Whrre did you passion for Ford/insert brand here/ thing come from

[Falcon_Crazy]

Not sure where this post sits, but thought I would share where my love of Fords came from and as i am having a beer, thought it should be in the Pub.

Back in 1980, as a 5 year old, we were heading to a relo bash in western Sydney (We lived at French’s Forest).

Our family, which was Mum, Dad, me, two brothers (older) and Mums best mate who was like a second Mum got into the XD Fairmont, finished in Ice Blue. (4.1, Air Con, Now Pwr Steering, Choke!)

Dads previous cars had all been Chryslers (I was born in ’75 – we don’t talk about the prior years!).

I was sitting on Mums knees (Remember the good old days!) and opened the glove box. The owners manual had a picture of two XD Falcons on the back, one was red (I think the wagon) the other a GL in Ice Blue. I looked up at Mum and said “One day, I’m going to own a Falcon like that”. (wasn’t until 1995 I got my hand on my first XF – a 3.3 stock standard Falcon with 4spd manual but I loved it)

I don’t remember what Mum said, but I remember saying it.

A few years later, Dad upgraded to an XE. We went down to Pacific Ford at Brookvale, and test drove an XE S Pack. Dad wasn’t keen on the S Stripe down the side (I liked it but what 8 year olds don’t). Dad ended up getting a GL with a/c, electric aerial and power steering – something he had never had before. I remember when we traded in the XD (KOH-775), and picked up the XE (MEI-729), as Dad drove out of Pacific Ford, he almost took out a sign post, not used to the power steering!

The XD Fairmont had velour trim and it was a step back in the XE being a GL, but it never overheated like the XD did on long trips. Do we all remember the “Economy Gauge”?

In ’84 when the XF launched, Dad wasn’t due for a new company car until ’85, his company wanting to upgrade most XEs to XFs running ion ULP.

It was as a ten year old, Dad about to upgrade to an XF, I sent my first letter to “The manager of Ford”, asking what LTD stood for.

In a brief, but one of my first personally addressed letter, came from Adrian Ryan, Public Affairs manager for Ford Oz. He explained that LTD stood for ‘Lincoln Type Design”.

This was the first of many a letter, that I would hand write, eventually type when Dad got a word processor, to Adrian Ryan. I would ask questions, request brochures and every time, I would get a response and brochures in the mail. Dad and I often wonder how much they spent sending me, a young fella, nowhere near licence age, brochures.

After the EA launch, I was initially critical of the design (I was 13) saying it stepped away from the Aussie design of the XD-XF series. A letter from Adrian opened my eyes to the design of the EA, designed by Aussies with Australia in mind, and I started to question the bad reports in the paper (not quality related I may add).

Such was my change and understanding, I sent the “Designers of the EA Falcon” an award (was an A4 cardboard hand made award). Something probably only a 13 year old would do, but it was to thank them for designing the only Aussie built and designed car on our roads and encouraged them to not listen to the negatives in the paper.

Brian Rossi, long time designer at Ford, sent me a reply which included three personally signed, original A2 photos of the final clay model EA Falcon, approved in 1984. I treasure these today.

Not only did I receive this, I was invited to tour the design studios with Brian. What an experience, a 13 year old, getting to see inside the design studios in 1988. I met the designers of my beloved XF series and no doubt, looked, but in my youth, did not realise, what was early EF/El and maybe AU!

My parents used to hate my bedroom walls as they were covered in “Blue tacked” Falcon brochures. When I shared a room with my older brother, a surfer there was conflict!

When it was time to upgrade the XF (NWW-655) to an EA, all the hype at Dads work was the VN Dunnydoor. I did not let him test drive it (me 14 Dad 54) and I only found out 5 years ago, that when I went camping with a mate, he took one for a drive and spent the afternoon rubbishing it out so we were got a nice EA Spack!) – he never told me.

I can safely say that Ford is a part of my life, and Adrian Ryan’s reply to my simple letter, a letter scribbled by an 8 or 9 year old paved the way or me to remain loyal to Ford. It wasn’t just the car, it is the people ultimately behind it all that keep me a Fordie.

