Falcon with frou-frou
An economic downturn in 1958 plus strong sales of small imported cars prompted Detroit’s Big Three to develop smaller cars of their own. The results were unveiled in late 1959. Ford’s offering was the Falcon. It sold well, but of course did not earn the profit margins of its full-size sisters, as the lower selling price was not matched by production costs. To eke out higher profits, Ford Motor Company offered a mid-market Mercury equivalent, with extra faffy bits (including fins) that could command a more than commensurately higher price. The result was the Falcon, announced for the 1961 model year.
Ford’s Mercury division continued to be handy profit earner for the Blue Oval, until buyers finally wised up to the limited added value from the brand’s higher sticker prices. With Ford in poor financial straits at the start of the 21st century, the Mercury label was dropped in 2004.
Falcon with frou-frou
An economic downturn in 1958 plus strong sales of small imported cars prompted Detroit’s Big Three to develop smaller cars of their own. The results were unveiled in late 1959. Ford’s offering was the Falcon. It sold well, but of course did not earn the profit margins of its full-size sisters, as the lower selling price was not matched by production costs. To eke out higher profits, Ford Motor Company offered a mid-market Mercury equivalent, with extra faffy bits (including fins) that could command a more than commensurately higher price. The result was the Falcon, announced for the 1961 model year.
Ford’s Mercury division continued to be handy profit earner for the Blue Oval, until buyers finally wised up to the limited added value from the brand’s higher sticker prices. With Ford in poor financial straits at the start of the 21st century, the Mercury label was dropped in 2004.