Ford (Argentina) - AllCarIndex

Ford Motors Argentina S.A. was established in Buenos Aires in 1913 as the first branch of Ford Motor Company in South America. The company initially sold Model T automobiles, achieving sales of 3,549 vehicles by 1916. To support its operations, an assembly plant was constructed in 1917, marking a significant step in local manufacturing. The first vehicle produced at this facility was the 100,000th unit assembled by Ford in Argentina.

In 1959, following a visit from Henry Ford II, the company decided to expand its manufacturing capabilities by building a new plant in General Pacheco, Buenos Aires. Production commenced in 1960, initially focusing on commercial vehicles such as the Ford F100 and F600. In 1962, the Falcon model was introduced, which would become a staple of Ford's Argentine lineup, similar to its success in Australia. The early Falcons were designated as 170, reflecting their engine capacity in cubic inches, and were equipped with a 2,786 cc, six-cylinder engine, with only four-door sedans being produced. Between 1962 and 1965, a total of 38,419 Falcons were manufactured.

The Falcon line saw several updates, including the introduction of the Falcon Futura 188 in 1964, which featured a larger 3,064 cc engine. By 1967, the engine size was further increased to 3,620 cc, and a station wagon variant was added to the lineup. The Ford Fairlane was launched in 1969, offering both V8 and six-cylinder engine options. In 1975, a version of the German 2.3-litre Taunus was introduced, available in both saloon and coupé forms.

The 1980s marked the arrival of the Ford Escort, which became the primary model produced by the company. Although exports of the Falcon to neighboring countries ceased around 1984, local production continued until 1990. The Sierra was introduced later, remaining in production until 1994. By 1999, Ford's Argentine operations were limited to the Escort, which was available in various configurations, including 4-door, 2-door, and station wagon, with engine options ranging from 1,796 cc to 1,753 cc.