I sent a photo and thank you letter to Mr Jacques (Then head of Ford Worldwide) and all those who built my AU Ute (my first brand new car). I wanted them to realise how much I appreciated their efforts, be it in the design studio, the assembly of paint line. I got a latter back from Jacques and emails and letters back from Ford workers.

So my Fords have been – Ok Dads until
XD Fairmont 4.1 Carby, Ice Blue KOH-775
XE Falcon GL 4.1 Carby, Pwr Steer Air Con, Snow White MEI –729
XF Falcon GL 4.1 Cabry, Pwr Steer Air Con, Deep Blue NWW-655
EA Falcon S 3.9 Single Point Blue Ice PNL-488 (Note opposite colour of XD)
XF Fairmont Series II, 4.1 Carby, Stark White, OJU 475
EF Fairmont 4.0Ltr EFI The Dark Blue and it was private plates!
AU Falcon SR II 4.0Ltre in “if it isn’t silver I am not buying it” silver

My falcons

XF Falcon GL, 3.3 Carby stock standard as delivered to NSW RTA
XF Falcon 4.1 Ltre Carby, Pwr Steer
AU II Falcon XLS Ute, 2.5” Exhaust Cat back
BA RTV Ute, 2.5” Cat Back, SS CIA, Impco Injected Dual Fuel
Orion RTV………………

Take into account me asking who the man crying was after the stone incident at Bathurst, and the above, I’m sealed as a Fordie. A few years back, I was at the Ford Discovery centre, at reception, the lady took a phone call from an internal line. She spoke to an Adrian about something from the archives. I asked “Is that Adrian Ryan, previous head of Ford Public Affairs?” She said yes.

I got to speak to Adrian that day – remind him of that first letter, the many, many subsequent letters and how it secured me as a Fordie. I have nearly all the letters and brochures Adrian sent me and on a rainy day, I like to get them out and tell the stories of when I was sent them.

Anyway – that’s my Ford Story im 32 now, it started when I was a 5 year old – no way I’m changing now!

[hoich]

My passion from Ford start as my dad worked for Ford and recently retired after 37.5 years at Ford. From the age of 6 I was taken to motorsport events as my dad looked after tyres.

I have had 5 Fords which are:

1985 XF Falcon GL
1994 ED Fairmont
2003 BA XR8
2004 ZB Escape XLT V6
2001 AUII XR8 220kw

Hoich

[dave351cid]

g`day Falcon_crazy
great story. the letters that you sent as a kid and later probably made the day for those guys at ford.
i always wondered what LTD stood for but never would have thought to write to the company manager and ask :togo: .

[nommic]

Originally Posted by dave351cid

i always wondered what LTD stood for but never would have thought to write to the company manager and ask :togo: .

It's the sort of logic only a kid can come up with.... damn! :togo:

[dave351cid]

my ford afair is a inherited thing

my dad was a ford man from his first car , a Model A cut down into a ute, ford Blitz`s , string of ford trucks and cars with a detor into a couple of Fiat cars in the war years . the remains of his old `48 Delux is still sitting on my cousins farm.

some of my earliest memories are of our maroon `55 customline, can still remember the sound after nearly 40 years (i would have been about 3 year old then )

the first time i got to see a car race on tv was visiting my grandfathers place the day that moffat and bond finished 1-2 at bathurst.

my list of fords

#1 : XW sedan - 188cid +3 speed. white
#2 : XW 500 sedan - 221cid +3 speed, changed it to 250 + single rail 4 speed + 9" diff. brown / white roof .
#3 : `55 mainline ute, light blue . sold it before i got it regoed :
#4 : XC 500 rpo sedan - 351, 4 speed, 9'. yellow/black vinyl roof. spent about $20,000 on it then it was written off within 6 months by some unlicenced drug sucker : .
#5 : XW 500 sedan - car #2 , bought it back to drive while building car #4
#6 : XB ute - 302 auto . dark blue
#7 : XB coupe - 302 auto . brown. rebuilder, sold unfinished.
#8 : XB fairmont sedan - 302 , 4 speed. beige/ brown vinyl roof. still got this one after nearly 21 years, guess its a keeper , now has injected 351, toploader, 9" from XC #4.
#9 : XB 500 sedan - 250 collum auto work hack , green with darker green doors.
#10 : XD ute - 4.1 alloy head, collum auto, white, rusty.
#11 : XF nissan/ford ute - 4.1 , T-bar auto, white.
#12 : BA XLS ute - factory dedicated lpg 6. auto. acid rush gold.

