Ford Falcon Close Calls

[RAREV8]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Look at the Ford Granada of the same time and tell me the XD doesnt look like a bigger version of it.

The Granada that was out at the same time as the XD was more than similar- the front grilles/light assembly is completely interchangable with the XD.

Whilst the design of the XD was openly based on the European Granada, the base of the Falcon was largely unchanged from the XC's.

The Granadas had much smaller engines (2.0l up to 2.8l) and never sold quite as well as the falcons.

[sleekism]

Seriously respect for Valiant enthusiasts.

The Charger may look no better than a Datsun but you cant beat 14 second times.

Valiant Pacer is awesome car also.

I wish they put the 426 Hemi in the Valiant Pacers like they had in the Plymouth Roadrunner.

13 Second 1/4 mile stock in a Valiant....they probably would be million dolar cars now and Bathurst killers.

[Bossxr8]

Ford were actually well down the path with Project Capricorn, they worked on it for nearly 2 years as a replacement for the XF. Once all the feasability work was done they then proceeded to stretch the wheelbase of the Mazda 929 and make a number of styling clays for management approval. The general consenus was that it was crap as it was a long skinny car with the body too narrow in width to suit the length. That and the research which showed the australian people wouldn't buy it. They dropped the project and then realised they had wasted a few years on it and hadn't planned ahead for an updated Falcon. They quickly rushed out the XF series 2 and then rushed the EA onto the market months before it should have been and the quality was horrible.

[TUF_302]

Im so so so glad the Falcon didnt become another boring V6 FWD car!

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

rushed the EA onto the market months before it should have been and the quality was horrible.

I thought they did this because Holden dropped the VN on everyone in 1988 when it wasn't expected until '89-'90? Certainly the EA wasn't due until 1990 as I recall.

Also, while gasbagging about FWD large cars I seem to recall either Wheels or Modern Motor in 1993-ish with some shock/horror scoop story about the 1997 Commodore being FWD. There was a cutaway sketch and everything.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

I thought they did this because Holden dropped the VN on everyone in 1988 when it wasn't expected until '89-'90? Certainly the EA wasn't due until 1990 as I recall.

Also, while gasbagging about FWD large cars I seem to recall either Wheels or Modern Motor in 1993-ish with some shock/horror scoop story about the 1997 Commodore being FWD. There was a cutaway sketch and everything.

Sort of, Ford wanted to launch around the same time as VN, but the were so far behind in development of the EA because of the time they wasted on Project Capricorn. As they wanted to make Capricorn the next Falcon they didn't do any other forward planning, only to realize that when that was axed they had nothing else planned. It was released at least 3-6 months before it was ready. Some managers pushed for the launch to be delayed to solve the overheating, paint quality, suspension sagging and overall quality problems they were trying to fix but they decided not to because of the VN. Big mistake. It took them years to bring Falcons quality reputation back to where it was.

[sleekism]

Yeah the price of an used Falcon is actually higher than a EA Falcon?

Oi anybody know why there was never a big block Falcon in the 70's?

And why didn't Ford get the 4.6 Modular in the AU im sure they had concepts of it.

[sleekism]

*used xf falcon

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by sleekism

Oi anybody know why there was never a big block Falcon in the 70's?

There was no point, the BB wouldnt fit without some engine bay alterations which means changes to tooling which means $$$ all for what? A BB Falcon would have been hopeless around Bathurst - too much forward weight.

[Lightning Strike GT]

Originally Posted by sleekism

13 Second 1/4 mile stock in a Valiant....they probably would be million dolar cars now and Bathurst killers.

There is it is the E38 Charger and they do pull big dollars now 60G plus

[Gobes32]

Originally Posted by holmsy

i dont know about them re tooling ford at geelong but around 14 years or so ago they were talking about closing the geelong factory. yet still havent. after multiple considerations over the years.
last i heard they are building another factory out the back of the current one.

The new shed out the back is a new product engineering centre, and as far as i know, Ford US have wanted to shut down Ford Au for years. But so long as we remain profitable and serve a purpose in the big scheme of things, then they have no valid reason to.

[OzJavelin]

Close call for the Falcon ........... Plymouth were originally going to all the original Valiant "Falcon". I'm not sure if Ford already had dibbs on it or if they just didn't like it?