Kiwi Falcons – the cars, not the birds, is 200 pages covering the history of the Ford Falcon in New Zealand with copious photos of road and race versions.

The Falcon was introduced to New Zealand in 1960 with the Australian-built model of the 1959 US Falcon. It survived a lot longer than its US parent, which ended production in 1970, with the last Falcons being sold in New Zealand in 2016 after production in Australia ended.

In the US, Falcon was a compact car – aimed at being a families second vehicle, whereas in New Zealand and Australia it was a family car. Sales were slow in the early years as the English-sourced Zephyr was popular until supply ended in the early 1970’s. Falcons were assembled in New Zealand from CKD packs. There were a range of body styles over time including the sedan, coupe, wagon, utility and panel van.

The book follows the history of Falcons in New Zealand by looking at 24 specific cars and owners ranging from an immaculate XK sedan through to the latest FG FPV Pursuit ute. There are some iconic cars such as Pete Geoghegan’s Super Falcon (Based off a XW GTHO), Jim Richards’s Falcon Sports Sedan and the Pinepac racing Falcons. There are standard and modified variants including an immaculate hot rodded XY Wagon with a 545 cu inch big block V8.

If you love Falcons or Kiwi motoring nostalgia, then
Kiwi Falcons is for you.

Publisher Bateman Books RRP $39.99. Release date July 2021.

Kiwi Falcons by Steve Holmes