Ford Falcon (XR)
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1925 |
| Headquarters | Geelong , Australia |
| Products | Automobiles |
| Website | www |
The Ford Falcon (XR) represents a full-size automobile manufactured by Ford Australia between 1966 and 1968. This model was the inaugural release of the Falcon's second generation in Australia and also introduced the Ford Fairmont (XR), which catered to customers seeking a more upscale option.
Overview
Launched in September 1966, the XR series drew its design inspiration from the third-generation 1966 US Ford Falcon and was marketed with the tagline "Mustang-bred Falcon". Notably, it was the first Australian Falcon to offer a V8 powertrain—a 289 cubic inch (4.7 L) Windsor V8 engine delivering . This represented a significant milestone as it was the first time a V8 engine was accessible across all trim levels in an Australian vehicle, whereas previously it had been reserved for top-tier models. The standard engine was a 170 cubic inch (2.8 L) inline six-cylinder, supplemented by options including a 200 cubic inch (3.3 L) six-cylinder and a 200ci Super Pursuit motor.
The XR range initially consisted of nine variants: Falcon, Falcon 500, and Fairmont sedans; Falcon, Falcon 500, and Fairmont wagons; Falcon and Falcon 500 utilities; plus the Falcon Van. Notably, the wagons shared the same wheelbase as the sedans, differing from the extended wheelbase employed by the US Falcon wagons. The Falcon 500 took over from the XP series' Falcon Deluxe model, while the two-door hardtop body style seen in the XP was discontinued.
The XR Falcon earned recognition as Wheels magazine's Car of the Year in 1966, marking Ford Falcon's second straight award.
Moreover, the XR marked a production milestone as the first Falcon assembled at Ford’s Seaview facility in New Zealand; prior to this, Falcons—primarily station wagons—were imported fully built from Australia.
Falcon GT
Capitalizing on the Falcon’s connection to the sporty Mustang image, Ford launched the Falcon GT variant of the XR in 1967. This model featured a tuned version of the 289 cubic inch (4.7 L) Windsor V8 engine derived from the Ford Mustang. The GT is widely regarded as Australia's entry into the muscle car era. The majority of XR GTs were finished in GT Gold paint, although rare examples exist in Gallaher Silver, Russet Bronze, Sultan Maroon, Polar White, Avis White, and Ivy Green—all mechanically identical yet highly sought after by collectors.
Motorsport
Under the leadership of Harry Firth, manager and driver of the Ford Works Team, alongside driver Fred Gibson, the XR Falcon GT secured victory at the 1967 Gallaher 500 held at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst. Their winning margin was just 11 seconds ahead of teammates Ian Geoghegan and Leo Geoghegan following a lap recount that overturned initial results after a protest.
Equipped with a 289-cubic-inch V8, this triumph marked the first time a V8-powered vehicle won at Bathurst’s 500/1000 endurance race. Prior to 1967, Mount Panorama had favored smaller vehicles such as the Morris Cooper S and Ford's own Cortina GT500, as larger V8 engines were generally considered less appropriate for this demanding circuit.