[Billy351]

My dad worked for Leyland, and my first car was a Marina, LOL
I think the Ford thing started for me on about the first Sunday in October, 1977.

[Rock ape]

My passion started when i was 15 and i found a red XYGT in a Street Machine mag. I am now 30 and have had :

XA 500 V8
XYGT rep
EF XR8
EL GLi
ED XR8 Sprint
ELGT
T3 TS50
XYGT rep
and now BAGT2
Have loved them all.

[nommic]

Originally Posted by BAGT001

My passion started when i was 15 and i found a red XYGT in a Street Machine mag. I am now 30 and have had :

XA 500 V8
XYGT rep
EF XR8
EL GLi
ED XR8 Sprint
ELGT
T3 TS50
XYGT rep
and now BAGT2
Have loved them all.

How can one person be so lucky?

[LegionXC]

I saw Mad Max about 10 years ago (i'm 20 now) and thought 'I gotta get me one of THEM!'
First car was my mum's 1991 daihatsu charade. clean swapped it for an old XC. End of story.
- Legion

[Falc'man]

Falcon_Crazy, that was a very nice read thanks for that. Being the same age as yourself, I can relate to your love for the XD-XF.

Dads first Ford was a green (same as legend lime) ZD, nickname was purely "the V8" haha. My favourite till today.
Others he's owned were XA wagon 6 cyl,
XW Fairmont 302,
ZH Fairlane 351,
heaps of XC's,
one or two XF's.
He also owned one of those American LTD's (only seen that in a photo taken... before I was born). He never bought Holdens as he would feel embarrassed in one.

Then it was my bigger brothers influence. His first car was... an XT with an XW front end. That had very fat 5 slotters and was very lowered. A very mean looking car... pity it copped hail damage the day after he finished painting it.

My first Ford was a KC TX3. Then a V6 Capri (got rid of that after 2 weeks... in a head on collision) followed by the V8 extaxi (now owned by younger bro... I had to keep it in the family). Now... the Futura.

[Scott]

Originally Posted by Falcon_Crazy

Brian Rossi, long time designer at Ford, sent me a reply which included three personally signed, original A2 photos of the final clay model EA Falcon, approved in 1984.

Geez that seems early, I know it was only 3 years but thinking of a "real" EA floating around in 84 expands the brain a little!.

Good story there, almost makes me want to write a letter so I can grab a sneal peak at Orion.

We were a bit of everything family but the (Ford) list was:
1981 ZJ Fairlane;
1985 ZL Fairlane;
1989 EA Ghia;

My list is:
1977 XC Wagon;
1985 XF Pano;
1988 EA S Pack;
1992 EB Wagon;
1993 ED Classic;
1995 EF Ghia 5.0ltr
2000 AU Wagon
2001 AU Wagon
2001 AUII Pursuit
2003 BA XR6 NA
2003 BA GT-P;

Of my cars, the ones that stood out as great cars were the EB, EF, Pursuit & GT-P. Most passion was probably for the Pursuit. The car that turned me into a fanatic was:

[Powdered Toast Man]

Gotta say it's because I cant remember my dad owning anything else, I just grew up with them. An XB sedan when I was very young, then an XC wagon for my formative years to the XF sedan in my teens. Plus my brother got into doing them up in his late teens, early 20's. I guess I fell in love with the 70's X-series especially the coupes and that has translated on to the later models.

It's funny though because for as far back as I remember my dad actually worked for Holden, for like 20 years or so. He was a painter in the maintance department at the Dandenong factory, he had nothing to do with the cars themselves. When Toyota bought them out he worked for them until all production shifted to Altona, then he took a redundancy.
My mum started working for Holden about 15 years ago and still works at the parts warehouse which is all that remains in Dandenong. I have done 3 Christmas break stints there as a casual myself in the past.

With all that my dad still drives a Ford (Courier) and my mum hates Holdens and has owned Magnas for the past 10 years. Although she did have a Gemini as her first car followed by a JD Camira for about 5 years (she didn't get her license until she was in her late 30's).

