View Full Version : Ford Fairmont (Australia) 1965-2008
lol at the USA Fairmonts
1971 ~ '72 'XY' Fairmonts (302W & 351C) and rare Oz-manufactured & South-African assembled 'Super Rhino' Fairmont GT
1974 ~ '76 'XB' Fairmont GS (302C) still looks good imho
1982 ~ '84 'XE' Fairmont Ghia ESP (351C)
csl177
11-29-2009, 12:14 AM
Nota, what was the OZ Fairmont compared to the Falcon? Same chassis? That green GS looks tasty, the '82-'84 ESP is almost Rover-esque.
Nota, what was the OZ Fairmont compared to the Falcon? Same chassis?
Yes it was basically an upspec Trim & Equipment variant of Falcon from 1965 ~ 2008.
The models I pictured could be optioned up with big Cleveland V8s and 4-speed etc to become an 'insurance cheater' defacto Falcon GT. (Fairmont GT was a unique SA-only rebadge of Falcon GT.) Manual transmissions were available in Fairmonts until the early 1990s iirc.
Fairmont began as Falcon's premium variant but eventually evolved into a discreet 'quiet luxury' mid-spec and popular with fleets.
Since '08 the well-recognised Fairmont nameplate has been dropped (regrettably imo) and re-labelled as something called G6, along with sportier upspec G6E which replaces earlier 'sporty' Fairmonts (ie GXL & Ghia).
Summarised FoA model-hierachy of the six (or is it seven?) generic 'Falcon' platform-generations, before the current 2008-on E8-gen 'FG'
Falcon
Falcon 500 becomes Falcon GL
Futura
Fairmont
Fairmont GXL becomes Fairmont Ghia (GXL and following Ghia ESP were sport-lux 'continuation substitutes' for defunct Falcon GT)
Fairlane (a 'stretched' 116" LWB version of Falcon) and shortlived upspec Marquis
LTD (originally 121" 'double-stretch' ULWB limo, then from 1979 evolves into an upspec version of Fairlane LWB)
That green GS looks tasty, the '82-'84 ESP is almost Rover-esque.
The XB was particularly rugged and durable (only rust killed them) and with the optional 4-wheel disc brakes was considered to be quite a 'roadable' car in its day - initial mild understeer finalising into relatively gentle roll-oversteer. Fwiw I once owned an XB Fairmont V8 virtually identical to that Jewel Green unit shown, it was a smooth & likeable car. In styling I think the XB continues to stand up well against corresponding sedans of its era - the GS dashboard held a particularly appealing six-gauge 'vertical stack' instrument panel (sorry, can't find a sufficiently large-enough pic). XB was 2nd of the three models within the 3rd-gen series, and the first Falcon model to outsell Holden.
Similary the XE was 2nd of three models within the 4th-gen, and the last Ford to feature those famous Cleveland V8s. The external styling theme of 4th-gen Oz Fords was almost identical to 2nd-gen, Cortina-derived UK Ford Granada (but no shared components!) with the subtle visual difference being its pleasingly lower 'inset cut' greenhouse beltline. XE became the 2nd Falcon model to outsell Holden.
The old XY was 4th of four models from the 2nd-gen (with all the 'bugs' ironed out) and a much regarded, tough & fondly remembered model in its own right - albeit at the end of its generational styling-cycle. Btw the XY became the first Falcon to almost outsell Holden!
If interested here's two informative sites for classic-era Oz Fords :)
Topical history of Falcon, Fairmont & Fairlane with period info, ads and respective model brochures.
GT FORD PERFORMANCE FALCON GT GARAGE (http://www.falcongt.com.au/HP.html)
Expansive (UK based!) site, this much recommended online info resource concentrates on the minutiae of 2nd & 3rd-gen Falcons.
Australian Ford Register UK (http://www.aus-ford-uk.co.uk/)
csl177
11-29-2009, 12:38 PM
Great classic V8 stuff, there... many thanks. Still amazes me that Ford USA never brought any of the Australian products to America, particularly the ute's. The Falcon nameplate was dropped in 1972 IIRC, the last US cars to carry it were actually Torinos.
It was replaced by the Maverick as the small car in the lineup.
Also interesting (and somewhat ironic) that the Fairmont label was replaced by the neutral-sounding G6, as GM brought the Oz version of a Pontiac (Holden?) to the US market and called it... G6! Must've been an act of corporate gamesmanship.
There's even a club: Pontiac G6 Owners Club (http://www.g6ownersclub.com/)
Also interesting (and somewhat ironic) that the Fairmont label was replaced by the neutral-sounding G6, as GM brought the Oz version of a Pontiac (Holden?) to the US market and called it... G6! Must've been an act of corporate gamesmanship.
There's even a club: Pontiac G6 Owners Club (http://www.g6ownersclub.com/)
Ahh but the Pontiac G6 is a FWD and native to America. The vehicle you're thinking of was a rebadged Holden Commodore exported to the US and there called the Pontiac G8.
Nevertheless the nameplate gamesmanship continues as the final Oz Fairlane range included a model called (you guessed it) .. G8
The somewhat 'sport-touring' Fairlane G8 preceded the aformentioned Pontiac, eg remnant G8 website (http://www.warragulcityford.com.au/fairlane_LTD_new.htm)
Sadly the Fairlane name died in Oz last year with the BF series, after a 48 year run. It remains Ford's (and iirc the world's) longest continuous model nameplate for passenger cars.
Long before Subaru usurped the name, the Falcon Ute range featured a model aimed specifically at heavy-duty rural & remote-area useage. It featured a reinforced body with high ground clearance & extensive underbody protection and the delights of a hefty steel roobar as standard equip! Also a two-stage 'cyclonic' air-cleaner and 8-ply light-truck radials, with twin fuel tanks for a 1,000+ km touring range, and Hydratrak viscous LSD etc. In summary a well-focussed and very practical one-tonne workhorse, still with passenger-car comfort. And yes it was called the 'Outback'
Ford Outback Utility (http://members.ozemail.com.au/~motorweb/outback/)
FoA was crazy to let control of this iconic name slip away! :mad: