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Frontenac (marque)

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For the private automobile company, see Frontenac Motor Corporation.
Frontenac
1960 Frontenac 2-door sedan
(with non-standard wheel covers)
Overview
ManufacturerFord of Canada
Production1960
AssemblyOakville, Ontario
Body and chassis
ClassCompact
Body style2-door sedan
4-door sedan
2-door station wagon
4-door station wagon
LayoutFR layout
RelatedFord Falcon (US)
Comet
Powertrain
Engine144 cu in (2.4 L) Thriftpower I6
Chronology
SuccessorComet

In 1960, Ford Canada introduced the Frontenac to give Mercury-Meteor dealers a compact vehicle to sell. It was a separate marque, like Lincoln was to Ford. Produced for the 1960 model year only, the Frontenac was essentially a 1960 Ford Falcon with its own unique grille, tail lights, and external trim, including red maple-leaf insignia. It was the second-best selling compact in Canada during its one year (5% of Ford's total Canadian output).[1]

A total of 9,536 Frontenacs were built at its Oakville, Ontario, plant.[1] In August 1960 a prototype 1961 Frontenac was driven from Halifax to Vancouver for a photo shoot only for the crew to learn that the Canadian model was discontinued from the domestic market and replaced by the Comet for the 1961 model year.[2]

At launch the Frontenac was available in 2-door and 4-door sedan body styles with 2-door and 4-door station wagons added later.[3]

The Frontenac is one example of U.S. automakers' attempts to market slight variations of U.S. models as unique Canadian makes.[4] Like the Monarch and Meteor brands marketed by the Ford Motor Company of Canada, the Frontenac was not part of the Ford or Mercury lines. It was its own marque, and was marketed as such.

The Frontenac was named after a late 17th century governor of New France. The name had been used previously, from 1931 to 1933, on a car assembled in Toronto by Dominion Motors.[1]

Model Information[5]

Name Engine HP Voltage Transmission Wheelbase Length Width
Frontenac 144 CID I6 90 12 3-speed manual; 2-speed automatic 109.5 in (2,781 mm) 181.2 in (4,602 mm) 70 in (1,778 mm)

Further reading

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  • Zavitz, Perry R. (1985). Canadian Cars, 1946-1984. Bookman Publishing. ISBN 9780934780438.

References

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  1. ^ a b c English, Bob (September 23, 2010). "The one-year wonder". The Globe and Mail. p. G5. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  2. ^ "Frontenac from the "Magic World of Comet"". 61thriftpower.com. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  3. ^ The Frontenac, from Ford of Canada, falconfaq.dyndns.org Retrieved December 18, 2017
  4. ^ "New Ford Frontenac Goes On Display Here Oct 8th". St Maurice Valley Chronicle. September 17, 1959. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  5. ^ "Frontenac brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. p. 12. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
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