If the EA Falcon was being sold new today...

[Chopped]

The VN S-pak were a rocket in their day.

EA Fairmount Ghias FTW.

[OzJavelin]

When I was on my P's in 1989 my personal car was a '65 Dodge Phoenix .. but I worked at a firm that had a new EA Wagon, a new VN Exec and a new Laser .. any of which I was allowed to drive on the nightly mail run. Typically I drove the Laser and it was a great little car, reasonable power, handling and ride. The VN was a weapon .. basically too much power down-low for the chassis and poor handling with skinny tyres .. and uncomfortable seats (even on short trips). The EA was comfortable as a passenger, but "felt" underpowered, sloppy handling, stuff broke on it regularly .. and the steering wheel wasn't stright infront of the driver? Other than the Laser my Phoenix seemed more surefooted and comfortable than these two modern vehicles .. just used a LOT more fuel and probably a lot less safe. However years later my Dad (a diehard Holden fan) bought an EA 3.9FI S-pack .. and loved it. It still felt underpowered and sloppy .. and weird steering column .. but it was comfortable, reliable and easy to work on. He only sold it when my mother bought a new car and he inherited her VX.

[302 XC]

My old neighbour had the EA 3.9 MPI, 5 speed,S pack
Nice car , went good for what it was,but we nick named it the boat
Cause it swayed like a boat in the corners
Comparing it to my at the time skyline sillhoutte
The falcon nailed the skyline to the wall straight line, but it didnt have a chance around corners

As for comparing, well lets look
Ive an ED here, one owner since new, lucky if its done 10,000Ks a year for the last 10 years,clean, straight, runs well that sorta stuff
Its worth scrap value
So the new breed might be cheaper at the dealer nowadays, does that mean theyll be worth scrap value way under 20 years ???

[LTDHO]

Originally Posted by Chopped

The VN S-pak were a rocket in their day.

EA Fairmount Ghias FTW.

That is because they got 3.45 diffs as EA had 3.23

[Professor Farnsworth]

and were tuned for destruction

[nuthin' fancy]

From a price comparison perspective, the list price on my EL Fairmont sedan was nearly $40k, so if the price of a G6 today, 16 years later.

[jphanna]

of the cars my dad bought from 1967 till 2001(2 valiants, 1 torana, 1 laser, 1 corolla, 2 falcons)

nothing came close to the love he had for that EA. but unfortunately, it was a lemon. a monumetnal lemon. he spent twice its worth trying to keep it running nicely, but his love for it never waned (denial was more like it).

he could have bought a nice new car outright, but he couldnt part with that EA, right up to his death in 2008.

[Giant]

Still plenty of VN running around plenty of torque and harsh take offs not suitable for school runs. I always consider the EA as a fail looks wise, i prefered my XF.

[P6LTD351]

Originally Posted by Giant

Still plenty of VN running around plenty of torque and harsh take offs not suitable for school runs. I always consider the EA as a fail looks wise, i prefered my XF.

Just goes to show that looks are subjective. The EA - ED are perhaps the 'prettiest' Falcons. I don't know why people refer to them as box cars; if anything, I think EF - EL have more angular lines. EA is much better looking than the VN. Can't compare an XF with EA. I like both, but they are very different designs.

[Professor Farnsworth]

Originally Posted by eb2monty

Just goes to show that looks are subjective. The EA - ED are perhaps the 'prettiest' Falcons. I don't know why people refer to them as box cars; if anything, I think EF - EL have more angular lines. EA is much better looking than the VN. Can't compare an XF with EA. I like both, but they are very different designs.

they're called box cars in comparison with the EF/EL shape which went into a very sleek more curvy flowing body

[Kieron]

Originally Posted by LTDHO

That is because they got 3.45 diffs as EA had 3.23

EA 1st gear was a lowly 2.32 iirc too. VN had that hare trigger throttle that added to the illusion of rocketship performance.

Check out this EA review -
http://www.mynrma.com.au/motoring/re...lcon-ea-ii.htm

fuel consumption was 14.5/100 for the SII, I knew they were thirsty bastards compared to the modern Falc, but that's even worse than my FG XR8!!

