1970 Ford Falcon | The Screaming Yellow Zonker

 Most people remember the Ford Falcon as the early ‘60s compact. But in 1969 when Ford Maverick came down the line, the Falcon morphed into a base version of the Torino. In January of 1970 the Ford Falcon moved from a budget vehicle, to a full blown bad-ass machine. 

It was available with the baddest engine Ford made – a 375hp 429 Super Cobra Jet. And to top it off, you could order it with a four speed, which required a whole lot of extra work for the assembly line workers. They had to torch a hole in the trans tunnel for the shifter and open up areas in the rear floor so that staggered rear shocks could be installed. 

The car you see isn’t your typical “survivor”. It was well known in Michigan as a street-strip machine, and the previous owner wanted to keep the car as intact as possible. 

In 1970 Ken, the original owner, went to North Bros. Ford in Westland, Michigan, and they sealed the deal on the Falcon. Ken lettered the car “Screaming Yellow Zonker” and was a regular at Milan Dragway and Detroit Dragway. He even cruised it on the streets every now and then. Ken eventually sold the Falcon in the late ‘70s. The new owner, Chris, removed the lettering and replaced the low-slung headers with the original manifolds, and began preserving the car. 

Chris eventually sold the car in the early ‘90s to a Ford enthusiast named Gerry. He had the car repainted and kept it in his garage, right next to his white automatic, ’70 ½ 429 SCJ Falcon. A few years later, Gerry decided to sell his cars. He got in touch with a man from Novi, Michigan, named Jerry. Jerry took a look at the yellow Falcon, and did not understand what he found underneath. The modifications to the shock towers, trans tunnel and aftermarket shifter were something he had never seen before, and he thought it looked rough. He also took notice of the white Falcon, but decided to pass on them both. 

In 2003 Jerry saw an ad on eBay for Gerry’s white Falcon. Jerry contacted the current owner and bought the car. When he picked up the car, he noticed that the owner also had a four-speed SCJ Torino, which had the similar body work to Gerry’s yellow Falcon. He realized the modifications were made on the assembly line, and not on the starting line, and he instantly regretted not purchasing it when he had the chance. Jerry contacted Gerry to see if he still had the yellow Falcon, formerly named “Screaming Yellow Zonker”, but Gerry had sold the car a few weeks earlier. 

Jerry was not ready to give up. He was a part of a network of car enthusiasts, and when he struck up a conversation about vintage Fords with a young man at a paint removal facility, he discovered a connection to his rogue “Zonker”. After speaking with the owner, he was finally able to put his dream in his driveway. 

You now also have the rare opportunity to put this ’70 ½ SCJ Falcon in your driveway. "Come visit our 20,000 sq.ft. .showroom"

Vanguard Motor Sales


15100 Keel St. 
Plymouth, MI 48170
248-974-9513

www.vanguardmotorsales.com

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