“We like the car, but the people in these clubs are such nice people with a variety of jobs and ages. “A lot of people we run into owned a Falcon back in the day, but little did they know it would become so collectible,” Ron Brown said.īut he said their club is about more than the vehicle. Today, they estimate the same vehicle in good condition is worth about $10,000. The Browns said the first model of the car, which was manufactured from 1960 to 1970, cost $1,995 new. “All three of our kids have learned how to drive on one,” Jan Brown said, referring to the black-on-black, four-speed model of what they call one of America’s first economy cars. In competition, Howden Ganley drove a works prepared car with some success.Jan and Ron Brown, who live in Fort Lupton, said they bought their first Falcon in 1963 after they were married in Illinois. The kit sold for £900 but only about 25 were completed. The shell was designed by Brazilian Tom Rohonyi taking inspiration from Ferrari, particularly the 1960 400 Superamerica. It used a Ford 1500cc engine and running gear giving a maximum 70 bhp (52 kW 71 PS) and creditable performance for the time. 515: Sold as a complete kit with a space frame made by Progress bonded to the bodyshell.Pellandine raced the car at Brands Hatch and set a lap record in its class. It was smaller than the Caribbean but retained the Falcon family style. Peregrine: Originally called the 1000, it was a sleek GT coupe powered by the Ford Cosworth 105E motor.Bermuda: A two-plus-two version of the Caribbean for the family for the same Ford 10 base.It was estimated that more than 2,000 were produced between 19. It was a pretty, Italian-inspired two seater that proved most popular in coupe form, although a convertible version was also offered. Caribbean: Originally called the Mark 3, it was primarily intended for the Ford 10's 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) chassis, but would fit chassis of similar wheelbase.It was also still available as a bare shell. Included were the GRP shell, Ford 100E engine and a spaceframe chassis. Competition: developed from the Mark 2, it sold as a complete kit from £560.In September 1957, a hard top was made available. Primarily designed for the track, its styling was influenced by sports racers like the Jaguar D type. Mark 2: Formerly the Ashley Sports Racer, this shell fitted wheelbases between 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) and 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m).Its bodyshape was inspired by contemporary sportscars particularly the Austin Healey 100. Mark 1: Like the Ashley 750, it fitted the Austin 7 chassis with its 750 cc engine.Īs the result of a slump in sales, Falcon Cars was wound up in 1964.įalcon Mk 2 was relaunched in the late 1980s as the Autotune Gemini. Discussions with Auto Union led to a Caribbean shell being mated with a DKW Junior chassis, a Mantzel-tuned prototype reaching 106 m.p.h. Three 515s were entered for the Le Mans 24 Hour Race, with several French drivers, but were rejected by the organisers, the ACO. Moseley introduced the 515 at the January 1963 London Racing Car Show. Moseley expanded the business into a range of diverse GRP products including boat hulls, window boxes, and hoppers for farmers. In 1962, Pellandine sold the business to Mike Moseley and was relocated to 150 Great North Road, Hatfield, Hertfordshire. This was later marketed as the Peregrine. About the same time, the 1000 was developed. The company was renamed Falcon Cars in 1961 to reflect the move upmarket and the four seat Bermuda was introduced. The Mark 3, later the Caribbean, became Falcon's best selling shell. In 1959, an all-new model was added to the range. In 1958, a full kit version of the Mark 2, renamed the Competition, was launched. ![]() The New Zealand company ceased production in 1959 when Pellandine returned to the United Kingdom. ![]() Pellandine had moved there in 1957, while continuing to operate his United Kingdom company. įrom 1957 to 1959 Falcon's were also manufactured in New Zealand by Falcoln Shells (NZ) Limited. ![]() The Mk II body was used on the 1956 Elva MkII. Pellandine retained the rights and tooling to manufacture the Ashley's short wheelbase 750 and the Sports Racer which he sold as the Falcon Mark I and II respectively. There was also a showroom at 52 High Street, Epping. It was originally based at 23 Highbridge Street, Waltham Abbey in Essex. Falcon Shells was founded in 1956 by Peter Pellandine following his amicable split with Keith Waddington of Ashley Laminates.
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