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Old 14-06-2012, 07:37 PM   #1
Road_Warrior
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Cool 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
A great article from Carsguide. Surprised no one picked it up:

http://www.carsguide.com.au/news-and...th_anniversary

Quote:
A milestone anniversary in the Australian motor industry was marked this year. March was the 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon; which Ford advertised as being "Born on the Wind"

But it was the quietest birthday party ever. It seemed there were no celebrations and to paraphrase Basil Fawlty at Ford HQ it was almost a case of "don't mention the Falcon".

The XA Falcon was a mammoth corporate success story. Up until 1972, all Falcons were localised American designs. The XA changed all that.

It was the first Falcon to be totally styled and engineered in Australia, and Falcons ever since have been all Aussie efforts-Australian skills, thought leadership and engineering savvy for 40+ years.

It is a heritage and a record that any company would to be proud to celebrate. Put simply, the XA Falcon is Ford's equivalent of the FX Holden. There was no mistaking the XA on the road. It looked so different to the HQ Holden and the VH Valiant.

The Holden appeared smaller, and lighter, than it really was. The Valiant mimicked Chrysler USA's bulked-up "fuselage" design language. The Falcon, on the other hand, had a lean , aggressive and hunkered down stance which made it look bigger than it was.

That was the XA's real appeal-a big car for big country. Inside, the XA was all about the driver. The cockpit style dashboard made sure that whoever sat behind the steering wheel felt that they were firmly in command.

The Falcon range was sold in sedan and wagon formats. The wagon was a monster of a car. Built on the longer Fairlane wheelbase of 2947mm (116 inches) it featured a two way tail gate and enough capacity to lug half a hardware store back home. And, of course, there was the legendary 5.7 litre V8 GT.

In September 1972, Ford released the two door hardtop version of the Falcon and GT and it was game-on in the sales race with Holden. The XA and subsequent XB and XC models helped propel Ford to become the number one car company in Australia. But all good things do not last.

The Falcon, like the Commodore, is slowly fading from the sales charts. For a car that was "Born on the Wind" it now seems the Falcon will soon be gone with the wind.
All hail the XA Falcon.

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Old 14-06-2012, 07:41 PM   #2
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
Yeap its my fav old school Falcon for sure. Just for history's sake I wouldnt mind a 2v I6 GS with a toploader!
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Old 14-06-2012, 09:10 PM   #3
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
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Originally Posted by Polyal
Yeap its my fav old school Falcon for sure. Just for history's sake I wouldnt mind a 2v I6 GS with a toploader!
Nice combo! In Deep Ivy would be perfect
Happy Birthday XA!!
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Old 14-06-2012, 09:14 PM   #4
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
hmmmmmm.. deep ivy.....
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Old 15-06-2012, 07:45 AM   #5
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
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Originally Posted by pottery beige
hmmmmmm.. deep ivy.....

image
Mr Potty - that looks more like Jewell Green to me
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Old 15-06-2012, 09:53 AM   #6
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
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Originally Posted by gcg2503
Mr Potty - that looks more like Jewell Green to me
bugger ive mixed up my greens.. greens are nice but not my specialty..
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Old 15-06-2012, 08:29 PM   #7
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
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Mr Potty - that looks more like Jewell Green to me
Does anyone have a pic of a Deep Ivy XA sedan?
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Old 14-06-2012, 09:35 PM   #8
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
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Nice combo! In Deep Ivy would be perfect
Happy Birthday XA!!
And I know where there is one for sale, pepper red with white interior in need of a full resto..conti roof and all...but wants $10k..Ive got another 70's car to finish first.
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Old 14-06-2012, 07:42 PM   #9
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
Happy anniversary big fella!
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Old 14-06-2012, 08:42 PM   #10
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
So by the time the last 2014 update Falcon rolls off the production line in 2016 44 years of a local platform will come to a close. That is a bloody good run.
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Old 14-06-2012, 09:04 PM   #11
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
happy birthday old bomb.. happy birthday old bomb..



