I hope you enjoy this video on this very cool Ford Landau. One of my favourite Australian cars. Please enjoy and give the Landau a Thumbs Up 👍. What do you think of the Ford Landau?
Rare, expensive and oh-so-cool these days but I remember them being ridiculed when I was in high school in the 1970s! That is a beautiful example of this unique Aussie-made prestige car. The Landau also played a pivotal role in Ford being able to run four-wheel disc brakes on the winning XA Falcon GT hardtops at Bathurst in 1973, because it was approved by governing body CAMS as a “Falcon Hardtop variant”. So, as John Goss would say, there’s a little bit of Bathurst in every Ford Landau.
That would have to be the most tidy Landau I have seen. Definetely in the category of "Best you will see" ... Absolutely stunning. These would have to be the most exciting luxury - performance based - vehicles ever built in Australia. Obviously based off the Ford Torino in the United States, but the Australian design influence reflected an outstanding job on these, I am sure you will agree. One of the nicest Australian cars ever produced in my opinion. I was a proud owner of the P6, 1977 LTD Silver Monarch - exactly as pictured here in Mark's video. Those slide controls in console followed through into the Monarch, they were vacuum operated for the air conditioning positions. The P6 was different again, based off the Lincoln. This is a Fantastic car Mark - thank you for showing us. Fletch.
My uncle has one of those. He’s had it since new. It’s a reddish colour with cream vinyl roof. And cream interior. Only got 57,000 on the clock. After his divorce. He brought a Mazda RX4. Coup. And kept Landau He only drove the Landu on small drives. Like paper shops. The biggest trip. It’s done was on back of a private towing company truck to Coffs Harbour. It sits in his garage double sheeted sheet inside the car and on the outside. He won’t sell it. Regardless of how much money is offered.
those concealed headlights were (and are!) just amazing - a highly spec car and what a combination of luxury and a coupe, usually reserved for sports and performance - never knew about the Cougar steering wheel centre-piece and had not really noticed the wheel caps such as featured. That angled dash across the Falcons really created a drivers cockpit and also the air vent sliding knobs add period and international bling. If only a barn find awaited me.
That's how they managed to design them on a limited budget. They were always raiding the international ford parts bin.... The XD door handles that broke all the time were ford of Europe derived apparently
Dear Mark, It is my VERY favorite car the P5 4 door, its got it all in my opinion. The looks, the power and refinement. Dad had one from new it was ridiculous for the time in 1976. It was a lighter metallic green, dark green roof and a light coloured leather interior. The concave dash and air con controls were useable without fumbling and taking your eyes of the road, amongst other refinements. The hubcaps pictured in your video have Thunderbird emboss in the metal on the inside but is covered with a colour coded centre cap. I know this because I saw it during a tyre change one day. After driving this car for years and then stepping into the later model for a drive I can assure you It did not handle as well as the P5. You can drive it with 1 finger and it was great around a corner, very tight indeed for a large car. And at 18 when I got my hands on it occasionally, I certainly put it through its paces. Very hard in brisbane to get it to 3rd gear the roads weren't long enough back then, I managed a safe 160 in second gear. It gave absolutely no mechanical or trim issues until 160,00klm, and then that was just a kit through the carburettor. If I EVER come into money...oh boy yes please Ill have 2. One for me and One for spares. Thanks for the revival of wonderful memories of these cars Mark.
In full agreement with you Mark. Back in 95 a mate had the 74 P5 LTD with the same hubcaps, bloke still has it to this day. What a great example of what is arguably one of this country's most prestigious cars.👍
No arguement, it is easily Australia's most special luxury car, though the Chrysler by Chrysler got fairly close, but misses the cool hide away headlights !!
Aussie versions of the Big Three American automakers are so cool. I wish they’d sold them in the states. In so many cases, they are better looking than what we had.
Hi Todd. I know what you mean. Our cars are smaller in most cases and also need to be rugged due to the roads etc. i do though love the full size Anerican cars. They were something really special. Especially compared to the appliances on the road today. Thanks for your comments 👍
Young me adored the Landau, old me ADORES the Landau....they'd never justify the expense of a bespoke coupe like this nowadays MARK ! Those aircon controls were always the coolest (pun intended), thing in that cool interior. If I could have that car, the only change would be fitting a Phase 4 spec 351 to it !!
A car to truly lust after. My dad had a '73 Falcon 500 hardtop. Even with the 250 cubic inch six, we thought it was the real deal. But a Landau is on a whole different level of cool
My Grandfather had one from new, he was really careful with it, he was that old he wouldn't even make a left turn with it, he would go around the block instead. Epic car.
