Frontenac [2] (Canada) - AllCarIndex

Ford of Canada had a long standing policy of building cars for Mercury dealers to match almost every model Ford dealers sold. When the compact Ford Falcon was introduced in 1960, a companion Mercury was needed, hence the introduction of the Frontenac.
The Frontenac shared the same engine as the Falcon - the 144ci 90hp 6-cylinder unit. Three-speed synchromesh was standard with a two-speed automatic transmission as an option. Two and four door sedans and station wagons were the body styles offered. There was no subseries or choice of models. Deluxe trim was available but was listed as an option, not a model. This package was identifiable by the chrome trim around the side windows.
While the interior of the Frontenac was the same as the Falcon, the biggest difference between the two cars was the front grille. The Frontenac grille featured a gold maple leaf on a black disc in the centre. Around this was a chrome disc and around that a chrome circle. Extending out horizontally from either side of the chrome disc was a pointed chrome bar. These bars were attached to the front of the main grillework, which consisted of two sections. Each section had fine, vertical chrome bars forming a slightly concave front. These grille sections each came to a point just short of the centre circle. Falcon style parking lights were inserted in the grille right next to the headlights, while a 'Frontenac' script appeared on the centre front of the hood.
Frontenac prices ranged from $2,360 for the two-door sedan up to $2,740 for the four-door station wagon, which was fractionally more expensive than the equivalent Ford Falcon. Approximately 9,500 Frontenacs were built in 1960, compared to just over 17,000 Falcons in the same year. In 1961, Ford of Canada introduced the Mercury Comet as its new compact car, so the Frontenac was discontinued after just the one year of production.