Only 1 sibling likes Holdens over all other makes but he owns nothing but a motorbike and now hates cars. The brother who got into doing them up still does, he has an XR sedan in the works plus his Landau which he has owned for about 10 years now. His daily is an AUII wagon and his wife has a current model Focus Zetec. The third brother likes 4WDs (I think he still has an old Patrol) and is the black sheep in more ways than 1 lol.
I'm the youngest sibling.

As far as my cars go in order of ownership
XA Falcon coupe (302)
XC Falcon sedan (4.1 Litre)
EAII Falcon GL sedan (CPI)
XC GXL (302) project car that didn't work out
EFII Falcon GLi sedan (5.0 Litre)
BAII Falcon XT (5.4 Litre) - Still own
ZF Fairlane (302) another project that didn't work out lol.

[You Yangs]

Originally Posted by Falcon_Crazy

It was as a ten year old, Dad about to upgrade to an XF, I sent my first letter to “The manager of Ford”, asking what LTD stood for.

In a brief, but one of my first personally addressed letter, came from Adrian Ryan, Public Affairs manager for Ford Oz. He explained that LTD stood for ‘Lincoln Type Design”.

Great story Falcon Crazy,Whilst that may be the case in Oz, LTD actually means "Lincoln Thunderbird Division". I could probably write a story very similar to yours but I'm too lazy. Having said that my love of Fords came from my dad and his love of the 'A' Model and the Early V8's. He knew just about everything you could know about Fords and he always drummed into me that this is what LTD stood for and not "Limited" like most people assume.

[Jock260]

hey falcon_crazy, i guess it was dad that influenced me into cars, fords and holdens mainly, but i took to fords pretty quickly, as i always loved dad shiney 12 slotters on the XC Fairmont. I started to do the same thing when i was younger about 5 or 6 years ago, but got no replies, except from one bloke from the brisbane dealer called Tom Renault, who sent me a ford stubby cooler and an BA XR8 Ute Poster. I was ecstatic, but, so far the only car i have owned (owns) is my Xe S Pack, But dad has had a massive list of falcons.

XC Fairmont 302 T-bar Auto (i never new what dad was talking about when he said fords Power steering was scary until i got my XE, lol)
XF Fairmont Auto
EA GL Auto
EB GLI 5 Speed manual (still talks about it today, dads favourite car he has ever owned, but i cant quite remember it)
ED Futura Auto (Many memories in this old bugger)
EF Fairmont (I still see her gettin' flogged around clownsville, sadly it hasn't gone to the best owner)
EL Futura (loved it)
VT SS Manual ( i know they are commies, but they were both great cars)
VX SS Manual
VY SS S2 Manual (only had it for 6 months)
VX EXEC ( box, but still took a lot of abuse)
BA XT ( dad says if it were a manual, it would top the EB)
VZ EXEC (Plain box lol)

and now dad has another VY SS Series 2, Red this time and a manual.










..... oh yeh and a leyland P76

[popey]

My love of fords came from a good up-bringing by my dad,the 1st ford i remember him owning was an xa wagon,although my older brothers talk of mainlines,cortina's and xp's. My list starts with a xc 351 4v heads went like the clappers,an xt pulled the 221 in went a 351 4spd,2 xb sedans both v8,an xa coupe original 302 auto,painted in that beautiful magenta colour (and did i cop sh..t off my mates for owning a pink falc...) a te corty 250 stock,xd wagon 351 4spd,xc ute 351 4spd(running gear from xd wagon) el 4.0 gli,xf sedan efi,a very nice example of an xt sedan 351 wild violet paint gold gt stripe. The final 2 cars i still own are a 96 ef wagon lpg(which im having trouble with it idling very high a.t.m) and sorry 2 say but a 94 tarago toyota.... My dad died in 88 i often wonder if he would still have the pashion for the mighty blue oval if he could see the fords of today..... I still do my kids have been brought up in the same great Ford way i was....

[Pinkbits]

Originally Posted by popey

My love of fords came from a good up-bringing by my dad,an xa coupe original 302 auto,painted in that beautiful magenta colour (and did i cop sh..t off my mates for owning a pink falc...)

Wild plum mate, wild plum. A beautiful colour

[sleekism]

The good old Falcon has always been the trusted family car.

