Ford Falcon XR - Setting the Standard
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- Опубліковано 25 лип 2024
- Here is an episode on the Falcon XR. Be sure the check out the whole series of Falcon episodes. The XR was a game changer. Please Like, Share, Comment and Subscribe. 👍
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So many good memories. I pity young people who will never know the pleasure.
@@xtxt9135 Agree. So glad we grew up with these. 👍
XR was a fabulous car and utterly outclassed the contemporary Holdens and Valiants. Also out-styled both.
Yes. Agreed. Closely followed by the Valiant. 👍
Hi Everyone. Here is the 5th episode in my Falcon series. Please enjoy.
Skippy no in one episode had to drive the ford station with the injured ranger to hospital im not sure if that episode was aired
@@Eric-kn4yn Really? That is one Super Roo! 👍
Hi Mark. Thanks for the video on the XR. My first memories of my dads car was an Marrone XR Fairmont, 289. V8. I have a great picture of our whole family standing around that car. :-)
Thanks Andrew. Very cool. You should show a picture of that on your channel. For everyone please, please subscribe to Andrew’s channel too. It is excellent.
🤣😂 thanks Mark appreciate that. It is literally as exciting as watching paint dry thanks for the shout out. :-)
Ha hah. I really enjoy it. Appreciate your comments here too 👍@@DonsTrix
I'm in the US. In Feb 1967 my dad special ordered and received a 4 dr Falcon Futura tutone (white top, brittany blue bottom) it has a 200 six, 3 speed on the steering column and factory air. The Futura was the most deluxe model in the US with vinyl seats and lots of trim. I still own the car, but it doesn't run right now, and has just over 300K miles on it. It shares all of the front suspension parts with the 1970 Mustang I own, same control arms, steering linkage, etc. It is a beautiful body style.
Wow Charles. Love that story. Thanks for sharing. Glad you liked the video. Cheers Mark
I remember these as a car mad kid. I was allowed to stay up and watch Homicide, in a Holden family Homicide exposed me to Falcon's. Dad's HD Holden wagon suddenly looked prehistoric.
Yes, thanks. Interesting perspective from a kid at the time re how modern the Falcon was. I remember thinking the same of the VE Valiant compared to our XL wagon.
Thanks Mark, great video. My dad bought a new XM I think in '63 and we were all proud as punch. He bought the pursuit model and we were always first away at the lights, with me the youngest standing on the rear bench seat leaning on the front bench between mum and dad up front... I remember fondly watching in awe the first Falcon GT winning the Bathurst 500 on our b&w TV. I'd never seen a car race before and was addicted!
Thanks Chris. Great memories hey? 👍👍
These were revolutionary and must have given Holden anxiety.
Amazed the HR-saurus outsold these much more substantial looking bodies. The best looking offering out of the three.
Yes, this was a game changing car for the whole industry. 👍👍
My first car was the XR, had it for 14 years and sold it for box of beer, been mistreated though.
We didn’t know what we had did we? At least I hope the beer was good? 😀👍
A special car at a special time. This was the start of the "Big Three" era that so dominated Australian motoring for some time.
"Mustang bred Falcon" always gives me a chuckle, as the original Mustang was based on the (American) Falcon platform. So it should really have been "Falcon bred, Mustang bred Falcon"!! 🙂
The GT had one of the most ornate hubcaps ever. All that trouble just to make the car look like it didn't actually have hubcaps!
Yes, the wagon in Skippy had a huge influence on our family. In 1968 Dad came home with a Falcon brochure, ready to replace our HD wagon. I was so excited that we were going to get a wagon the same as on Skippy. I was gutted when Dad told us that wasn't happening. Instead we were going to be getting a ZB Fairlane. (My disappointment soon disappeared!!!)
Great observations and recollections. I would have been happy with the ZB too (As long as it was a V8).
@@markbehr88 -- I certainly wasn't the Fairlane Custom!! 😁
@@couttsy222 That’s good for you 👍😀
Saw one at servo the other day. Tunnel rammed 351. Sounded great.
Nice one 👍
My favourite model of all time.
Definitely one of the best with the 289 V8. 👍
@@markbehr88 Many years ago I had a 1971 XY Falcon Ute with a 289. Good hard working/revving motor. Am enjoying your content mate.
