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Ford Falcon (XA)

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For a complete overview of all Falcon models, see Ford Falcon (Australia).

Ford XA Falcon
Ford XA Falcon 500 Sedan with Grand Sport Rally Pack
Overview
ManufacturerFord Australia
Also calledFord XA Futura
Ford XA Fairmont
Ford Ranchero (South Africa) [1]
ProductionMarch 1972–September 1973
DesignerJack Telnack,[2] Brian Rossi, Allan Jackson[3]
Body and chassis
ClassFull-size car
Body style4-door sedan
5-door station wagon
2-door hardtop
2-door coupe utility
2-door van
LayoutFR layout
RelatedFord ZF Fairlane
Ford Cortina
Powertrain
Engine3.3L (200ci) 6-cyl (130 bhp)
4.1L (250ci) 6-cyl (155 bhp)
4.1L (250ci) 6-cyl (170 bhp)
4.9L (302ci) V8 (240 bhp)
5.8L (351ci) V8 (260 bhp)
5.8L (351ci) V8 (300 bhp) (GT only)
Transmission3-speed manual
4-speed manual
3-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,819 mm (111.0 in)
Length4,737 mm (186.5 in)
Width1,900 mm (74.8 in)
Height1,369 mm (53.9 in)
Curb weight1,369 kg (3,018.1 lb)
Chronology
PredecessorFord XY Falcon
SuccessorFord XB Falcon

The Ford Falcon (XA) is a full-size car that was produced by Ford Australia from 1972 to 1973. It was the first iteration of the third generation of the Falcon and also included the Ford Fairmont (XA)—the luxury-oriented version. The XA platform was also used for the Australian Ford Landau.

Overview

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Sold between March 1972 and September 1973, the XA series was the first Falcon to be designed (with assistance from Ford's US headquarters) and manufactured in Australia.[4] Designed by Jack Telnack, it featured an entirely new body which was larger and more roomy than that of its XY series predecessor, giving it the "coke-bottle" look.[4] The XA range also had a longer list of options, although the choice of engines carried over from the previous XY Falcon range. All V8 302 CID and most 351 CID "Cleveland" engines were now Aussie made. GT Falcons could have Aussie or imported 351 CID V8s fitted.[5] Wagons, utilities and panel vans now featured a longer wheelbase than the sedan. Fairmont wagons had a dual-action tailgate that could be opened either downwards or sideways, optional on base model Falcon and Falcon 500 Wagons.[5]

The addition of a two-door hardtop to the range marked the first time that this body style had been offered on an Australian Falcon since the XP series of 1965–1966.[6] The XA hardtop bore a notable resemblance to the U.S 1971-1973 Ford Mustang hardtop.

The XA hardtop's longer doors with frameless windows were shared with the utility and van, with a different shape glass to suit the commercial vehicles' body apertures.[6] The shorter doors of the sedan and wagon with their framed windows were also available with optional quarter vent windows, though these were very rare, mainly fitted to cars in the hotter parts of Australia. This option was available in the subsequent XB and XC models, though very scarce.

The XA Falcon range were the first Falcons fitted with in-dash vents for face level flow-thru ventilation, although they only worked while the car was in motion.

A total of 129,473 XAs were built.[4] While successful, the XA Falcon range proved to be short-lived as it gained a significant frontal appearance update to become the XB series in September 1973.

Model range

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Sedans and Wagons were introduced in March 1972, the Hardtops in August 1972 [4] and the Utilities and Vans in October of that year.[7]

Model[8] body 200-1 250-1 250-2 302-2 351-2 351-4
Falcon Sedan ● ● ● ● ● −
Wagon ● ● ● ● − −
Utility ● ● ● ● ● −
Van ● ● ● ● − −
Falcon 500 Sedan ● ● ● ● ● −
Wagon ● ● ● ● − −
Hardtop ● ● ● ● ● −
Utility ● ● ● ● ● −
Futura Sedan − ● ● ● ● −
Fairmont Sedan − ● ● ● ● −
Wagon − ● ● ● − −
Hardtop − ● ● ● ● −
Falcon GT Sedan − − − − − ●
Hardtop − − − − − ●
ZF Fairlane Custom Sedan LWB − ● − ● ● −
ZF Fairlane 500 Sedan LWB − − − ● ● −
  • Ford XA Falcon 500 Sedan
    Ford XA Falcon 500 Sedan
  • Ford XA Falcon 500 Wagon
    Ford XA Falcon 500 Wagon
  • Ford XA Falcon 500 Hardtop (with non-standard wheels)
    Ford XA Falcon 500 Hardtop (with non-standard wheels)
  • Ford XA Fairmont Sedan
    Ford XA Fairmont Sedan
  • Ford XA Fairmont Wagon
    Ford XA Fairmont Wagon
  • Ford XA Fairmont Hardtop
    Ford XA Fairmont Hardtop
  • Ford XA Falcon GT Sedan
    Ford XA Falcon GT Sedan
  • Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop
    Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop
  • Ford XA Falcon 500 Utility with Grand Sport Rally Pack and additional driving lights
    Ford XA Falcon 500 Utility with Grand Sport Rally Pack and additional driving lights
  • Ford XA Falcon Panel Van
    Ford XA Falcon Panel Van

