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#61 | ||
Barra Turbo > V8
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Only good thing about the B Series was the turbo 6, rest was rubbish IMO. Shame the turbo 6 wasnt introduced with the AU.
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#62 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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#63 | |||
^^^^^^^^
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Location: online - duh
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Quote:
![]() The 1972 Falcon XA looks remarkably similar to this 1968 US Ford Maverick styling clay don't you think ![]() ![]() ![]() Ref: http://www.aus-ford-uk.co.uk/html/st...-_bonnets.html
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#65 | |||
Ford Escape ZA 3.0L V6
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SEQ
Posts: 68
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Quote:
Thats the only one so far that i have not seen a "clone" from over there in movies or anything else like Tv serials and the likes . All models up to the XA series and the same years for general motors Holden like you have show are clones only shrunk for here , some i recall after checking movie dates when the movie was made go back 10+ years "before" that same clone made it out here i noticed . Fb/Fc were chevy and other breeds over there if fact there were heaps of all sorts . Paul .
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#66 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2013
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Quote:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1980-Ford...oAAOSw6lRaX7i2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zfWgfZN9SY |
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#67 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Sydney
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Motoring magazines from the era, and many history books have all noted the Blackwood Falcons nose & tail profiles were definitely shared with Ford Europe's upcoming Granada design (and again with the EA) but had a uniquely Aussie refinement to them - the wraparound XD front bar is so much nicer than the cortina style bar on the front of that.
The side pressings in the doors, and window profiles, and mirrors more closely resemble the US Ford Fairmont from the early 80s. It was definitely a global influence. Here's a bit of trivia - I used to have an FC LTD. One day I noticed the headlights had the same Bosch date stickers on them as the VC commodore I had at the time, so I started looking more closely at the finer details. The reflectors were almost identical in profile & fittings, except the Commodore ones were a little taller to look at. As the models progressed, local content increased - for the VH, Holden used Hella headlights (just like the tail lights), and I remember a ZL I wrecked out also used Hella headlights, with the innards being mostly XF (with minor changes to the plastic housing to accomodate the larger rectangular lense). Seems they weren't too far off each other as far as Euro>Aus influences after all...... |
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#68 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2006
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Quote:
![]() Happy Australia Day everyone Mick |
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#69 | ||
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I question whether the picture of the 1968 clay above really was a Maverick.
Some interesting reading on the topic of the XA's design: https://ateupwithmotor.com/model-his...falcon-part-2/ https://www.shannons.com.au/club/new...aussie-falcon/ (requires a log on to see the full article, the set up is free) |
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#70 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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#71 | ||
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The Australian design team had to go to the US to work on the XA, as they didn't have a proper design studio in Australia at the time.
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#73 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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Quote:
![]() ![]() Cheers Mick |
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#74 | |||
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Quote:
I think a more accurate take on it would be because of successful collaboration between US and Australian stylists on XA it resulted in Ford Au getting its own dedicated design facility. Cheers Mick |
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#75 | |||
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Quote:
Good luck pushing that argument uphill sunshine ![]() ![]() Cheers Mick |
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#76 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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I'd be so disappointed to find out the xa was American.
I love the look of an XAGT sedan. When I was a kid in the early 70's xygt's were everywhere. Xagt's were a much rarer beast.
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www.bseries.com.au/mercurybullet 2016 Falcon XR8. Powered by the legend that is - David Winter. XC Cobra #181. 1985 Mack Superliner, CAT 3408, 24 speed Allison. |
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#77 | |||
Cabover nut
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Onsite Eastcoast
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Quote:
Yeah, I can remember them being everywhere once.
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heritagestonemason.com/Fordlouisvillerestoration In order that the labour of centuries past may not be in vain during the centuries to come...... D. Diderot 1752
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#79 | |||
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Quote:
The XD Falcon was out truly Aussie Ford designed car from clay up not to mention the X Flow 6 cyl was ours as well. |
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#80 | ||
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According to Wikipedia they ran from April 1969 to 1977 in the Us so I'm assuming that would make the first one a 1970 model. I guess that would be to replace to falcon which went to 70 1/2 as its last model.
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#81 | |||
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Our Aussie Valiant must be given the award for the Hemi 6 in 1970. Our Aussie Ford must be given the award for the X Flow 6cyl and the XD 1979 not to mention the XA ute p van and wagon and Hardtop in 1972 and then the Falcon OHC and DOHC 6 cyl not to mention Turbo 6. Our Holden's well the 253 and 308 had a bit more Aussie involvement than the Hemi 6 in all but Ford has to of won the most Aussie input of all. |
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#82 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2006
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I've always thought the pics of XA styling clays fitted with Magnum 500 wheels looked very cool.............such a shame we never got them as a rim option here.