happy birthday rusty old bomb...
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Old 14-06-2012, 09:20 PM   #12
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
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Originally Posted by pottery beige
happy birthday old bomb.. happy birthday old bomb..

image

happy birthday rusty old bomb...
so THAT's why they have the blackouts
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Old 14-06-2012, 09:24 PM   #13
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so THAT's why they have the blackouts
way i roll bro original rust rocks....
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Old 14-06-2012, 09:07 PM   #14
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
my first car was an xa... much to the shock of my parents lol
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Old 14-06-2012, 09:33 PM   #15
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
least you don't got all that steel slowing you down
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Old 14-06-2012, 09:33 PM   #16
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
LOL PB you have to leave the rot there!

Post the pics up guys, sure we have a"show us ya" thread but this baby deserves some love, first fully aussie Falcon FTW.

Also love the crazy colours, wild plum and lime glaze!



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Old 14-06-2012, 09:48 PM   #17
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
PB old streetmeet banger...





luckys sublime PB resto...





PB ftw....
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Old 14-06-2012, 09:36 PM   #18
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
One of the 'GREAT' Falcons
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Old 14-06-2012, 09:42 PM   #19
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
Happy bithday the mighty XA.. mine actually turn 40 next year tho.


Best looking falcon ever IMO
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Old 14-06-2012, 10:26 PM   #20
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
Best falcon ever produced, happy 40th.



I'll have to let the old girl out of the garage for a celebration drive on the weekend.
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Old 14-06-2012, 10:35 PM   #21
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
Never owned an XA, love the looks, love the Fairmont seats, and that magical chrome T Bar auto. 302 'Grampa' spec Fairmont Hardtop, yes please

Who knows, it's only 40 years old! Happy birthday XA
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Old 14-06-2012, 09:46 PM   #22
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
Only coming up to her 39th birthday.
Next year when she reaches the big 40 she will be surrounded by lots of coupes at Echuca.
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Old 14-06-2012, 09:51 PM   #23
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon


Waaaait a second...did they say legendary 5.7L..is this a case of it being 5.79999L or are they being typical 'tards? Or maybe a pedantic ford forum member?
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Old 16-06-2012, 10:12 AM   #24
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
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Originally Posted by Polyal
image

Waaaait a second...did they say legendary 5.7L..is this a case of it being 5.79999L or are they being typical 'tards? Or maybe a pedantic ford forum member?
Yeah I picked that up too. It's a 5.8L. But back in 72 it wouldn't have been called anything but a 351 Cleveland. A motor Australia took from America and made a legend out of, while America largely ignored it. Australia claimed the 351 Cleveland as it's own and we absolutely loved it. What an awesome engine the 351 Cleveland was. Raw brute power, and done right, they screamed when the loud pedal was opened up. I have many fond memories of my Cleveland. We went everywhere together. :(
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Old 14-06-2012, 09:53 PM   #25
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
Pink Bits thats also one of my Favs..alone with that ready mix orange coupe. Call me pimp but I love the continental roofs!
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Old 15-06-2012, 12:58 AM   #26
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
Beautiful cars, fellas! And what, no Phase IVs? ;)

Love the Basil Fawlty reference in the article.
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Old 15-06-2012, 03:18 AM   #27
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
My fave was always red pepper but since the Street Fords series of articles I'd love one in calypso green!
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Old 15-06-2012, 06:40 AM   #28
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pepper, white interior, sunroof.....
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Old 15-06-2012, 06:40 AM   #29
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pepper, white interior, sunroof.....
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Old 15-06-2012, 07:27 AM   #30
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Default Re: 40th anniversary of the XA Falcon
Nice one .. the XA has aged well IMHO.

As a matter of interest how many XA owners here are younger than their cars? probably a lot I'd think?

(One of my Javelin's and my Fury are '69 builds so they are the same age as me .. but the other Javelin is a '74 so it's only a young buck)
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