1963 Ford Falcon Futura Sports Hardtop

During the 1960s, Ford and its 'Total Performance' marketing strategy saw it win LeMans and the Indianapolis 500, as well as bankroll the most successful Formula 1 engine of all time : the Ford-Cosworth DFV.

The Ford Falcon Futura, classified as a compact car, was very large compared to its European competitors. Bo Ljungfeldt and his Ford Falcon defied conventional thinking by entering the 1963 Monte Carlo Rally finishing 42nd overall with 307 entrants. For the 1964 edition, he won every special stage of the Rally. He would win his class but unfortunately, an unfavorable handicapping system that favored smaller cars, would have him settle for second overall behind a Mini Cooper. He is still the only driver to have won all the Monte Carlo stages in a single event.

In October of 2004, the ex-Ljungfeldt Falcon was entered in the Carrera Panamericana road race in Mexico driven by the Swedish team of Mats Linden and Ralf Christensson. Linden, a former Swedish circuit racing champion, had restored the Falcon in 2003 and prepared the car to race standards. The car finished the grueling 3,000-kilometre event at the legendary 'La Bufa' stages third in class.

The car features a 4.7-liter engine, Borg-Warner four-speed manual gearbox, 6.50/6.70 x 15 tires and an overall weight without fuel of 980kg.

In 2012, the car was offered for sale at the Monaco sale presented by Bonhams. The car was estimated to sell for €150,000 - 200,000 but bidding failed to satisfy the vehicle's reserve. It would leave the auction unsold.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2012