I saw an Aussie Ford Landau in Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior. It was the first car chase scene in the beginning of the movie. It was driven by the bad guys who were chasing after Max in his Falcon. The Landau was wearing a '57 Buick front bumper, and a '59 Pontiac rear bumper. It also had twin turbos on the bonnet (hood) and a skull on the front of it. Greetings from the U.S.
That's a great looking car. Now. I didn't think much of them when they were new. A friend bought the LTD as in the photo at 0.22 .... so nice but everyone bagged the crap out of him for buying it. I think he regretted it later. Now, of course I would love to have one. The dash is very similar to the XB - I had, my only Ford, a XB GS panel van with 351 T-bar auto and all the gear including 8 track. Nice and thirsty but when Holdens brought out the HZ with RTS I traded the XB on a Sandman.
In 1975 I was five years old and when I used to see the LTD hardtop are used to call them the spaceship course of the front panel used to lift up then the lights or shower and I thought as a kid it was amazing how we did that and now looking at these old cars how beautiful and amazing they were
Nice. It was at the steam museum in Victoria - off the southeastern freeway. . If you look on the channel you will see a white 59 Cadillac and that covers the show more generally.
The epitomy of 70's flair and excess... I also love the Landau - it's definitely one of my absolute favourite Australian Fords. I mean, the XD era Fairlane LTD just doesn't compare! Thanks for the vid and info. Aprreciated. Cheers
Thank you. Glad you liked it. It is one of my favourites too. There is a other quick grab of a Lime Frost Landau on the channel too if you haven’t already checked it out. Cheers Mark
@@markbehr88 Thanks Mark. I've just subscribed and have been checking out some of your videos. I love the Citroen GS (plural haha). I've always had a thing for Citroens. There's some really great content here, nice work. Cheers, Dan
@@danozism Thanks very much Dan. I try to have a little variety on the channel. Core US and Australian with some other interesting cars as well. Thanks for subscribing too 👍
Ford Australia were on a roll,really taking the game to GMH. The Landau sure was special, maybe even more so than Holden's Monaro LE,which was released a few years later. GT spec V8 and hidden lights very coooool...! Great car😁👍
@@leonardgilbreath9004 yes, that is correct. The 71 to 73 models received criticism as being too big but they looked great. The Falcon XB hardtop especially was influenced by that car, especially when you look at the front and rear bumpers.
I knew a guy in Bunbury in WA who bought two of them and kept them in pristine condition in his garage. I wonder if he still has them? A mate had a brown one at the same time, so that's 3 in that town that I knew of. They are SUPER rare now days. IMO the best luxury car made in Australia.
Thanks Gerard. I am sure that is a factory colour but can’t recall its name? The P5 LTD is my favourite Australian car and I can’t believe I don’t have one. The Landau would definitely be in my Top 5. Appreciate your comments as always.
A good point. Never thought it before, but the Landau is Oz Ford's personal luxury coupe. It's a shame that some of them, and LTD's too, might have been scrapped for their coveted drive train, by someone making a Falcon GT tribute/lookalike. Holden had the LE Monaro: the maroon one with the gold Pontiac honeycomb wheels. Was it as options - loaded, high a trim level as the Landau?
Agree. A shame for any of these to be wrecked. The LE to me wasn’t in the same league as there was a lot more differentiation in the Landau but the LE was certainly the most lavish Monaro.
Gorgeous car!! The P6 looks was on the "tacky" side I'd say oh well fashione changes and so does how we view things so maybe it will become more pleasant... As people we are crazy that way... ;)
Thanks Ivano. I must admit, I do like the P6 but I get what you are saying. It is quite ostentatious. The P5 is a fantastic looking car and my favourite Aussie car of all time.
I can imagine Ford getting negative feedback about the ZG & P5 looking too much like a regular XA (bar the headlight covers on the P5) like Holden copped flack for the VQ LWB models looking too much like a VN. The stylists seemed to go all out with the ZH & P6 - perhaps to avoid the commonality? The extra flamboyance on the ZH & P6 seemed to align quite nicely with polyester, flares, sideburns & disco of the era. I don’t mind the P6 being a bit ostentatious in its looks. It was unique at the time, and remains quite unique. It doesn’t get confused for any other car. That’s a rare feat.