@@Fletch9RQR very cool. Thanks very much. 👍
My favourite Falcon
Great model in dark blue or burgundy with a 289 V8. 👍👍
A great looking car the XR , and they came in some really nice colours too ,particularly the mettalic maroon , and that Fred Gibson car at Bathurst looked great in Ivy Green .Speaking of Skippy , I remember In 1971 Mum and my grandmother took me downtown in Auckland, and we waited patiently in a long line of people to get "Sonny's " autograph.. That seems like about 150 years ago. 🙂
Yes. I liked the Maroon, Dark Blue and the dark green. We lived about half an hour from Skippy Park. The Ranger headquarters are still there. Pretty cool.
I think the National Film and Sound Archive NFSA has film on how to drive a car using an XR Falcon I guess loaned by Ford Australia. Although way out of date now it gives a glimpse into the past at the vehicles we Aussies drove.
I’ve seen that film. A nice period slice of life 👍
My dad had a 289 Fairmont, midnight blue with light blue upholstery. Apart from being a great car, I rcall how blown away friends and relatives were, especially those who were trying to be pro-Holden!
That would have been such a great car. Landmark vehicle for the Australian car industry. 👍
My Favourite of all the Falcons.
Thanks Darren. I can see why.
My second car was an XR Falcon with a 200 motor 3 speed column manual gearbox bench seats, with rust in usual places , being an apprentice panel beater I bought new panels , to repair them the rust, and repainted it, then I placed a 250 cubic inch with a 4 speed top loader gearbox with a 2.92 ratio differential and put extractors with twin exhaust, it performed really well, only one problem because I changed the gearing the car was travelling faster than what the speedometer was indicating it was out by 10 miles per hour, I got caught speeding without realising it. This was in 1977.
Thanks Pat. Would have been a nice car for sure. 👍
Probably the nicest looking out of all the Falcon models.
Underpowered in the sixes due its massive weight
Agree. Very good looking car. Needed the 289 V8
I learned to drive in my parent's base model white XR sedan. It replaced a 4-year old gutless 2-spd auto Holden EJ Wagon that my mum learned to drive in once managing 3 kids on public transport became problematical. The XR had some go, but the hero family car in our working class suburban area was a Chrysler Valiant with the grunty slant six and push button auto. It's owners were both doctors, so they could afford it 🙂
Nice memories. I remember when Dad had his green XL Falcon wagon (see video of similar can on this channel) he brought home. White with red interior VE Valiant for the night. What a cool car that was!
Round tail lights were the nicest in my opinion on the xr-y falcons
I also liked XW. 👍
Had a XRGT back in the late 70's & did quite a few runs between Syd & Melb. Great hwy car & she'd purr along at 100 - 110 mph easily.
Speed limits then were more liberal - now they'd lock you up. Had a few GT's since but do miss the XR. Paid $7500 for it.
@@farnthboy Those were the days hey! 👍
One of my colleagues at the Truck Plant had an XR; it was a signficantly-better vehicle than my XP.
Yea. The XP was great but the XR was a leap ahead. 👍
Awesome videos Mark
Thank you very much. 👍
Great cars. I love these. I appreciate our Australian BIG THREE - However, I do believe that this era Falcon, at the time, was definitely the best road car to drive in Australia. I always loved the letters embossed on the alloy Falcon Key sets - FORD Family of Fine Cars - and that they were. Great video feature Mark 👍
Thanks Fletch. I remember those keys on my Dad’s XL wagon. I still have his very worn Ford crest keychain he had. Agree they were and are, great cars. Glad you enjoyed the episode.
Those were extremely similar to ours.
Mark, I much enjoy your inclusion of historic photos and ads.
🤠👍 🇺🇸
Thanks John. Glad you are enjoying the videos. I am in the USA at the moment so hopefully you’ll enjoy my USA Road Trip series. Appreciate your comments too 👍
I find your information very insightful view!
Yes I agree that the XR really set the standard for what an Australian car should be!
I am a child of the 90's and do remember watching Skippy in Italy and even it's 1990's remake! Sadly couldn't find a video of them being dubbed in Italian lol
Thanks Ivano. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Certainly a very important car in Australian automotive history and there was a lot to cover. It’s amazing how many people overseas remember watching Skippy. It would be very interesting to see it in Italian. 👍
My neighbor has a gold XR GT 289, it is awesome. The only mod is the 9inch LSD disc brake rear end. I used to have an old compact Fairlane many moons ago with a 289, great motor. I would love to see more videos on the early Valiants.
