Ford Falcon (Argentina)

Ford Falcon
A 1970 Falcon manufactured in Argentina
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford Argentina
Production	1962–1991
Assembly	General Pacheco, Argentina
Body and chassis
Class	Compact car Executive car (E)
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon 2-door coupé utility
Powertrain
Engine	2,299 cc Pinto OHC I4 (from 1983) 2,781 cc 170 I6 3,060 cc 187 I6 3,075 cc 188 I6 3,618 cc 221 I6 2,393 cc VM HR492 diesel I4
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,781 mm (109 in)
Length	4,597–4,732 mm (181.0–186.3 in)
Width	1,781–1,793 mm (70.1–70.6 in)
Height	1,402 mm (55.2 in)
Curb weight	1,230–1,406 kg (2,712–3,100 lb)

The Argentine Ford Falcon is a compact car and executive car built by Ford Argentina from 1962 to 1991. Mechanically, it was based on the parent company's first generation Falcon. The Falcon retained the same body style throughout its production, with several substantial facelifts taking place during its lifespan, giving it a more European flavor and bringing it into line with other more contemporary Fords. However, several decades later, it was apparent that it was a 1960s design wearing a 1980s grille. Falcons are still raced in the Turismo Carretera stock car racing series.

The robust Ford Falcons became popular as black and yellow taxi cabs and white and blue police vehicles. They also had another connotation, with the dark green painted Falcons used by paramilitary government forces like the Argentine Anticommunist Alliance of the 1970s and the secret police of the military junta.^[1][2] The Ford Falcons used by the military were obtained through illegitimate means by people contracted outside of the military.^[3] The Ford Falcons would be repainted and had their license plates replaced in order to deliver the cars to the paramilitary government forces that used the vehicles for their clandestine operations during the Dirty War.^[3]