The GT spec engine downgraded to a 4Bbl 2V T VIN Code engine, it wasn't the GT spec engine from 1970 to late 1973. No P4 Landau officially came out with GT specs 4v heads complianced from the factory. The 1385 cars never officially got the H code engine. Even the Four barrel 351 Cleveland wasn't found on P4 Landaus and P5 LTDs. Great example...My friend's 1973 P5 LTD is K code 351 2v 2bbl, just a single exhaust car with 250 HP, but a 260 HP dual exhaust was optional. A T code 351 2v 4bbl was also optional with twin pipes on some. T code on the P4 and P5s were generally 4bbl 2V engined cars, with 290 HP. All the H code 4V 4bbls were ex US M code so called 300 hp import engines, some remachined for the GTHO solid lifters and adjustable valve train. It's hard to be specific because the P4 cars were really born Falcon hardtops, and that car homologated Four wheel disc brakes, so it's possible an H code Hydraulic cam auto could have gotten through. Ford had to get rid of a lot of parts prior to October 1973.
I’ll quote the first series P4 Landau brochure, where it also states it is Australia’s most powerful engine. “The Ford LX 5.8 litre V8 engine is standard equipment for LTD and Landau models and develops 290 HP at 5000 revs. 9.4:1 compression ratio with a 4 barrel /automatic choke carburettor and dual exhaust system. Maximum torque is 380 lb ft at 3200 revs. I’ll have to check the later series that coincided with the XB but this was the first series and the car filmed. Cheers
Thanks Dean. Maybe they had a different spec for NZ. Not sure about that? I worked for GM in NZ for 3 years and I know there were sometimes some odd spec cars incl some destined for Singapore that were rerouted and sold there. Appreciate your comments. Cheers 👍
@@markbehr88 Yeah, the 130 Asian Spec HQs, 253 2bbl HQ Statesmans and the later HZ, WB 4.2 litre Statesman engines. And 4 cyl VN Commodores.Have a great day. I shared your video. 👍
Looks are a personal thing I suppose but the XA to XC Falcon Hardtops in my opinion didn't look anywhere near as good as their competition. The CH Chrysler, VH and VJ Valiant hardtops looked way better I think while the Charger was just sex on wheels. The HQ two door was, and still is, polarising in it's stunning looks. The XA Falcon hardtop was late to the party, big two door car sales were on the decline. The Valiant and Chrysler hardtops were not replaced with the changeover to the VK model and Holden got rid of their remaining body shells with a ridiculously priced LE coupe. Ford as everybody knows had to do the same thing so the Cobra was created. Only the Charger survived and lived on to 1978. The Landau sales figure are a bit of a joke, but at least they had a go.
Personal taste I guess. The Chrysler and Holden products were released in 1971, while the Ford was 1972. The large Chrysler hardtops did not fare well in the market and local Chrysler management knew this, however, the Americans wanted it. The Landau was at least based on the same Falcon coupe platform whereas Chrysler was fielding two hardtops - something they could not afford to do. The money would have been better spent on more meaningful sedan updates VH to VK. The Falcon hardtops were available up to 1978 also and had the update handling package as identified by the Ford oval on the grille.
Yes, I have read how David Brown and the Aussies tried to fight against the parent company regarding not only the Hardtop but the high waistline of the VH. David Brown had a very good knowledge about the Australian car market, and he knew the VH was a mistake. So to try and salvage something from the train wreck, he applied his own magic and created the Charger because he knew what he was doing and what people would buy. The VH Valiant had it's good points, great engines, enormous boot and depending on your personal view, pretty good looking. But then the HQ Holden arrived and everything else on the road suddenly looked prehistoric. Bill Bourke from Ford was also plugged in to what Aussies wanted and had many hits. Apparently the Landau was his idea. The story goes that he was absolutely convinced that Australia needed a Lincoln type two door luxury coupe. He would have seen that the sales of VF and VG Valiant Hardtops were pretty good, but he must also have seen how the VH Valiant and CH Chrysler Hardtops were struggling to get sales? Oh well, you can't get it right always I guess. Holden found that there two door cars were losing favour as well. The HQ LS was a good try but the party was nearly over. Damn shame, those HQ coupes were drop dead gorgeous. Only the Charger was successful and sold in sufficient numbers. It even lived on to 1978. David Brown was on the money.
@@area51isreal71 Excellent comments. I agree with all of your points. You nailed it. I think Bill Bourke just wanted that Landau for himself as he missed his Thunderbirds and Lincolns. I for one are glad he did it but it didn’t make sense $ wise.
