Ford Falcon (XB)

Ford Falcon (XB)
Ford Futura (XB)
Ford Fairmont (XB)

Ford Falcon 500 (XB) sedan with GS Rally Pack
Overview
Manufacturer Ford Australia
Production September 1973 – July 1976
Body and chassis
Class Full-size car
Body style 4 door sedan
5 door station wagon
2 door hardtop
2 door coupe utility
2 door panel van
Powertrain
Engine 200ci 6-cyl (3.3L)
250ci 6-cyl (4.1L)
302ci V8 (4.9L)
351ci V8 (5.8L)
Transmission 3spd manual (column)
4spd manual (floor)
3spd auto (column & floor)
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,819 mm (111.0 in)
Length 4,808 mm (189.3 in)
Width 1,900 mm (74.8 in)
Height 1,369 mm (53.9 in)
Curb weight 1,394 kg (3,073.2 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor Ford Falcon (XA)
Successor Ford Falcon (XC)

The Ford Falcon (XB) is a full-size car that was produced by Ford Australia from 1973 to 1976. It was the second iteration of the third generation of this Australian-made model and also included the Ford Fairmont (XB), the luxury-oriented version of the Falcon.

Overview

Interior

The XB series bore minor cosmetic differences to the preceding model, the XA, aimed at giving the car a more muscular stance. First time equipment offerings included standard front disc brakes on all models[1] and an available carpeted interior.

Model range

The XB Falcon range included the following models:

A Grand Sport Rally Pack option, which included bonnet scoops, striping, GS insignia and "GT" instrumentation, was available on Falcon 500, Futura and Fairmont models.[2][3]

Sovereign Edition

In July 1974, a special Falcon Sovereign Edition was released to celebrate Ford Australia's 50th anniversary. It was based on a Falcon 500 fitted, as standard, with a vinyl roof, Fairmont wheel covers, carpet, 11 transistor radio and three thin body stripes. No records were kept on these cars so exact specifications and build quantities are unknown. Production of the Sovereign is believed to have ended in July 1975.

John Goss Special

Among the limited edition variants of the XB was the John Goss Special, released in 1975 and named for the race driver who took a Falcon to victory in the 1974 Hardie-Ferodo 1000 Touring Car race at Bathurst. These specials were based on the Falcon 500 Hardtop, with decals and other bolt on options, such as the GT Bonnet. They were available in White with a choice of two accent colors: Emerald Fire and Apollo Blue. [4]

McLeod Ford "horn" cars

Max McLeod owned a Ford dealership in Rockdale, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney, and sponsored John Goss entered Falcons in the South Pacific Touring Series, ATCC and multiple Bathurst 1000 races. In addition to further modifications to Fords own John Goss Special, McLeod offered the "horn" pack to various Falcon models. These cars are known for their stand-out "strobe" stripes that were applied to the cars, these stripes were the same as used in the McLeod sponsored John Goss racing cars.

Production

Production of the XB series totalled 211,971 vehicles.[5]

Motor sport

Allan Moffat won the 1976 Australian Touring Car Championship driving a Ford Falcon GT (XB) Hardtop

Allan Moffat won the 1974 Sandown 250 driving an XB Falcon GT Hardtop. He also won the 1976 Australian Touring Car Championship driving an XB Falcon GT Hardtop and drove both an XB Falcon GT Hardtop and an XC Falcon GS Hardtop to win the 1977 Australian Touring Car Championship.

In film

In the 1979 film Mad Max, the title character's black "Pursuit Special" was a 351 cu in (5.8 L) version of a 1973 Ford XB GT Falcon Hardtop. Two 1974 XB sedans were also used as Main Force Patrol Interceptor vehicles. More Falcons were used to depict the Pursuit Special in sequels Mad Max 2 (1981) and Mad Max: Fury Road (2015).

A Falcon GT (XB) Hardtop is the subject of Eric Bana's 2009 documentary film Love the Beast. The film documents the 25-year history of Bana's Falcon, which he purchased at the age of 15.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Norm Darwin, The History of Ford in Australia, 1986, page 169
  2. ↑ Ford XB Falcon Sedan sales brochure, Ford Sales Company of Australia, 10/73, page 15
  3. ↑ AC Bushby, The Australian Ford Falcon Collection, 1989, page 161
  4. ↑ "Aussie Coupes - Mad Max Interceptor - Ford XB Falcon - Australian Ford falcon". aussiecoupes.com.
  5. ↑ Tony David, Aussie Cars, 1987, page 136
  6. ↑ 1974 Ford Falcon [XB] in Love The Beast, Documentary, 2009 at the Internet Movie Car Database.
Ford Australia automobile timeline, 1980s–present
Type 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
0123456789 0123456789 0123456789 01234567
City Ka
Subcompact Festiva Festiva Fiesta Fiesta
Compact Escort Laser Laser Laser Laser Laser Focus Focus Focus
Meteor
Mid-size Cortina Telstar Telstar Taurus
Corsair Mondeo Mondeo Mondeo
Full-size Falcon / Fairmont Falcon / Fairmont Falcon / Fairmont Falcon
Fairlane / LTD Fairlane / LTD Fairlane / LTD
Sports Capri Probe Cougar
Mustang Mustang
Utility F-Series F-Series
Courier Courier Courier Ranger Ranger
Falcon Ute Falcon Ute Falcon Ute
Van Falcon Van
Spectron
Econovan Econovan Econovan Transit Custom
Transit Transit Transit Transit Transit
Subcompact SUV EcoSport
Compact SUV Escape Escape
Kuga/Escape
Mid-size SUV Raider Territory
Bronco Maverick Explorer Explorer Everest
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