Happy 50th birthday Ford Falcon!

[kiwi_2005]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/mo...irthday-Falcon

The Falcon is the longest running model nameplate in Australia and New Zealand's motoring history, and it marks its 50th birthday on June 28, 50 years to the day since the first XK Falcon rolled off Ford Australia's Broadmeadows production line.

It's also 50 years since the first inline six- cylinder engine was produced at Ford's Geelong engine plant. The 144 cubic inch (2.4-litre) overhead valve (OHV) push-rod engine developed 67kW when it was introduced, which was class-leading at the time, but these days it's only about average for an engine half that size.
The latest Falcon's power unit, is a four-litre fuel-injected unit, with high-tech features like a dual mode split plenum, composite intake manifold, fast burn cylinder head, double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder and possessed of dual independent variable camshaft timing.

It also produces about three times the power and more than twice the peak torque of that first Falcon unit, while being significantly more fuel efficient despite a 50 per cent increase in vehicle weight.
Almost all the intervening years have involved Ford's Falcon competing with its arch-rival Holden's large car, both in showrooms and on racetracks around Australia. True-blue Ford fans and the red brigade from Holden will argue who is the leader between the brands on the racetrack. However, they would have to agree that the Falcon and its Kingswood to Commodore competitors have in the past five decades been responsible for probably the most closely- fought racing series in the world, with their Bathurst battles having become legendary.
Ford is celebrating its Falcon's 50th birthday, with special 50th anniversary packages for most Falcon variants. They should be in showrooms in July.

[FIREWALL]

She may look homely but, she'll run forever.

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by FIREWALL

She may look homely but, she'll run forever.

Heh the only ones I see these day have rims on them worth twice what the car is. They usually have crappy hand painted paint jobs and sometimes found with cardboard spoilers. They all seem to come with the same music tape that basically goes "Booom Booom Booom".

[Reece]

Yes I'm a Ford nut, my first one was an XP sedan and the next was an XY GS sedan, 102 Cleveland V8, that was a very nice car. We currently have a 2002 AU SR sedan, my only gripe is it's very noisy regards creaking from the dash! drives you nuts, especially in cold weather.

[Jimbuna]

Nice to see a steering wheel on the correct side

My first car was an Escort 1100 Estate

[Sailor Steve]

And my first car was a Ford Falcon...van! When they first made the van in '61 the windowless cargo version was called the Econoline, but the windowed passenger version was the Falcon. Mine was a 1963 model, puchased in '71.

[FIREWALL]

Originally Posted by Reece

Yes I'm a Ford nut, my first one was an XP sedan and the next was an XY GS sedan, 102 Cleveland V8, that was a very nice car. We currently have a 2002 AU SR sedan, my only gripe is it's very noisy regards creaking from the dash! drives you nuts, especially in cold weather.

XP Sedan huh ? I guess you being a family man, Haveing a VISTA Convertible was out.

Favorite car has always been Ford 1965 Galaxy 500.

I think Ford peaked at about that time, and has been rolling downhill ever since.
Technology went up. Dependability went down.

Now, after climbing out of a truck, my favorite transport mode is to walk, or cykel.
I just don't like cars, and all the BS that goes with them, anymore.

[Reece]

Originally Posted by FIREWALL

XP Sedan huh ? I guess you being a family man, Having a VISTA Convertible was out.

Ah yes the Vista convertible, was a bit cramped though:

UPPAbaby VISTA (Convertible)

One car I always wanted was a Ford Customline (Cusso):