Grand Sport Rally Pack

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A Grand Sport Rally Pack was offered on Falcon, Falcon 500 and Fairmont models.[9] The XA GS had rally stripes that ran from the front indicators to the end of the rear doors. It also shared many options as used on the GT Falcon, such as the 12 slot steel wheels with plain brushed centre caps, the three spoke wooden rimmed steering wheel with rim squeeze horn and full GT dash instrumentation featuring tachometer, odometer, oil pressure, water temperature and voltmeter as standard. For the first time the GS model range was also available as a two-door hardtop. The GS package was also offered as an option on utes and panel vans as per XY. The 260 hp (190 kW) two barrel version of the 5.8 L (351 cu in) Cleveland V8 was the largest engine option available. The GS option did not come standard with the Option 56 ‘driving lights’ grille which was standard on the GT, however it was a common addition. The GT bonnet with NACA style ducts was not available as an option on the XA GS.[10]

Falcon GTHO Phase IV

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Ford XA Falcon GT-HO Phase IV

As the previous XW and XY series Falcon GT sedans, an extra-high-performance limited-production version of the XA Falcon GT sedan, the GT-HO Phase IV, was developed by Ford Australia for homologation in Group E Series Production Touring Car racing, targeting in particular the 1972 Hardie-Ferodo 500 at Bathurst. Production of the required 200 examples was abandoned in July 1972 following intense media and political pressure, and only one production example was completed.[11][12] This significant road car was manufactured in Calypso Green metallic with a white vinyl interior, and has recently been completely restored.

Additionally, three regular production Falcon GT sedans - especially painted in Brambles Red - had been in the process of being developed for racing to GT-HO specification by Ford Special Vehicles Division and were to be raced at Bathurst in 1972 by factory drivers Allan Moffat and Fred Gibson. With the abandonment of the XA Falcon GT-HO as a production car, development was immediately halted on the three race cars and they were sold off. However, one of these cars did go on to serve a life in motorsport, specifically as a rally car campaigned by Bruce Hodgson. It was later destroyed in a road accident. Although the three cars featured standard Falcon GT compliance plates, they are considered by most Ford fans to be race-prepared versions of the XA Falcon GT-HO Phase IV.

Howard Marsden, head of Lot 6, designated the race cars as follows XA-1 Allan Moffat (Carthew); XA-2 Gibson (Bowden); XA-3 (Hodgson).

Falcon GT - RPO 83

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Between April 1973 and August 1973, Ford Australia built 250 XA Falcon GTs fitted with the RPO 83 package, 130 of these being sedans and 120 being hardtops.[13] RPO 83 comprised three variations from the standard XA Falcon GT, these being of a Holley 780 carburettor, 2.25 inch exhaust headers and a clutch slave cylinder hydraulic pipe heat shield.[13] Pricing and external appearance did not vary from the standard models.[13] The 2.25 inch exhaust headers were subsequently homologated for the XA Falcon GT for Group C Touring Car racing, including the 1973 Hardie-Ferodo 1000.[13]

Falcon 500 Superbird - RPO 77

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Ford XA Falcon 500 Superbird Hardtop. Pictured in Polar White/Cosmic Blue with correct colour-coded wheel centres

Following the positive public reaction given to its XA Falcon GT Hardtop-based “Superbird” show car at the 1973 Melbourne Motor Show, Ford Australia released a limited production “Superbird” to the public.[14] The production Superbird was an XA Falcon 500 Hardtop fitted with an option package designated as RPO 77.[14] The package included the Australian-built 302 cubic inch Cleveland V8 engine, sports suspension, Grand Sport Rally Pack instrumentation and a rear window louvre. Three contrasting paints schemes matched with colour-coded wheel centres were offered,[14] the choices being Polar White with Cosmic Blue accent, Yellow Fire with Walnut Glow accent and Lime Glaze with Jewel Green accent.[15] Large "Superbird" decals adorned the rear quarter panels and the rear-mounted "Falcon 500" badging was retained.[14] The advertised production run was 750 units;[16] however, the actual production total is thought to have been lower.[14] The entire production run was completed in the months of March through May 1973.[14]

.

Motorsport

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Allan Moffat and Ian Geoghegan won the 1973 Hardie-Ferodo 1000 at Bathurst in a factory entered XA Falcon GT Hardtop and John Goss and Kevin Bartlett won the 1974 Hardie-Ferodo 1000 in a privately entered example.

References

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  1. ^ Advertisement for Ford Ranchero, www.flickr.com Retrieved on 12 October 2013
  2. ^ "John J. Telnack". Automotive Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  3. ^ Wright, John (1 August 2016). "Ford XB Falcon: Extra Benefits over the excellent XA". Shannons. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d Pedr Davis, Aussie Cars, 1987, page 129
  5. ^ a b Ford Falcon XA Retrieved from www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au on 25 April 2010
  6. ^ a b Norm Darwin, The History of Ford in Australia, 1986, page 167
  7. ^ A Bushby, The Australian Ford Falcon Collection, 1989, page 138
  8. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.falcongt.com.au/HP.html. Retrieved 8 December 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ^ Brochures: Ford Falcon XA Retrieved from www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au on 25 April 2010
  10. ^ "Grand Sports (XA)". Aus-Ford-UK.co.uk. Australian Ford Register UK website. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  11. ^ Stewart Wilson, Ford Falcon, Mustang, Sierra, 1993, pages 36-38
  12. ^ Australian Muscle Car, Issue 20, page 41
  13. ^ a b c d Mark Oastler, RPO 83 - Ford's secret Falcon GT, Australian Muscle Car, Issue 20, July/Aug 2005, pages 40-79
  14. ^ a b c d e f Joe Kenwright, 1973 Ford XA Falcon 500 Superbird Hardtop, Australian Muscle Car, Issue 51, Sept/Oct 2010, pages 88 to 97
  15. ^ Sales brochure for Ford Falcon 302 V8 Superbird Hardtop, Ford Sales Company of Australia Limited
  16. ^ Ford advertisement for 302 V8 Superbird Falcon Hardtop, The Daily Telegraph, Friday May 4, 1973, page 9
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