My dad had:

A 1968 Fairmont 302 Windsor 3 speed 3 on the tree
A 1984 Falcon GL 250ci
A 1984 Fairmont Ghia 250ci
2000 XR6 VCT

I started with a
1991 Ford Laser Ghia
Now I have 1999 fairmont GhiA vct

[sexr6tasy]

My love of fords came from watching so many idiots in commodores act like cockheads and telling me fords are crap and cant go fast so i thought well then ill buy one lets put it to the test. Also i didnt want to be labeled with all the bad names of holden. Now im just labeled with all the lesser name of ford lmao.

[FlipXW]

Originally Posted by sexr6tasy

My love of fords came from watching so many idiots in commodores act like cockheads and telling me fords are crap and cant go fast so i thought well then ill buy one lets put it to the test. Also i didnt want to be labeled with all the bad names of holden. Now im just labeled with all the lesser name of ford lmao.

hahaha thats quite good..

I'd say mine came from the old boy and the love for his previous cars,
XW 302 GS fairmont
XA 351 fairmont
XC 302 GS hardtop
XD 302 falcon
XF 4.1 falcon
ED XR8

And now we have started off a collection of oldies for the both of us with;
XY 351 fairmont
XB 250 fairmont

[big_pete]

for me my love of fords comes from my dad, i always remember driving in his XB sedan and thinking it was so cool because it had a sunroof.
he also had a bare XY shell in the backyard that i used to pretend to race sitting on a milk crate.....fun times!!

[Kenaz]

My first car was a EA GL. I loved it because it was my first car and never let me down
My second car was a VS Berlina. I didn't like it because the interior was pov and uncomfortable. It was also quite slow and boring. My Mum owns it now.
My Third car was a EL Ghia V8. Still can't think of a better car to just cruise in. Absolutely brilliant car for eating up kilometres on the highway.
My current car is a BA XR6 Turbo. I love it because it rips balls

[BZINGA]

It wasn't a hard choice being ford mad, the majority of dads cars were fords from xm,xp coupes, xt fairmonts, xt gt. Dad's mates & his brother were all car nuts. A film called ' Running On Empty ' was pretty cool . My fords ive owned -:

xy falcon gt mock ultra white
xw falcon 302c diamond white
xy fairmont 6cyl ultra white
xb gs 351c mulberry
xw falcon 351c white
xw fairmont 302w polar white
xe ghia 6cyl stark white
eb xr8 (manual) pearl black
xf ute red
xr fairmont 289w polar white
ef futura 6cyl dynamic white
xb interceptor 351c grey
xw fairmont 302w polar white ( FAIRXW )
xf panel van white
xf falcon yellow
xf ute red ( yes another 1 )
xf ute white
eb xr8 ( auto ) custom purple pearl
nc fairlane ghia 6cyl peac0ck green
67 mustang 351w, 347w, 302w red - currently have
xh ute 6cyl dynamic white - currently have

yes i don't mind white

Also owned 5 holdens : , a corolla, corona & a 180B.

[Airmon]

Easy,
XF
EF
AUII
BA.
Despite being in a family of Holden Fanatics, we've always run a Falcon. Dad has a short stint in a VN Wagon for work, but out of the 3 he had 2 of them got written off in accidents.
Mum still has the EF, bought brand new, it has close to 250,000kms, and still runs perfectly, No major issues so far! Brother has a VT S, that seems to be constantly off the road due to some stupid issue.
Dads AU still runs strong with no problems and so far the BA has been a dream, no issues.
So all in all, Ford have been pretty good to me over the years, and unlike Holden, havn't done anything to make me want to not own one.
When the BA came out I drueled over it, and still have the BA GT and BA XR8 Posters on my wall, I still find it hard to get over the fact I now own one.
Parents also went for a VY Monaro and Clubsport and both cars left alot to be desired.

[blackwood]

I was brought home from the hospital in a '77 XC Falcon 500 an really it all started from
there.
The old XC (well, it was only 9 years old at the time lol) was steel blue with a white
vinyl roof, Light beige trim (not too sure on this detail), 4.9L (302, duh!) and T-bar
auto.
Dad modified it with a dual exhaust (even went and got a dual exhaust bumper BRAND
NEW from the local Ford dealer) and some Globes.
It was an Ex-fleet car for AmEx and it had the secondaries blocked off. This was promply fixed.
That car was written off by some idiot and his dodgey truck. Engine still started afterwards.