Nice cars. I’ll be doing all the Valiants too 👍👍
Talking about Skippy, there also featured in a couple of episodes a XR Ute with the round "Waratah Park" decals on the side !! Plenty of room in the back for Skippy.
I think I remember that? 👍
Probably the best looking series of Falcons, besides the legendary AU Falcons ofcourse ........
Ha. Of course! 😀
Thank you, Mark. My father went through most of these early models, though I was too wee until the XA.
I also appreciate the lorikeets - I'm far away.
Glad you enjoyed it. Love the user name btw 👍
Great Video Mark enjoy your detailed description on these iconic cars.
Thanks very much Costa 👍
Hi Mark, If Ford built a 4-door Mustang this is what it would be, you can see the Mustang lines in the body work ,a nice looking car. It's a shame we did not have them in Wales. I do like Australian car's ,it's the American styling with right hand drive that catches my eye. as always good video ,interesting facts on cars in Australia. Yes I use to watch Skippy when I was very young back in the early 1970's, Thank's take care
Thanks Shaun. Great comments. These Australian cars do blend the best of American designs with an Australian take, especially on rugged durability. 👍
@@markbehr88 Thank you Mark
Love the GT . Keep the videos coming
Thanks Gerard. Me too! Glad you liked it.
Nice clean well balanced shape to these cars. Thanks Mark.
Agree Michael 👍
Great video Mark, I'll be good to watch the whole series. Two small things however, AFAIK the V8 was not optional for utes & vans until the XT. Also the GT had 225 hp, not 235. Even the later XT GT (302) only had 230 hp.
Thanks. Glad you liked it. 👍👍
G’day Mark, mr “Shoulda coulda would’ve” here. I’ll start by saying great video mate! So, (I’ll keep it brief). When I was a 3rd year apprentice 1990ish my first opportunity (that slipped by) was the genuine article XR GT Falcon that a chippy in forrestfield over here had for sale, pretty much pristine condition, body was perfect (no exaggeration). She had 8” 12 slotters, great stance however the SGIO report had a string of real “minor” things. The old man insisted I get a report done on it first and once he had a nit pick through it talked me out of getting it because $9,900 at the time was a fair bit of coin. The fella did say to me that the original engine was is his shed and it was a 302! The last batch of GT’s had the XT GT 302 and was marketed and badged as the 289. Skip forward a fair bit and an Australian built or assembled 66 mustang fastback presented itself! 2nd owner daily driven 289 cruisomatitic in white😔... this weeks weeks special in Newcastle street wholesale! Week after week the price would drop as I observed in the auto trader! 21999, 20999, 19999, 18999,17999 ......no shit! Anyway I rang them up and explained I was working 6 days a week and wouldn’t be able to make it up there way the fella stated he lived virtually around the corner and could come around Saturday afternoon! She was a fairly decent car very straight no rust , GT interior (not pony) right hand drive! Fairly dusty under the hood and needing some TLC it would have gone for a heap more years! Turns out it did! Saw it at the Mustang muster.....the bloke picked it up for....wait for it😣 14G 😣😣😣😣😣
I’m actually starting to feel sick now
So
Not long after this I picked up my XY GT Ute replica😀
Fucking yay.....a happy ending to supposedly short story
Daily drove it for 4 years had it parked up for too many years and sold it a couple of years ago
Fuck I wish I never watched this video
Thanks again Mark...... I still fucking LOOOOOOOOOOOVE XR’s
Don’t get me started on the XY GT replica in Ford Tru Blu with Ridgey Didge HO running gear
Thanks Shane. I feel your pain. Glad you liked the video. I just did an XT one yesterday (started doing one for each model from XK). Yes, I hate that feeling of “the one that got away). I could have bought an XY GT for $13,995. But didn’t…. When I saw a 1970 Mercury Cyclone GT 429 I didn’t hesitate. I bought it. That was 20 years ago now. Thanks for watching and sharing 👍.