I used to own a 1973 Landau same interior with white exterior. I sold it for $13 000 when my wife became pregnant. I shall be the devil's advocate here. Very good looking and stylish car but with many problems. Poor acceleration, awful turning circle, and many many breakdowns. I used to refer to it as the FORM Landau because it required maintenance monthly. It put me off of Fords for good.
Hi. I think these were much more heavily influenced by the US Torino which Jack Telnack worked on too. I don’t see the fuselage look in these but maybe others do?
ive always thought the xa shape falcons looked a bit like the chrysler fuselage cars too. very clean and rounded sides, very high beltline with a low roofline, a very low and wide stance, huge front and rear quarters and overall a fairly minimal and clean look compared to us fords which usually had a lot of chrome pieces and creases running along the body with a slightly slimmer and more athletic look more like gm cars compared to the heavy (but awesome) looking chryslers of the era
I used to own a 1973 Landau same interior with white exterior. I sold it for $13 000 when my wife became pregnant. I shall be the devil's advocate here. Very good looking and stylish car but with many problems. Poor acceleration, awful turning circle, and many many breakdowns. I used to refer to it as the FORM Landau because it required maintenance monthly. It put me off of Fords for good.
@@markbehr88 It's all good mate! At least I can say in my life that I have owned 2 Chargers and 2 hardtops (Landau and XC Fairmont update). I feel pity for younger men who will never be able to buy a White Knight Charger for $1000. Cars just looked better back then.
I hope you enjoy this video on this very cool Ford Landau. One of my favourite Australian cars. Please enjoy and give the Landau a Thumbs Up 👍. What do you think of the Ford Landau?
Rare, expensive and oh-so-cool these days but I remember them being ridiculed when I was in high school in the 1970s! That is a beautiful example of this unique Aussie-made prestige car. The Landau also played a pivotal role in Ford being able to run four-wheel disc brakes on the winning XA Falcon GT hardtops at Bathurst in 1973, because it was approved by governing body CAMS as a “Falcon Hardtop variant”. So, as John Goss would say, there’s a little bit of Bathurst in every Ford Landau.
Thanks Mark. That’s great info re the Bathurst XA GT homologation.
That would have to be the most tidy Landau I have seen. Definetely in the category of "Best you will see" ... Absolutely stunning. These would have to be the most exciting luxury - performance based - vehicles ever built in Australia. Obviously based off the Ford Torino in the United States, but the Australian design influence reflected an outstanding job on these, I am sure you will agree. One of the nicest Australian cars ever produced in my opinion. I was a proud owner of the P6, 1977 LTD Silver Monarch - exactly as pictured here in Mark's video. Those slide controls in console followed through into the Monarch, they were vacuum operated for the air conditioning positions. The P6 was different again, based off the Lincoln. This is a Fantastic car Mark - thank you for showing us. Fletch.
Thanks very much Fletch. They were certainly tremendous cars with unique styling and wonderful performance.
My uncle has one of those.
He’s had it since new. It’s a reddish colour with cream vinyl roof. And cream interior. Only got 57,000 on the clock. After his divorce. He brought a Mazda RX4. Coup. And kept Landau
He only drove the Landu on small drives. Like paper shops. The biggest trip. It’s done was on back of a private towing company truck to Coffs Harbour. It sits in his garage double sheeted sheet inside the car and on the outside. He won’t sell it. Regardless of how much money is offered.
Nice to know there is another mint one out there. Thanks for sharing.
those concealed headlights were (and are!) just amazing - a highly spec car and what a combination of luxury and a coupe, usually reserved for sports and performance - never knew about the Cougar steering wheel centre-piece and had not really noticed the wheel caps such as featured. That angled dash across the Falcons really created a drivers cockpit and also the air vent sliding knobs add period and international bling. If only a barn find awaited me.
I agree Rohan. A barn find one of these really would be a dream
That's how they managed to design them on a limited budget. They were always raiding the international ford parts bin.... The XD door handles that broke all the time were ford of Europe derived apparently
Dear Mark, It is my VERY favorite car the P5 4 door, its got it all in my opinion. The looks, the power and refinement. Dad had one from new it was ridiculous for the time in 1976. It was a lighter metallic green, dark green roof and a light coloured leather interior. The concave dash and air con controls were useable without fumbling and taking your eyes of the road, amongst other refinements. The hubcaps pictured in your video have Thunderbird emboss in the metal on the inside but is covered with a colour coded centre cap. I know this because I saw it during a tyre change one day. After driving this car for years and then stepping into the later model for a drive I can assure you It did not handle as well as the P5. You can drive it with 1 finger and it was great around a corner, very tight indeed for a large car. And at 18 when I got my hands on it occasionally, I certainly put it through its paces. Very hard in brisbane to get it to 3rd gear the roads weren't long enough back then, I managed a safe 160 in second gear. It gave absolutely no mechanical or trim issues until 160,00klm, and then that was just a kit through the carburettor. If I EVER come into money...oh boy yes please Ill have 2. One for me and One for spares. Thanks for the revival of wonderful memories of these cars Mark.
