Dude drives Falcon from Argentina to Michigan

Diego Percivaldi drove his 1981 Argentinian Ford Falcon “Rural Deluxe” almost 10,000 miles, over 47 days, through 11 countries to see Ford Motor Co.’s headquarters on Thursday.

“The Ford Falcon, in Argentina, it’s very sentimental for all the Argentine people,” Percivaldi said, adding that he drove the Argentine version of the four-door wagon that featured a luggage rack and sported several sponsorship stickers.

Ford of Argentina produced the Falcon from 1962 to 1981. In fact, the vehicle was imported from North America and given a face lift at the Pacheco, Argentina plant. The car became popular with the military “junta” government, and many people identify the car with that era of rule.

Here are a couple of great Spanish sites dedicated to the Argentinian version of the Falcon:

https://www.todofalcon.com.ar/Galerias.htm
https://galerias.netfirms.com/galmodel.htm

The trip took three years to plan, he said, and the Falcon’s original 221-cid engine was rebuilt in preparation for slow ride north.

“If you don’t love cars, it’s impossible to travel with this car,” Percivaldi said.

Percivaldi, 32, declined to say how much the trip cost, but did say sponsors helped with half the expenses. He said he paid as much as $8 per gallon for gas in Peru and $1.40 in Ecuador.

Cecilia, Percivaldi’s 32-year-old wife, said the trip has long been a goal for the family of four. They brought along their two sons, age 3 and 10 months.

Upon arriving unannounced at the Dearborn headquarters of No. 2 U.S. automaker, the family walked up to the security desk at about noon and asked to speak to someone from Ford, spokesman Tom Hoyt said. Hoyt said he will be talking to senior management to see if they will do anything for the family.

In the meantime, Percivaldi said they’ll stay in Michigan for a few more days before heading home  by plane.

The Falcon will be shipped back home, he said.

Diego’s website: https://www.desafiolasamericas.com.ar

By MARGARET HARDING, The Associated Press

Editors Note: Diego, if you are out there we’d like to send you a FordMuscle T-shirt – reply to this blog and send us an email!