17 replies to this topic

[kurtiejjj]

I was doing some digging in the loft, and I found a really interesting issue in my late dad's collection of 'de Automobiel' magazines. In it was a small track test of a lovely bright blue british (kit) sports car called the Falcon 1500, then owned by Peter Ecury. The article said the car was designed by Len Terry and only a few were built with a variety of engines including; MG A, Ford 105E, and even a coventry climax.Does anyone have anymore information about these cars? I'm besotted with the thing .

[Red Socks]

Falcon shells of Isleworth Middlesex made fibreglass bodies to go on a range of Ford etc chassis, running gear was to choice hence the Climax engine. They were not a manufacturer as such.

[kurtiejjj]

After some googling I found this little list, turns out there are more Falcon car-related companies:

Falcon ()
1958-1964

1958-1959
Falcon Shells Ltd
Waltham Abbey, Essex

1959-1961
Falcon Shells Ltd
Epping, Essex

1961-1962
Falcon Cars Ltd
Epping, Essex

1962-1964
Falcon Cars Ltd
Hatfield, Herts.

I can't agree that they did not manufacture the chassis, as the article clearly stated that the space-frame chassis was designed by Len Terry. The article also says the 'back-end' was of a Sprite. The car was built in 1960.

[Tim Murray]

This is part of the entry on Falcon in the Georgano encyclopaedia, written by David Filsell:

Previously a purveyor of fibreglass body shells, Falcon initially offered a twin-tube chassis 2-seater for 100E Ford mechanical components. Space-frame chassis based on Len Terry's 1,172 Formula Terrier special were also used, and later frames were built by the Progress Chassis Co, with coil suspension all round, independent at the front. Basic bodies, available over several years, included the Competition open 2-seater and the Caribbean GT coupe. Some 4-seaters were sold, including the Bermuda saloon. By 1962 kits to suit five engines were advertised - the 100E and 105E Fords, Coventry-Climax 1,098cc and 1,216cc, and the M.G.A.

[Sharman]

You beat me to it Tim,
There is one offered for sale by a dealer in the southern USA needing renovation. Look on French Ebay, the dealer has a representative in France and ships to Le Havre and you'll probably have to look under other offers by this vendor. His prices always include shipping. Disclaimers etc. Don't try to repatriate it it to the UK it has taken nearly a year for Customs and Revenue to concede that a 1959 Mk 1 Grantura is a rare car, and only that after they realised that if we went to tribunal a dangerous precedent (dangerous from their point of view) would be established. 5% VAT in France on Voitures Historiques and 17.6% in UK

[KitCar]

Falcon Shells Ltd started by making glassfibre bodies to fit onto Ford chassis. They then progressed
to making a small sports car based on a Terrier (hence the Len Terry connection) with a Climax
engine. By then they were operating from Waltham Abbey, in Essex. They next moved into
complete car construction with the Falcon 515 - using the new 5 bearing 1500 cc Ford engine.
They stopped making the body conversion kits. The company was renamed Falcon Cars Ltd, and
moved to a new factory in Hatfield, near the de Haviland aircraft works. They also raced, for a
short time, a special Falcon 515 with a 1100cc Climax engine.

How many of those cars survive ?

[Sharman]

Two or three bits to add. I have had an email from the vendor of the car I mention above which he dates as 1957.It is in a bit of a state but it apparently has a factory chassis which suggests a Climax engine originally, imported into the USA specifically for racing. Now has a 1600 cross flow with Webers which makes it quite a serious bit of kit.
A Falcon body was fitted to the Works Le Mans Sprite in 1963(?)
Falcon body shape is still available

[r.atlos]

The man behind Falcon Shells was Peter Palladine; as your pointed already out, he originally started in 1958 in Waltham Abbey and later moved to Epping.

In terms of chassis you could chose betwen three options: An in-house twin tube frame, a space frame based on Len Terry's Terrier 1172 or a frame from Progress Chassis. Palladine sold his business to Mike Moseley in 1961. The Falcon 515 penned by Park Ward designer Tom Rohanyi was the last car and they closed doors in 1963. Palladine has also been linked to Ashley (not Laura, of course) and Peregrine bodies.

[Tim Murray]

Peter Pellandine, not Palladine. He later went on to produce the Pelland range of kit cars, and, in Australia, the Pelland steam car, with which he attempted unsuccessfully to break the world land speed record for a steam car.

[kurtiejjj]

Can I point you to this wiki article:

http://en.wikipedia....i/Falcon_Shells

There is even a falcon register. Three 515s were entered for le mans but apparently rejected before the race. Nice looking cars though, the one on ebay as well btw.

[bradbury west]

Originally posted by KitCar
[B] They also raced, for a short time, a special Falcon 515 with a 1100cc Climax engine.

Driven in 1961 by David Wansborough IIRC, before he moved on to D type RSF 301 for '62, but I cannot find the programme at present.
Roger Lund

[KitCar]

For those who want to know more about Falcon cars there is an excellent book
called 'Specialist Sports Cars' by Peter J Filby. The ISBN number is 0 7153 6417 0.
There is a good section devoted to the various models of Falcon, including the
515 road car, and the racing version.

[DUFFY]

Hi,
If you wish to know about Falcons contact the Falcon register run by Rob Daniels on his web site http://www.1950sspecials.com/home.htm

Kind regards
Tony
Old age and Treachery will overcome Youth and Skill
1963 Rochdale Olympic PhaseIII - DUFFY
www.rochdale-owners-club.co.uk
HELP ME LOOK FOR LOST ROCHDALE OLYMPICS
www.britishcarforum.com/bcforum/ubbthreads.php/topics/327716/Rochdale_Olympic_help_needed#Post327716

[kurtiejjj]

Finally some news; I managed to get a contact address for Peter Ecury, the then owner of the Falcon, I mailed him a while ago. I got a reply back that he would try and dig out some stuff, but to date I heard nothing. But I'm still hopeful that he sends something back.

By the way thanks for the falcon register link, I will send them an email as well, the car must be known by them as well.

[kurtiejjj]

I identified the falcon car as a Falcon Peregrine. Only two were built, and as Peter Ecury told me a while ago one had independent suspension and (his) the other one had a live axle.

[francoisb123]

Some class win at LE MANS 1960 for a FALCON?

see :http://cgi.ebay.it/_Auto__BARCHETTA-SPORT-FALCON-STRADALE-1961-RARA-DA-RESTAURO_W0QQitemZ290362404736QQadiZ6576QQadnZAutoQQcmdZViewItemQQptZAutomobile_
IT?hash=item439af2af80

[Stephen W]

The kit car manufacturer AUTOTUNE have been producing a kit called the GEMINI for some years which is based on a Falcon body (they may now own the design?)


Doune hillclimb June 2009 - Melvyn Hartley in his much campaigned Autotune Gemini

[FalconMk111]

I have an original space frame chassis from a mk111 which is in the process of being restored. I'll post a pic of it when I can figure out how to do it. The chassis is circa 1962 - 63