Thanks Jamie. I agree 100% with you. My favourite Aussie car ever.!
Best looking 70s Ford
@@davidstaines5440 Yes. 👍
In full agreement with you Mark. Back in 95 a mate had the 74 P5 LTD with the same hubcaps, bloke still has it to this day. What a great example of what is arguably one of this country's most prestigious cars.👍
Thanks Adam. We are in complete agreement 👍
No arguement, it is easily Australia's most special luxury car, though the Chrysler by Chrysler got fairly close, but misses the cool hide away headlights !!
Aussie versions of the Big Three American automakers are so cool. I wish they’d sold them in the states. In so many cases, they are better looking than what we had.
Hi Todd. I know what you mean. Our cars are smaller in most cases and also need to be rugged due to the roads etc. i do though love the full size Anerican cars. They were something really special. Especially compared to the appliances on the road today. Thanks for your comments 👍
@@markbehr88 this Ford Landau is just gorgeous! I would love to have one! Love your channel!
Thanks so much Todd. Much appreciated.
They are not only better looking - they are also more solid and better built (allegedly).
Had a p5 always lusted after a landau though, personally the Australian landau and p5 were the classiest Aussie fords ever made
I have to agree with you there.
Young me adored the Landau, old me ADORES the Landau....they'd never justify the expense of a bespoke coupe like this nowadays MARK ! Those aircon controls were always the coolest (pun intended), thing in that cool interior. If I could have that car, the only change would be fitting a Phase 4 spec 351 to it !!
@@arkhsm Agree. They are one of my favourite Australian cars. Very cool. 👍
A car to truly lust after. My dad had a '73 Falcon 500 hardtop. Even with the 250 cubic inch six, we thought it was the real deal. But a Landau is on a whole different level of cool
@@robbiemontgomery3441 Yes. For sure. 👍
beautiful
Thanks Elmonte. You can check out the other videos on the channel including another Landau one if you like.
Very sexy old car , i cannot think of another Aussie car that comes close to this one for pure coolness.
@@mikldude9376 Agree. This and the 4 door. 👍
My Grandfather had one from new, he was really careful with it, he was that old he wouldn't even make a left turn with it, he would go around the block instead. Epic car.
Wow Alex. I bet you wish you still had it.
@@markbehr88 my cousin inherited it when he died. I haven't seen it since, but I know he still has it.
Glad it’s still in the family. What colour was it? I have another Landau video on the channel too.
@@markbehr88 It was a Maroon colour, and had the same hubcaps as the one in your video, so I guess it was an early one.
Nice. That’s one of the best colours. Thanks for sharing.
Classy and sexy! It’s a shame we couldn’t have these in the US.
@@Mr70stagetwo Yes, they were very cool cars although you guys had plenty of cool cars too, especially in the 1960’s. 👍
I saw an Aussie Ford Landau in Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior. It was the first car chase scene in the beginning of the movie. It was driven by the bad guys who were chasing after Max in his Falcon. The Landau was wearing a '57 Buick front bumper, and a '59 Pontiac rear bumper. It also had twin turbos on the bonnet (hood) and a skull on the front of it. Greetings from the U.S.
Hi Marcus. I remember that in Mad Max and thinking - what a waste of a rare Landau. I guess they weren’t worth much then? Now, over $80,000.
Yes... Yes you did.... Originally they wanted Max to drive a mustang but the chief mechani pointed out they would be impossible to get parts for ...
@danieltynan5301 Are you serious? A Mustang? It has to be the right-handed drive version.
Your Landau looks like a fastback version of our LTD ..... Cool car !!
Yes, that is what it is pretty much. 👍
I had one with yellow glow with white vinyl roof and black interior. Wish I still had it.
I knew someone who had that exact same colour Landau in Sydney in the 1980’s Could have been the same car. 👍
Very enjoyable overview mark. A work colleague told me that he had one of these many years ago and loved it.
Always a thumbs up for your productions 👍
Thanks very much. I love these too and wish I had one plus the sedan. 👍
Along with the CxC Hardtop these were one of my favourites too. Only ever seen one or two of them in NZ in the flesh.
