysler New Yorker convertible was featured right here on RG a couple years ago, loves to travel. I’ll see him at the dealership on a Tuesday (as I did recently, while test driving a final-run 2019 Flex SEL), then Friday, he’s in Miami, then the following Wednesday, he’s in Rio.
He gets around, for sure. But the best part is he sees cars not often seen in the contiguous United States. Such was the case earlier this evening, when he texted me this picture of a burgundy ’80s/early ’90s Ford Falcon.
Yes, Argentina has had, shall we say, a checkered history? But I’m into old cars, not political history. Let’s not go there, as the man said. Suffice it to say some bad stuff went down in the past. But at the same time, the original 1960 Ford Falcon, locally produced there, had a remarkable run.
Sure, changes were made over the years-many!-but the essential 1960 Falcon shape remained way, way, wayyyyy to 1991. A remarkable run.
They were popular there as police cars, taxis, and-less thrilling, or at least thrilling in a bad way-by the Argentine secret police. Station wagon and pickup versions were also offered.
Ever since I first started checking out the Internet, back in 1997 or so, I somehow found a page on these Falcons from Argentina. They fascinated me. Sure, it was old, old technology with a thin veneer of modernity and an ’80s Ford Tempo-like interior, but I still found them compelling. Imagine bringing back a station wagon or pickup as a fun summer cruiser today! Hey, I can dream.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to see if I can find a 1/43 scale model of one of these!