We saw some pretty extraordinary vehicles at the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, one of which was a hydrogen-powered 1964 Ford Falcon Sprint nicknamed Freebird. The Freebird Falcon uses a hydrogen-fueled zero emissions 2022 Ford 5.0L Coyote V8 engine. Though it’s been a few months since the car show, ScottieDTV posted a video on YouTube where he speaks with Mike Copeland of Arrington Performance and gives a closer look at the unique Falcon.
1964 Ford Falcon “FreeBird”: A Closer Look
When Copeland and Arrington Performance unveiled the hydrogen-fueled supercharged LS3 truck named Zero, a high volume of people reached out to get their hands on hydrogen power, many of whom were Ford people. That gave Copeland the idea to build a Ford next since he had a 1964 Ford Falcon sitting in his garage. The opportunity arose to do the new Coyote engine due to having a direct and port injection, which enabled advancement with the technology and everything lined up to put together this build.
The engine started as a 2022 Ford 5.0L Coyote V8 crate engine, rated from the factory for 460 horsepower. The team at Arrington retained the use of sixteen injectors, replacing the factory direct injectors with Bosch units designed to spray hydrogen gas. In contrast, the port injectors are now responsible for introducing water, which is used to control the burn rate of the hydrogen. While just a one-off, “FreeBird” shows the potential of hydrogen combustion engines and could play a major role in the future of automobiles.
According to Mike Copeland, the 1964 Ford Falcon was in good condition, minus some rust located in one of the quarter panels. However, since Copeland wanted to fit the car with larger tires, both panels were removed, and 14-inch tubs were added to the rear. They also changed the vehicle’s floor to accommodate the Tremec TKX transmission on the car. The vehicle’s entire interior is new, and the suspension is made up of TCI suspension. At the front, the shock towers were eliminated and replaced with the company’s control arm, which is more similar to a Mustang.
Coilovers were also added, enabling them to add a larger engine compartment to fit the Coyote into the Ford Falcon. Additionally, the vehicle’s rear has been equipped with TCI’s Mustang torque arm system, which helps the car remain stable when driving more aggressively. Enabling stopping power for the 500-550 horsepower FreeBird Ford Falcon is 14-inch rotors and six-piston Baer brake calipers on all four wheels.
The video also features a thorough vehicle walkaround as Mike Copeland discusses the ins and outs of the legendary vehicle. We can’t wait to see what might come next from Arrington Performance, as they’re doing some pretty spectacular stuff.