@@waterbourne9282 Yes. Both terrific cars. 👍
That's a great looking car. Now. I didn't think much of them when they were new. A friend bought the LTD as in the photo at 0.22 .... so nice but everyone bagged the crap out of him for buying it. I think he regretted it later. Now, of course I would love to have one.
The dash is very similar to the XB - I had, my only Ford, a XB GS panel van with 351 T-bar auto and all the gear including 8 track. Nice and thirsty but when Holdens brought out the HZ with RTS I traded the XB on a Sandman.
Thanks Dave
Yes, they weren’t appreciated at the time. Your XB 351 panel van would be fantastic today.
So, you traded down on power, but up in handling effectively !!
The classiest Australian car of all time in my opinion
Yes. That and the P5 Ford LTD 👍
Excellent
Thanks Joe. Much appreciated. Check out the other short Landau video on the channel too.
@@markbehr88 ok
Have you done the Chrysler by Chrysler hardtop?
Or the Monaro LS HQ/HJ & HX LE coupe?
Not yet but they are terrific suggestions. 👍
In 1975 I was five years old and when I used to see the LTD hardtop are used to call them the spaceship course of the front panel used to lift up then the lights or shower and I thought as a kid it was amazing how we did that and now looking at these old cars how beautiful and amazing they were
They were something special weren’t they. 👍
Lovely car. Green ivy. Where was this show.
I have a 74 Landau. Copper bronze. It’s a bit of Thunderbird slash Lincoln ❤
Nice. It was at the steam museum in Victoria - off the southeastern freeway. . If you look on the channel you will see a white 59 Cadillac and that covers the show more generally.
Something very interesting about the P4 Landau and the P5 LTD was the Horn was in the rubber ring that ran around the inside of the steering wheel lol
Yes, that was the American “rim blow” horn. I have it a so e of my Lincolns 👍
The epitomy of 70's flair and excess... I also love the Landau - it's definitely one of my absolute favourite Australian Fords. I mean, the XD era Fairlane LTD just doesn't compare! Thanks for the vid and info. Aprreciated. Cheers
Thank you. Glad you liked it. It is one of my favourites too. There is a other quick grab of a Lime Frost Landau on the channel too if you haven’t already checked it out. Cheers Mark
@@markbehr88 Thanks Mark. I've just subscribed and have been checking out some of your videos. I love the Citroen GS (plural haha). I've always had a thing for Citroens. There's some really great content here, nice work. Cheers, Dan
@@danozism Thanks very much Dan. I try to have a little variety on the channel. Core US and Australian with some other interesting cars as well. Thanks for subscribing too 👍
I passed on a black 351 with wide hot wires back in 90 and bought my XY instead, 10k the yard wanted.
@@StevenMilne-sm4fk Probably dear then but cheap now. 🤔
@ aw yea, it’s 150k car all day long now 😉
@ Yep.
Ford Australia were on a roll,really taking the game to GMH.
The Landau sure was special, maybe even more so than Holden's Monaro LE,which was released a few years later.
GT spec V8 and hidden lights very coooool...!
Great car😁👍
Yes. I agree. 👍
Great lookin ride !!
Agree. Thanks for the comments.
Answer me one question why do Australian get such awesome looking fords down under and we can only wish ford would build them here in the US
You had some nice ones too. I wouldn’t mind a 69 Mustang Mach 1 428 Cobra Jet 😀👍
The 69 was a great mustang but in my book the 71 Boss 351 and the 429&460 RAM AIRS was over looked one's.
@@leonardgilbreath9004 yes, that is correct. The 71 to 73 models received criticism as being too big but they looked great. The Falcon XB hardtop especially was influenced by that car, especially when you look at the front and rear bumpers.
I knew a guy in Bunbury in WA who bought two of them and kept them in pristine condition in his garage.
I wonder if he still has them? A mate had a brown one at the same time, so that's 3 in that town that I knew of.
They are SUPER rare now days. IMO the best luxury car made in Australia.
@@bossdog1480 Be worth finding out if they are still around. 👍
Seems as though many of the high performance Aussie offerings of the 70’s were 4 doors.
Am I correct ?
Hi there. Yes a lot of the early Falcon GTs were sedans only but from XA onwards you could also get a coupe.
Nice car is that a factory colour? Love the gold 4 door .,would say that’s one of my favourite cars
Thanks Gerard. I am sure that is a factory colour but can’t recall its name? The P5 LTD is my favourite Australian car and I can’t believe I don’t have one. The Landau would definitely be in my Top 5. Appreciate your comments as always.
