Falcon options that where tested but never made it to production

[Eaturbo]

I would love to know what things where tested for the Falcon range but never made it to production. It would be great if after production ended if Ford Australia would detail some of the things that nearly made it but only got left out at the last moment. Maybe some more details about what an FG Fairlane could have looked like. What different engine and gearbox combinations where considered and even tested on the road. What sort of maximum power they had seen from some engines. This is going to be part of history and something that will never be repeated. We found out a lot of information about the old XT to XF Falcons from some of the old ex employees but that's only because the Falcon is still in production and still talked about. I don't think there will be the same amount of talk about the recent cars in say 20 years time.

If your a current Ford engineer or know one, than please feel free to tell us about what your saw or what was talked about in the later Falcons from say EA to FGX. There has got to be some amazing stories about what nearly was and what could have been. I would actually love to contact Ford and see if there was some sort of information that details the history of the Falcon of what was tested and what could have been if only the timing was right. Even things that were tested but knocked back and for what reasons. Maybe Russell W could get in contact with a Ford and see if they could put together a list of stuff that was tested, considered and even investigated as a possible option or feature on Falcons. This sort of information could be lost forever if not recovered and documented before the Factory closes along with all that history of what could have been. Let's see what we can come up with.

[Adamz Ghia]

I really hope Ford do a nice hard cover book on the history of the Falcon and Territory, or even the whole history of Australian production. And have it full of details like above and more. they fill thousands of pages with almost 100 years of history.

[Eaturbo]

Originally Posted by tempted

Wasn't there a dohc I6 prototype made in the EA days? From memory it was displayed at the Ford discovery centre. Interesting to know why dohc wasn't adopted until the BA, well over a decade later.

Funny you mention this as I remember seeing a photo of a prototype twin cam head for the Falcon in wheels magazine around the EF falcon time.

[naddis01]

Wasn't there a twin turbo V10 that never made it into production?

[madmelon]

Originally Posted by tempted

Wasn't there a dohc I6 prototype made in the EA days? From memory it was displayed at the Ford discovery centre. Interesting to know why dohc wasn't adopted until the BA, well over a decade later.

I now work with one of the guys responsible for doing trans calibrations with BTR on this car and comparing it to the SOHC engine. He said they lined them up for drag races and the car with the SOHC engine put several car lengths on the DOHC car every time, that's why they went with SOHC.

[mik]

No doubt a lot of things got shelved due to budget constraints, it would be an interesting biography to be sure.

[whiteSY]

Originally Posted by Adamz Ghia

I really hope Ford do a nice hard cover book on the history of the Falcon and Territory, or even the whole history of Australian production. And have it full of details like above and more. they fill thousands of pages with almost 100 years of history.

Now THAT would be a damn good idea.
There is some serious interest in these details . . surprises me that Ford dont get on it now before they no longer exist here in anything other than an accounts department!

[bangm001]

It would be nice if they included all of the production numbers etc for each model, incl FPVs etc too!

[Eaturbo]

Originally Posted by naddis01

Wasn't there a twin turbo V10 that never made it into production?

I was waiting for it, your a known affender for dropping this line lol

[Eaturbo]

Well maybe someone like Russell W can make some enquiries or even myself if I don't hear anyone else doing it. As I said, once production finishes and a few years go by this information will be lost forever. There's also no commercial reason why Ford can't detail the history of manufacturing and the different features and options it considered during the Falcons years. For me the EA was probably the biggest engineering change to the Falcon. It saw so many changes and a massive change to the styling. Suspension and steering was all new up front, new engine, all new panels, all new interior, digital climate comtrol.

[csv8]

Mustang V10 prototype https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO9UD3VI9ho

[sexyxe]

Two Turbo AWD XE/XF were made, then one was crashed.

That would have changed the path of a Ford if they continued to develop that thirty years ago!

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by csv8

Mustang V10 prototype https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO9UD3VI9ho

Ford Australia built a promotional V10 Mustang convertible burnout car about 15 years ago

[commodorenutt]

Originally Posted by sexyxe

Two Turbo AWD XE/XF were made, then one was crashed.

That would have changed the path of a Ford if they continued to develop that thirty years ago!