[malazn mafia]

Did Ford do anything monumental when developing the EF? I remember as a little kid riding in the old man's company car (EB1 GL). The EB1 GL since new always sounded like it had a big leafblower under the bonnet, a lot of noise with no power. The XFs in the neighbourhood sounded more or less the same. Would always have VNs and VRs leaving it for dead at the lights without trying. When we got the EF.. it was a bat out of hell in comparison. No silly fan blower noises, just a nice throaty roar. VNs and VRs now lived in the rear mirror. I remember one time watching the mighty EF Gli keep a Corvette honest up to 70km/h.

[P6LTD351]

Originally Posted by Professor Farnsworth

they're called box cars in comparison with the EF/EL shape which went into a very sleek more curvy flowing body

I agree that the EF/El is sleeker, but I think the EA - ED is curvier, whereas ef is more angular. What's an XD-XF known as if the EA is a box?

[Dezza]

Originally Posted by OzJavelin

and the steering wheel wasn't stright infront of the driver?

Yeah, that wasn't brilliant. Ford have a habit of doing that. The AU still isn't perfect in that regard either. I found it was possible to move the EA steering column to the left a bit further but it was still never centred.

[Buntz]

93 ED. My dad bought it years ago for nine grand I think. We loved it. Previous owner optioned ABS brakes. Dad still goes on about "disc ALL ROUND!!!". :P

Now that's it mine... it's run down a bit. Paint on bonnet and boot is shot. Odometer's stuffed. Fuel gauge is on the blink. Transmission smashes into second. Front drivers seat is had it. Second one close behind. Carpets filthy. Fit and finish is typical Ford of the period, utter rubbish. Passenger front door doesn't lock with the central locking. Rust spots. Engine seems louder then it used too.. and it's done somewhere north of 300k k's, and I still haven't done the timing chain.

Car continues puts a smile on my face.

[Professor Farnsworth]

^at least fix your s5 solenoid or whatever is causing the harsh 1st to 2nd change

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by Professor Farnsworth

^at least fix your s5 solenoid or whatever is causing the harsh 1st to 2nd change

Is that what it is, you think? Is it costly? Can I do it myself?

[4.0i OHC]

Originally Posted by Buntz93ED

93 ED. My dad bought it years ago for nine grand I think. We loved it. Previous owner optioned ABS brakes. Dad still goes on about "disc ALL ROUND!!!". :P

Now that's it mine... it's run down a bit. Paint on bonnet and boot is shot. Odometer's stuffed. Fuel gauge is on the blink. Transmission smashes into second. Front drivers seat is had it. Second one close behind. Carpets filthy. Fit and finish is typical Ford of the period, utter rubbish. Passenger front door doesn't lock with the central locking. Rust spots. Engine seems louder then it used too.. and it's done somewhere north of 300k k's, and I still haven't done the timing chain.

Car continues puts a smile on my face.

It's what (pre-BA) Falcons do. They just have so much character.

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by 4.0i OHC

It's what (pre-BA) Falcons do. They just have so much character.

If they could talk they would only say; "Aww yeah!"

[EL97]

Originally Posted by eb2monty

I think EF - EL have more angular lines.

You're kidding right?



Here's an example of an EA rear end; sharp boot lines, rectangular shaped mirrors, rhomboid shaped, squared off tailights and bumper corners.



And here's an EL... well ******* me I can't see any significantly sharp angle anywhere, and the ones you do see are surrounded by smooth flowing lines anyway. If that EA is less angular than an EF-EL, then the Volvo 240 must be as aesthetically flowing as a Jag E-Type.

[Buntz]

The trend has shifted back to angular design. So the EA-ED is timeless.

Love the profile of them too.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Buntz93ED

Is that what it is, you think? Is it costly? Can I do it myself?

Come into the OzEseries cruisers section on the forum, I've got a lot of people guiding me through working on my EL, if I can do something than so can anyone else.

I personally like the look of the EA-ED, particularily the ED XR8, they look really nice, I love that boxy look.

[dylancox]

Originally Posted by eb2monty

I agree that the EF/El is sleeker, but I think the EA - ED is curvier, whereas ef is more angular. What's an XD-XF known as if the EA is a box?

The EA looks like a box drawn by a man. The XD-XF looks like a perfect box drawn using a ruler and pen .

[Kieron]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Did Ford do anything monumental when developing the EF? I remember as a little kid riding in the old man's company car (EB1 GL). The EB1 GL since new always sounded like it had a big leafblower under the bonnet, a lot of noise with no power. The XFs in the neighbourhood sounded more or less the same. Would always have VNs and VRs leaving it for dead at the lights without trying. When we got the EF.. it was a bat out of hell in comparison. No silly fan blower noises, just a nice throaty roar. VNs and VRs now lived in the rear mirror. I remember one time watching the mighty EF Gli keep a Corvette honest up to 70km/h.