A good point. Never thought it before, but the Landau is Oz Ford's personal luxury coupe. It's a shame that some of them, and LTD's too, might have been scrapped for their coveted drive train, by someone making a Falcon GT tribute/lookalike.
Holden had the LE Monaro: the maroon one with the gold Pontiac honeycomb wheels. Was it as options - loaded, high a trim level as the Landau?
Agree. A shame for any of these to be wrecked. The LE to me wasn’t in the same league as there was a lot more differentiation in the Landau but the LE was certainly the most lavish Monaro.
I wish the Ford LTD P6 had hidden headlamps.
It nearly did. They mocked up a version in the studio that did. It looked terrific. It is in the Shannons Design to Driveway book series.
@@markbehr88 Yes, I saw the photos. It looked like a Lincoln.
@@gustavoarguello5979 Yes or LTD Landau. I liked it better than the final one.
To me it’s the luxury version of the XA falcon best falcon ever made
Yes, that is what is it essentially. 👍
Gorgeous car!!
The P6 looks was on the "tacky" side I'd say oh well fashione changes and so does how we view things so maybe it will become more pleasant... As people we are crazy that way... ;)
Thanks Ivano. I must admit, I do like the P6 but I get what you are saying. It is quite ostentatious. The P5 is a fantastic looking car and my favourite Aussie car of all time.
I can imagine Ford getting negative feedback about the ZG & P5 looking too much like a regular XA (bar the headlight covers on the P5) like Holden copped flack for the VQ LWB models looking too much like a VN. The stylists seemed to go all out with the ZH & P6 - perhaps to avoid the commonality? The extra flamboyance on the ZH & P6 seemed to align quite nicely with polyester, flares, sideburns & disco of the era. I don’t mind the P6 being a bit ostentatious in its looks. It was unique at the time, and remains quite unique. It doesn’t get confused for any other car. That’s a rare feat.
@@commodorenut I agree with you 100%
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Thanks very much John.
Looks like a 1970 Mercury Cougar
It does a little. I am sure it was influenced by those designs and the head of Ford Australia design was American Jack Telnack.
The GT spec engine downgraded to a 4Bbl 2V T VIN Code engine, it wasn't the GT spec engine from 1970 to late 1973. No P4 Landau officially came out with GT specs 4v heads complianced from the factory. The 1385 cars never officially got the H code engine. Even the Four barrel 351 Cleveland wasn't found on P4 Landaus and P5 LTDs. Great example...My friend's 1973 P5 LTD is K code 351 2v 2bbl, just a single exhaust car with 250 HP, but a 260 HP dual exhaust was optional. A T code 351 2v 4bbl was also optional with twin pipes on some. T code on the P4 and P5s were generally 4bbl 2V engined cars, with 290 HP. All the H code 4V 4bbls were ex US M code so called 300 hp import engines, some remachined for the GTHO solid lifters and adjustable valve train. It's hard to be specific because the P4 cars were really born Falcon hardtops, and that car homologated Four wheel disc brakes, so it's possible an H code Hydraulic cam auto could have gotten through. Ford had to get rid of a lot of parts prior to October 1973.
I’ll quote the first series P4 Landau brochure, where it also states it is Australia’s most powerful engine. “The Ford LX 5.8 litre V8 engine is standard equipment for LTD and Landau models and develops 290 HP at 5000 revs. 9.4:1 compression ratio with a 4 barrel /automatic choke carburettor and dual exhaust system. Maximum torque is 380 lb ft at 3200 revs. I’ll have to check the later series that coincided with the XB but this was the first series and the car filmed. Cheers
@@markbehr88 My friends factory P5 is 2bbl and single exhaust. It's a NZ delivered LTD. Love your info. It's a K code 351.
Thanks Dean. Maybe they had a different spec for NZ. Not sure about that? I worked for GM in NZ for 3 years and I know there were sometimes some odd spec cars incl some destined for Singapore that were rerouted and sold there. Appreciate your comments. Cheers 👍
@@markbehr88 Yeah, the 130 Asian Spec HQs, 253 2bbl HQ Statesmans and the later HZ, WB 4.2 litre Statesman engines. And 4 cyl VN Commodores.Have a great day. I shared your video. 👍
@@deanstevenson6527 Thanks. I remember those Commodores. Ebbetts bought almost all of them.