Weren't they the AIT turbos though? A gunmetal or black XF Ghia? They were aftermarket.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Intercooled 5.0 miamis!

[FairmontGS]

Not forgetting the 15 production Phase 4 sedans crushed and buried at the You Yangs..

[devilcv8]

Originally Posted by FairmontGS

Not forgetting the 15 production Phase 4 sedans crushed and buried at the You Yangs..

what???? first Ive ever heard of this..

[Top_Ghia]

F6 wagon was built but never made production. 😞 I believe it was called the Hurricane.

[Allen]

Pretty sure I've got a photo of the DOHC 3.9 floating around somewhere. I'll try and find it.

Edit - i thought i had an old photo of it with the cam covers off, but a bit of googling turned this up.

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by Top_Ghia

F6 wagon was built but never made production. 😞 I believe it was called the Hurricane.

Why would they make an F6 wagon when an XR6 wagon never got a second look?

[naddis01]

Originally Posted by Eaturbo

I was waiting for it, your a known affender for dropping this line lol

Really? I just did a search of my posts and that is the first time I have ever mentioned it.

[Eaturbo]

Originally Posted by naddis01

Really? I just did a search of my posts and that is the first time I have ever mentioned it.

I might be wrong than, could have sworn I've seen you drop this line before with a hint of sarcasm

[Eaturbo]

Originally Posted by Allen

Pretty sure I've got a photo of the DOHC 3.9 floating around somewhere. I'll try and find it.

Edit - i thought i had an old photo of it with the cam covers off, but a bit of googling turned this up.

image

Now I know it says 1987 but it looks like 1997. The dual runner broadband manifold and serpentine belt scream EF or EL. It was common knowledge that they were toying with twin cam for the AU but end up with the Single cam VCT

[FPV GTHO]

Wheels ran a story for BA launch that the DOHC head that saw production was pulled ahead from Orion development, so that was a decision made in '98 for a product intended for '06.

[Top_Ghia]

Originally Posted by FPV GTHO

Why would they make an F6 wagon when an XR6 wagon never got a second look?

No idea why. But prototypes were built. It could have been the true go fast wagon the turbo territory never was.

[carwant.com.au]

Didn't they look at a two door BA as well?

[sexyxe]

Originally Posted by commodorenutt

Weren't they the AIT turbos though? A gunmetal or black XF Ghia? They were aftermarket.

I am not 100% sure, but I thought they were from the factory.

There is, way in the ford archives here, in the build threads, of either another, or the OTHER remaining turbo AWD XF. Was partly junked, then rebuilt, then forgotten, then rebuilt and once again forgotten.

[Eaturbo]

I know that turbo charging the Inline 6 was always on the design board. When you look as far Back as the XD they were looking at it. Ford closely watch AIT (advanced imduction technologies) progress and was really starting to indorse it by the time the EA Falcon came out. My old 88 EA Fairmont Ghia Manual turbo was built by Mike Vine turbos for the owner of the Bundaberg Ford dealer. It was his personal drive car and was used to sell more of them to combat the than new VN SS commodore. Apparently Ford was encouraging Ford Dealers to build one and show customers what could be achieved if they wanted Commodore V8 killer. They did 2 stages, both inter cooled, one with 1 extra injector and one with 12 dual row injectors. They even did a 260km/hr speedo which I've seen one in a Fairlane. AIT went broke and by this time the EB XR6/8 were here and the turbo idea had gone to the way side. Ten years later with the BA it returned with a vengeance and set Ford Aus on the map.

[Eaturbo]

Originally Posted by sexyxe

I am not 100% sure, but I thought they were from the factory.

There is, way in the ford archives here, in the build threads, of either another, or the OTHER remaining turbo AWD XF. Was partly junked, then rebuilt, then forgotten, then rebuilt and once again forgotten.

Yeah remember that car, it was in the build section I think. Wonder what happened to it. It was an awesome car to see it getting rebuilt and than he sold it or put it on the back burner. Something major happened to stop the guy finishing it. Could possibly be the rarest Falcon ever.

[nuthin' fancy]

Originally Posted by Eaturbo

and set Ford Aus on the map.

Except management thought the world was flat and fell off the edge.