I was doing some research on the Falcon Name and came up with the following:
The Falcon name was used on early design models for the new-sized Ford, but it was not officially designated the Falcon until 1958. Ford hired an advertising agency to search names for their new compact. A list of bird names was searched and Falcon was declared the winner. There are different stories about how Ford acquired the right to use the Falcon name.
One version is that Chrysler had rights to the name because it had been used on a 1955 experimental sports car. Henry Ford II apparently telephoned Chrysler management and acquired the right to use the Falcon name. Another version is that Chrysler and Ford were unaware that each company was considering the Falcon name. Both companies independently settled on the name, but the Ford Company registered the name 20 minutes before Chrysler. Whether Chrysler would have ever used the Falcon name is unknown.
I could not locate a photo of the Chrysler "Falcon"...but here it is---thanks!
I wrote a short article on the development of the Falcon name and spinoffs from it. I'll send it to the newsletter editor.
We sure miss Kenny Likins down here in Santa Rosa as he was an excellent Editor for the Sonoma Falcons Chapter...not to mention a great club member.
Al Aiello
Santa Rosa, CA
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