Ford: Falcon Soars in Anniversary Year

SYDNEY – March 31, 2010: The legendary Falcon will soar again during 2010 with the release today of a commemorative logo to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Falcon cars in Australia.

Inspired by the original Falcon bird logo from the early 1960s, the new logo will feature prominently across a range of product and celebratory activities during 2010.

"2010 is a very special year for Ford in Australia," said Ford Australia Marketing, Sales & Service Vice President Beth Donovan.

"In addition to celebrating the 50th birthday of Falcon, we are also marking our 85th year as a company in Australia."

While Ford vehicles have been sold in Australia since 1904, the company was officially established on March 31, 1925. Production of the first Model T Ford began at the company's Geelong plant three months later.

Falcon, the longest-running nameplate in Australian motoring history, will enter its 51st year on Monday June 28 – 50 years to the day after the first Australian-built XK Falcon rolled off the production line at Ford's manufacturing plant in Broadmeadows.

"There is no doubt that Falcon has been a true icon of the Australian motoring scene since 1960," said Donovan.

"Falcon has a history of being first to market with a wide variety of technology and safety advancements. We will continue that tradition in the next 12-18 months with the introduction of an all-new liquid phase injection LPG system and the world's first rear-wheel-drive EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine."

Ford Australia Design Manager Todd Willing looked to the past to create the commemorative new logo.

"We wanted to recognise the heritage in the original Falcon motifs of the early sixties, but it was also imperative that we created a new design that reflects the contemporary and dynamic vehicle that Falcon represents today and will tomorrow."