Cheers Mick |
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#83 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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Quote:
I reckon someone found that 1968 "Maverick" clay picture, didn't know what it was (because Australia was so far away & it's market unknown), and just guessed it was associated with the Maverick; which was in fact more of a mid-sized car. And you're right - a chopped down Torino was the catalyst for the clean sheet XA design, as it (reduced Torino) just didn't look any good. |
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#84 | |||
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Quote:
![]() Cheers Mick |
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#85 | |||
Ford Escape ZA 3.0L V6
Join Date: Dec 2017
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Quote:
One has to add a few years in the planning/styling pre-dating the year too . Cheers .
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#86 | |||
Ford Escape ZA 3.0L V6
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SEQ
Posts: 68
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Quote:
One has to remember over there in the usa the amount of makers and models were staggering , nearly all copied each other in some way and even years later reinvigorated something from other makes or models claiming it "theirs". And i'd also type here of a subject called "marketing spin" , who is gunna say we copied such and such from such and such , who is not gunna say we did not invent or design this or that just for you the people and blah blah blah . Mount Panorama the battle between Ford and Holden , American cars and imo it's been BS for years , after the WW2 it all started imo , all those backroom deals favoring certain entities , like did you know Australia was not allowed to make a Watch , or a Barometer by law , cheese imports ha ha ha, they had to be imported and if one pokes around in history there has been a lot that has been fiddled with by law that benefits everyone else except this Dump !. It's all been a Con and that's why things are changing now or slowly changing back from around 15 years ago or so , the 50 year backroom Deal , that's why the yanks are ****ing off and coinciding with that the Good English people have not too long ago finally paid the WW2 War years loans off back to the yanks , then we get Brexit , then around and around we all go again . Paul (Any body fall asleep reading all that? WAKE UP!)
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#87 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 487
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Quote:
oh well, learn soemthign new, love a good conspiracy. |
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#88 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 87
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Hi All. First time posting, but I have been a long time reader of the forum, and really enjoy the discussions that go on here. I worked for Ford Australia/NZ for many years – from the XC through to the BA Falcon, including a lot of time in product development. Out of work now, and I like to research some of the history of our mighty Falcon, so I thought I could add some of my knowledge to the discussion.
To address the OP question, obviously the XK, XL, XM etc were before my time, but I believe the response given by Hackney as to where the XK label came from is correct. In a book titled “Disaster in Dearborn: The Story of the Edsel” by Thomas E Bonsall there is the following paragraph (P172) In April of 1958, Ford Division had presented the “Ford Economy Car Program” to, and received approval from, the Board of Directors for the 1960 Ford XK Thunderbird (later renamed the Falcon). I would assume that they used the XK code for the engineering drawings that were used in the US and also sent to Australia. It would make sense as the Falcon name wasn’t settled until 1959, long after the design and engineering would have been completed. This is confirmed by a New York Times article from 1959. So someone in product development in Australia, (and presumably Canada, Mexico, Argentina and Chile) received drawings with XK on them and adopted the code for local use. Not sure if they did the same in the other countries where it was assembled. Just as an aside, the book mentioned above continues: The following month, a similar program, codenamed Canberra, was initiated by the M(Mercury)-E(Edsel)-L(Lincoln) Division. The M-E-L Division made its preliminary presentation to the Ford product planning committee in July 1958, outlining the use of the Ford XK Thunderbird as a basis for an Edsel compact. … The final program was presented to the product planning committee in September 1958, duly approved, and codenamed the 1961 Edsel B. I added that bit as I think it is interesting that there was an Edsel version of the Falcon approved (but which never made it to production as the Edsel line was cancelled in 1959), and that there was an Australian connection with the codename. With a codename Canberra it was doomed to failure! A quick google search came up with the following pictures of the “Edsel Falcon” clays. http://www.61thriftpower.com/edsel.shtml The Falcon relationship is clearly evident in the C-pillar/roofline, scalloped body sides and wheel arch shape. Enough for my first post! I’ll come back later and share how the following Australian Falcon model codes progressed. |
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#89 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2006
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Quote:
There was a lot of input by Aussies in successive models after the transplanted XK Falcon reliability disaster. I think it was collapsing ball joints or something or other. Bill Burke was probably trying to make a point "That Its Fixed" when he initiated that 70k mile reliability trial a few years later. Cheers Mick |
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#90 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2016
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When you guys get a chance google 1970 1/2 US ford falcon it looks very similar to a torino . As far as falcons go you would have to go back to the 1960/ xk to find a model that was identical in sedans i believe the others that followed used mercury comet bits and pieces as a 1964 or 65 US falcon looks nothing like an xm/xp then in 1966 they came back to looking somewhat the same as our domestic xr/xt range. In a around about way im thinking our xa would have been put to bed you would think by the time the 1970 1/2 was released.
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