Performance Review: Ford Falcon 3rd Gen Sports Coupe 289 V8 4-Speed - [1966]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Ford Falcon Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Ford Falcon 3rd Gen Sports Coupe 289 V8 4-Speed is the 4 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 1966. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1966 AC Cobra 427 and the 1966 Chevrolet Corvette C2 Stingray 427 425hp.This particular Ford Falcon has a 4727cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 8 cylinders in a V formation.

Alternative Petrol V8's includes the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170

The Falcon shares its Petrol V8 engine configuration with the likes of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 and the 2023 Ferrari SF 90 XX Spider 4.0 V8 Turbo. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Falcon's Rear Wheel Drive, Saloon combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1305 kgs (2877 lbs) this makes the Ford Falcon 3rd Gen Sports Coupe 289 V8 4-Speed in the same weight category as the 2023 McLaren 750S Spider 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The Ford Falcon shares the same bhp with the 2020 Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S tronic S line (197 bhp)

In terms of power the 4727cc 16V V8 engine produces 200 bhp (149 kW) @ 4400 rpm similar to the 2020 Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S tronic S line (197 bhp) or the 2020 Audi TT S Turbo 50 TFSI (225 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated V8 throws out 282 lb-ft (382.3 Nm) @ 2400 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (295 lb-ft) or the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Circuit Edition 1.6 Turbo (273 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Ford Falcon you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2011 Ford Focus Wagon ST (178.2 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Ford Falcon.

The Ford Falcon has a Power to weight ratio of 153.2 bhp per ton and 216.0 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1966 Falcon competing with the 2011 Ford Focus Wagon ST (178.2 bhp per ton) or the 1984 Porsche 911 Carrera (178.1 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Ford Falcon generating around 216.0 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1969 Mercury Marauder X-100 (241.0 lb-ft per ton) or the 2013 BMW X5 M50d 3.0 Diesel Turbo (241.0 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 8.80 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 9.1 secs, this made the Ford Falcon 3rd Gen Sports Coupe 289 V8 4-Speed as fast as the 2013 Vauxhall-Opel Zafira Tourer CDTi BiTurbo (8.80 secs) the the 2002 Toyota Camry 3.0 V6 (8.80 secs) the or the 2000 Mitsubishi FTO 2.0 GPX (8.80 secs). This Ford Falcon 3rd Gen Sports Coupe 289 V8 4-Speed is also faster than the 2008 Audi A4 1.8T Avant (8.90 secs) the 2005 Suzuki Swift 1.6 VVT Sport (8.90 secs) the 2000 Vauxhall-Opel Omega 3.2 V6 Automatic (8.90 secs) the and the 1990 Volvo 940 2.3 Turbo (8.90 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Falcon and the 2015 Ford Focus ST-3 2.0 Turbo Estate

When talking about the performance of the Ford Falcon on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 15.31 secs @ 89.4 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2015 Ford Focus ST-3 2.0 Turbo Estate (15.24 secs), the 1993 Porsche 968 Club Sport (15.25 secs), and the 1970 Chevrolet Malibu 5.7 V8 Turbo Hydra-Matic (15.26 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1966 version of the Ford Falcon 3rd Gen Sports Coupe 289 V8 4-Speed has a maximum speed of 113mph.

Top Speed of the 1966 Falcon equals the 2015 Renault Megane Energy TCe 205 GT 1.6 Turbo (124 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1966 Ford Falcon 3rd Gen Sports Coupe 289 V8 4-Speed then how about the 2015 Renault Megane Energy TCe 205 GT 1.6 Turbo (124 mph), the 2012 Land-Rover Range Rover Sport 3.0 TDV6 (124 mph), or the 2012 Mini Cooper SD Paceman (124 mph).

Related Links:

1966 Falcon Rivals List.

A Brief History of Ford

Car Comparison