After this came a ZJ then a ZL Fairlane.
The current family car is an AU Fairlane Ghia V8. Dropped on EL GT wheels.

Other Fords we've owned are;

- XA Falcon GT Sedan, Yellow Blaze.
- ZG Fairlane 500, Wild Mulberry with White vinyl. 302.
- '52 Customline, converted to 351w
- '77 F100 Custom XLT SWB 2x4 with mystery spec 351 Clevo
- '66 Galaxie (for about a week. was an Ex-Variety Club Bash car, it was rooted)
- XF Panelvan
- So many others I've forgotten...

My first car was a '61 XK Falcon Deluxe Fordomatic.
I then had an '89 Laser Ghia and I am currently with the darkside (Very Nasty Commo)

[merlin]

Its gotta be a childhood thing for most people surely? I remember growing up my dad was a Ford man (despite never even owning a Ford), he just used to make occasional comments like "son ever noticed how all the cars broken down on the side of the road are Commodores?" Guess it just sticks in your pschyce somewhere.

Oh and my first car was a Ford Escort which I got for $200 when I was 14. Of course couldn't drive it till 16 so it sat in the garage until one day my 22 year old brother came home from the army and traded it for a wheelie bin for his house. I was not pleased.

[XRated]

It seems most people's love for Ford came from their old-man.

I didn't have such luck. I'm 23 now and about the most I can remember is always liking the look of EB2s and EDs. My ex's father had an ED Classic and an EF Futura. Pretty boring really, but I remember sitting in the back of the ED thinking what a cool car! (I own one now - my first and only).

When we were looking at replacing dad's Camira (glad I don't have to see that thing any more) I remember being at a Holden dealership and telling my parents to buy a red EF Futura because it had buttons on the steering wheel. I was stooged again and we ended up with a brand new Hyundai Sonata.

On top of all that, Commodores are over-rated!!

Originally Posted by merlin

Oh and my first car was a Ford Escort which I got for $200 when I was 14. Of course couldn't drive it till 16 so it sat in the garage until one day my 22 year old brother came home from the army and traded it for a wheelie bin for his house. I was not pleased.

What a crack up!

[Falcon Coupe]

The biggest turning point for me was:

Way back in 1985
A sunny day + an XYGTHO + 15 year old in passenger seat looking at speedo reading of 240kph = Ford for life !

[Badcooky]

The Bathurst 1,2 in the early 70"s sealed it for me.The big fords hurtling down Conrod straight man what a sight.Full length conrod with the helicopter being left behind as the Fords dissapeared down the straight.

[MITCHAY]

I got my TX5 Ghia just because it was an awesome car at the time in comparison to what else I could get. Not particularly loyal to one brand to be honest.

[Rev28K]

I’m not really passionate about Fords but a number of small things have certainly swayed me in to thinking fondly of them.

1. Dad was a Holden (Brock) fan and my best mate’s dad was a Ford man. When I was a kid my mates dad’s new Falcon 500 looked so spotless compared to our second-hand Kingswood.

2. Being at my mates place when Bathurst when the 1-2 happened on TV and his dad ribbing me constantly about how good Ford’s were

3. The impact of the XD amongst us school kids when it came out, it just seemed so clean and stylish. Kids used to nick the oval badges off the front grilles, glue them together and make keyrings out of them, then sell them to the other kids.

4. Discovering that the ubiquitous hot rod was a 32 Ford

5. Seeing a 69 Mustang in the flesh and hearing it roar away from the lights when I was still a kid. Then seeing photos of Boss 429’s (Larry Shinoda you were a genius)

6. A neighbor getting an XW/XY. He didn’t have a license at the time (lost it for some reason?), his folks were away for the weekend and he spent it laying down patches of rubber time after time on their long straight driveway.

7. Reading about Carroll Shelby and lusting after Cobras (260, 289, 427-428) and Mustangs (prefer GT350’s to GT500’s).

8. When the AU XR8’s were perceived as the underdogs in the comparisons with the VT Gen III’s (I’ve always liked the underdog).

9. They are willing to embrace (exploit?) their muscle car heritage.