EB had about 148KW from memory, EF had 157kw, not a major jump.

Re the leafblower sound, did the EB1 have conventional fan vs the EF's thermo fans?

[P6LTD351]

Originally Posted by EL97

You're kidding right?

image

Here's an example of an EA rear end; sharp boot lines, rectangular shaped mirrors, rhomboid shaped, squared off tailights and bumper corners.

image

And here's an EL... well ******* me I can't see any significantly sharp angle anywhere, and the ones you do see are surrounded by smooth flowing lines anyway. If that EA is less angular than an EF-EL, then the Volvo 240 must be as aesthetically flowing as a Jag E-Type.

No I am not kidding, otherwise I wouldn't have said it. I have owned both shapes of cars. It's hard to explain it in words. Let's try. Look at an EA - ED that has colour coded bumpers, head on. Compare it to an EF Gli with its thinner headlights. The EA - EB has a more bulbous/roundish look. The EF has a more sleeker ANGLED look. I don't see a box in an EA - EB anywhere in the flesh. The bumpers both front and rear are more BULBOUS - the EF - EL are 'thinner' looking and more angular (not squared).

The thinner 'C' pillar of the EF - ELs make it look more angular from many directions, even though the EA - ED's 'C' pillar is larger (to the eye).

I guess it's all in the eye of the beholder.

Now, the XD and XF is what I've always known as a 'box car'. Lowered and in good nick, it's one of the best looks going around; very tough indeed.

[NX74205]

Originally Posted by Kieron

EB had about 148KW from memory, EF had 157kw, not a major jump.

EB2 had 148kW. EB1 had the same 120kW CFI 3.9 fitted to the GL, but the 139kW MPI 3.9 was standard on all other models.

120kW to 157kW is a massive jump.

[P6LTD351]

Originally Posted by dylancox

The EA looks like a box drawn by a man. The XD-XF looks like a perfect box drawn using a ruler and pen .

[washoutbeach]

Its been of value to compare the series after as well as before and its very exciting to read the strength and power of the EA cause.

I think we owe it to the EA design team, the EA26 was starting to be designed and modelled way back in 1982. Its basic aesthetic premise almost got us into the 21st century.

Its hard to understand the design vision these EA guys had in age that was paying homage to the WB Kingswood ute and the formative stages of the Commodore. I mean they must have had a giggle at the traffic as they drove their cars to work on the top secret design.

The EA 26 was just light years ahead of its time and if it didnt stand for perfomance, it was a car people bought for others to judge them in.

It boasted clean angles, the windscreen angle was significantly less than the XD, it got us thinking about exterior plastics as function and beauty.

Above all it was fresh and modern to look at, modern to be in and espoused modern values. To some extent, this what almost every new car design aspires to be. Ford just nailed it.

And it turned up its nose at the Commodore, it looked and worked better.

Of course Holden persisted with its half pregnant bulbous (and let me say awkward) curves right up until the VE. How they sold so many is beyond me.

The EL is a stones throw from the EA. But at $700m for a new car design, its not cheap.

I saw this beautiful FG today in some kind of metalic racing green. One could have drowned in the ethereal lustre of that paintwork, probably the nicest green I have ever seen. My eyes were popping out of my head and I was slobbering at it. I hope the women driving it, didnt think I fancied her.

She was your typical modern female ford driver, good looking with designer sunglasses. The "stuff the world" pout to boot.

I got a glimpse of the illuminated central command centre flickering on the dash. Probably flashing " idiot alert" with an arrow pointing at me and the BA mkII in the next lane!

[P6LTD351]

I also forgot to mention the EF - EL boot lids. VERY Angular. Look at the straight lines on the top, in between the tail lights, and the area where the number plate is. Much more pronounced angles than the EA - ED.

[washoutbeach]

Originally Posted by eb2monty

I also forgot to mention the EF - EL boot lids. VERY Angular. Look at the straight lines on the top, in between the tail lights, and the area where the number plate is. Much more pronounced angles than the EA - ED.

Yeah and from the photos above ( awesome work) they did away with the moulded finger lever on the external petrol lid. Maybe it was causing too much drag. The finger lever had a practical application. But it seems form took over from function.