That xr in the burgundy metallic was my first falcon in 81 and I have owned most models from there
Have never owned earlier than the xr
Xf was my last new ford have had newer utes being fg as my last one currently have a ef in the shed as my project but it’s not going anywhere at any rate
Love the series 👍👍
Thanks David. I’ve had and have XL wagon and had a 4.9 XC Fairmont. Currently have two V8 AUs (episodes on the channel) and EF Fairmont V8 with only 87,000 kms. Just bought an EB Ghia V8 project. Glad you are enjoying the series 👍
My father owned a XR station waggon,three speed column shift and a 3.6 ltr motor.Its still parked up on the farm.XR's are great cars because they are so simple to fix.
Thanks John. Glad you enjoyed the episode. Will you restore the wagon one day?
The XR was never offered with the 3•6 engine.
@@Rob-fc9wg Really? It says 3.6 on the air cleaner.
@@johnkauppi7078
The 3•6 was introduced with the XT.
I had a 66 389 V8 Fairmont it was the white with black interior and it actually had the optional mustang Tbar auto .something holden and Chrysler didn't have in their. family cars at that time.
I never saw a T bar in an XR as normally the autos were only column shift. I wonder if it was a special build or retro fitted?
Thanks. Great video, but the XR GT 289 was 225hp, not 235.
Yes, you are 100% correct. I must have misspoke. 225 HP as the XT went to 230 HP ( per my next video in this series already on the channel). 👍
I always felt that Ford Australia cheaped out by not releasing the 2 door Falcon. Especially as a GT! I have in my garage (in Perth) a 27K mile original 1966 Falcon Futura Sports Coupe.
Apparently when they brought the show car (XT Coupe mock up based on the US 2 door) it was not as well received as they expected. You can watch it on my XT episode. 👍
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Can you please do a video on the FPV mate? No one has done it justice with a good video.
Hi Adrian. I definitely will as I was the Product Planning and Brand Marketing Manager for FPV. It is on the “to do” list. 👍
@@markbehr88 whoa! Talking to falcon royalty here. 🤯. What a legend mate. Thank you guys so much for giving us next generation ford blokes the GT dream. 👍🏻🙏🏻
@@aidansmith1354 Thanks very much. It was great while we still had a car industry 👍
The XR’s front suspension design and components lasted up until the XF-G.
I thought the Fords used SLAS front suspension from around EA?
@@markbehr88 Not FGX Mark. XF and XG Ute. Correct EA series used SLAS.
@@tba3900 Right. Got it. Yes that is correct. Must have been good hey? 😀
@@markbehr88 Do you remember the code name for each falcon series. I remember XD as Blackwood, teak for XE was , and XF was redwood. I know certain projects got code names and I remember the ED was originally Was going to be called the EC . Some part number unique to the ED are actually prefixed as EC. Tickford parts were prefixed with TVE which we all knew stood for Tickford Vehicle Engineering.
@@tba3900 I definitely remember Blackwood and when I was working on the Orion GT-HO product letter, I called that P5 ( you can read that in a recent Mark Oastler Muscle Car Australia mag story). When Gordon and I were working on the supercharged V8 program I named that project Asgard as that was the home of Thor.
I so miss Aussie built cars. I still drive an old one with zero porblems and I love it. The ridiculous delays on V6 Rangers/Everest (& other makes/nodels) would not exist if they were manufactured here. The RBA (Bernie Fraser in particular) and both sies of politics are responsible for the demise of Australian manufacturing, and should be ashamed. It is time Australian politicians realsied globalisation is a multi-natonal corporate scam.
I don’t disagree with you there! 👍
Except the mustang was developed from the falcon platform and not the other way around. Nice one Ford advertising 😅
That’s true but I think they were referring to the long hood, short deck exterior design. 👍
@@markbehr88 Referencing the engine perhaps .
Very good all round model, my mother still has her 66 Xr Fairmont 289 she bought new 22/12/66 in opal green,
Wow. That is terrific. A family heirloom. 👍
Geez, a lot of the American cars were sinfully ugly.
I am a big fan 👍
Compared to what?
Obviosly a euro fan boy
@@lukesm5747 I take it they are just baiting? Otherwise, I would say - “they should’ve gone to Spec-savers”.
@@lukesm5747 Compared to American classics. Go to Spec Savers on your way to English classes.