Good-looking Ford cars but I don't want that steering wheel on the wrong side 🤠
That’s the only way they come I’m afraid 😀
Looks are a personal thing I suppose but the XA to XC Falcon Hardtops in my opinion didn't look anywhere near as good as their competition. The CH Chrysler, VH and VJ Valiant hardtops looked way better I think while the Charger was just sex on wheels. The HQ two door was, and still is, polarising in it's stunning looks. The XA Falcon hardtop was late to the party, big two door car sales were on the decline. The Valiant and Chrysler hardtops were not replaced with the changeover to the VK model and Holden got rid of their remaining body shells with a ridiculously priced LE coupe. Ford as everybody knows had to do the same thing so the Cobra was created. Only the Charger survived and lived on to 1978. The Landau sales figure are a bit of a joke, but at least they had a go.
Personal taste I guess. The Chrysler and Holden products were released in 1971, while the Ford was 1972. The large Chrysler hardtops did not fare well in the market and local Chrysler management knew this, however, the Americans wanted it. The Landau was at least based on the same Falcon coupe platform whereas Chrysler was fielding two hardtops - something they could not afford to do. The money would have been better spent on more meaningful sedan updates VH to VK. The Falcon hardtops were available up to 1978 also and had the update handling package as identified by the Ford oval on the grille.
Yes, I have read how David Brown and the Aussies tried to fight against the parent company regarding not only the Hardtop but the high waistline of the VH. David Brown had a very good knowledge about the Australian car market, and he knew the VH was a mistake. So to try and salvage something from the train wreck, he applied his own magic and created the Charger because he knew what he was doing and what people would buy. The VH Valiant had it's good points, great engines, enormous boot and depending on your personal view, pretty good looking. But then the HQ Holden arrived and everything else on the road suddenly looked prehistoric. Bill Bourke from Ford was also plugged in to what Aussies wanted and had many hits. Apparently the Landau was his idea. The story goes that he was absolutely convinced that Australia needed a Lincoln type two door luxury coupe. He would have seen that the sales of VF and VG Valiant Hardtops were pretty good, but he must also have seen how the VH Valiant and CH Chrysler Hardtops were struggling to get sales? Oh well, you can't get it right always I guess. Holden found that there two door cars were losing favour as well. The HQ LS was a good try but the party was nearly over. Damn shame, those HQ coupes were drop dead gorgeous. Only the Charger was successful and sold in sufficient numbers. It even lived on to 1978. David Brown was on the money.
@@area51isreal71 Excellent comments. I agree with all of your points. You nailed it. I think Bill Bourke just wanted that Landau for himself as he missed his Thunderbirds and Lincolns. I for one are glad he did it but it didn’t make sense $ wise.
I used to own a 1973 Landau same interior with white exterior. I sold it for $13 000 when my wife became pregnant. I shall be the devil's advocate here. Very good looking and stylish car but with many problems. Poor acceleration, awful turning circle, and many many breakdowns. I used to refer to it as the FORM Landau because it required maintenance monthly. It put me off of Fords for good.
Those look like Chrysler cars. Who copied who?
Hi. I think these were much more heavily influenced by the US Torino which Jack Telnack worked on too. I don’t see the fuselage look in these but maybe others do?
ive always thought the xa shape falcons looked a bit like the chrysler fuselage cars too. very clean and rounded sides, very high beltline with a low roofline, a very low and wide stance, huge front and rear quarters and overall a fairly minimal and clean look compared to us fords which usually had a lot of chrome pieces and creases running along the body with a slightly slimmer and more athletic look more like gm cars compared to the heavy (but awesome) looking chryslers of the era
Yes. I can definitely see what you mean.
Well, 1970's T-Bird wasn't the best exaple to follow - way too big, miserable engine output and not that roomy inside. And its luxury was fake.
I don’t think it followed the 1970’s T Bird per se. More the theme of it from the 1960’s. 👍
I used to own a 1973 Landau same interior with white exterior. I sold it for $13 000 when my wife became pregnant. I shall be the devil's advocate here. Very good looking and stylish car but with many problems. Poor acceleration, awful turning circle, and many many breakdowns. I used to refer to it as the FORM Landau because it required maintenance monthly. It put me off of Fords for good.
@@arnbo88 That’s a shame. They are such terrific looking cars. 🤔👍
@@markbehr88 It's all good mate! At least I can say in my life that I have owned 2 Chargers and 2 hardtops (Landau and XC Fairmont update). I feel pity for younger men who will never be able to buy a White Knight Charger for $1000. Cars just looked better back then.
@ Very true. 👍