A buddy sent this to me today so I thought Id share it with you all... :D
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A buddy sent this to me today so I thought Id share it with you all... :D
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Didnt know they ever built right hand drive falcon's...
BbbbbbbbbBob, I'm thinking that's the Australian built Falcon - - - - they were right hand driven.
Were they built in Australia or built here and exported?
They're originally an Australian designed car, the American Falcons came later with the kack-handed steering, so they're originally Aussie born and bred.
That's a gum tree the Falcon is sitting in.
Ya can't get more Australian than that!
:LOL: :LOL:
So I have a 64 sprint in the yard that I will be getting to one of these years. What was the first year they were made in Aussie land?
Good question.. I think the answer to that is about 1960.. Not sure..Would have to google that.. The XK series was the first,with a 144 cu.in inline 6..
Just googled wiki..
Wiki told me that it is actually an American model,,which the Aussies built in their own factories,,but the station wagon had a shorter rear body length,because they were afraid of damage ,in drains,etc,on the rough outback roads..Incidentally,,the American version began in 1960 too..
Built,both in Aussie,,and the US.. All the Aussie cars were ''stolen'' from the US.. The early Holdens were all based on Chevrolet bodies,in fact the very first Holden,,the FX as it's commonly called,,(48-215) was registered as a Chevrolet..(the first unit off the line,that is)..
Well!
You've just destroyed a belief I have held for many years.
I knew the early Holdens were based on Chevrolets; (that's most obvious in the FX, FJ, FE and FC series bodies,) but had always thought that the Falcons were native Australians, with the engineering then exported to the States.
Ya learn something new every day.
Oy!
You just bide a wee there mate before you go abusing us Kiwis!
Both Robin and I are KIWIS, i.e. made in New Zealand, not native Ausbloodytralians!
:LOL: :LOL: :LOL:
To call a Kiwi an Aussie is an insult to the Kiwi.
But to call an Aussie a Kiwi is about the highest praise you can give him.
:) :)
JB do you know why Aussies live in Australia and Kiwis live in New Zealand?
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep time's up
It's because the Aussie's had first choice :LOL::LOL::LOL::LOL::LOL::LOL::LOL:
FWIW, I know Y'all aren't Aussies but you do live just across the tracks, eh mate?
Bob, see what you started? It's all your fault !:p:p:p:p:p:p
Nah mate; the Aussies had no choice!
They were what you might now call 'assisted immigrants'.
They were sent out in convict ships . . .
:eek: :eek: :LOL: :LOL:
STATE SIDE FALCON DEVELOPMENT CHRONOLOGY
(From Phil Cottrill's Book, The Ford Falcon: 1960-1963)
•1942-1946: Ford Light Car Project developed 7 pilot models on wheelbases from 97-112 inches.
•1945: Earle S. MacPherson was appointed chief engineer of Chevrolet Cadet project.
•1952: Robert S. MacNamara was made Assistant General Manager of Ford Division. He immediately appointed a Market Research Unit to study who was buying the Volkswagon and why.
•1956: Ford management was firmly convinced that a car sized between the Volkswagon and the standard Ford could be successfully marketed.
•1957, March: Ford Motor Company committed itself to build the Falcon.
•1957: A low weight six cylinder OHV engine was developed for the Falcon.
•1957, November: Ford President, E.R. Breech, announced to Ford management that the optimum economy car appeared to be the 2,400 pound car with a six cylinder engine.
•1958, Summer: Falcon clay model finalized and accepted by Ford management.
•1958: Jack Hooven appointed chief engineer for Falcon development.
•1959, February: The New York Times published an article about the Ford XK-Thunderbird project.
•1959, May 21: Henry Ford II announced the Falcon Project at a Ford stockholders' meeting.
•1959: The first non-prototype Falcons assembled at the Ford Pilot Assembly Plant.
•1959, September 9: The 1960 Falcon was released to the press.
•1959, September 10: 14 Falcons with experienced endurance drivers began covering every mile of Federally numbered highways in the continental United States.
•1959, October 2: The 1960 Corvair arrived at dealer showrooms.
•1959, October 3: The 1960 Falcon made its public debut.
•1959, October 29: Plymouth's 1960 Valiant goes on public display.
•1959, November: Falcon sales take off and Falcon soon becomes "King Of The Compacts."
•1960, Winter: Falcon Station Wagons introduced.
•1960, Spring: 1960 Ranchero introduced.
•1960, September 25: 1961 Falcon line introduced. It included the 170 inch engine and the Econoline utility vehicles.
•1960, December: Robert S. MacNamara left Ford to become Secretary of Defense. The Falcon lost its strong backing.
•1961, Early: The Falcon Sedan Delivery was introduced.
•1961, April 9: 1961 Futura introduced to combat [Corvair] Monza Coupe sales.
•1961, September 19: 1962 Falcon line introduced.
•1962, February 14: 1962 Sports Futura with four speed transmission introduced.
•1962, September 11: 1963 Falcon line introduced, including Falcon convertible.
•1963, February: 1963 1/2 Falcons introduced. Included 260 V-8, hardtops, and the Sprint line.
•1963, July: Last 1963 1/2 Falcons produced. Dies shipped to Argentina.
And a good Australian-built Falcon link: A brief history of the Ford Falcon's 40 years* 28/6/00
Hmmmm no Kiwi's mentioned there - - - strange??????? :LOL::LOL::LOL::LOL:
Its nice to see you guys taking fun jabbs at each other, It reminds of the pre PC days here in the states! :eek: Enjoy boys... As the Politically Correct (PC) Police might be on their way to your countries soon. :rolleyes: :LOL::LOL::LOL: ;)
Drive safe and watch out for the PC popo's. :LOL:
Now guys, with a hell of lot of tongue in cheek, I read through all that bullshit that Bob, Bob and the other Bob posted and I would like to point out that way back then the USA didn't admit that there was a world outside the borders of American so I didn't expect the Aussie would get mention as never did your other neighbour Canada. But, hey, you guys still believed the American world was flat and if one crossed over a border line one dropped off into oblivion never to be found again. Interesting that the dies went to Argentina and they are probable still making 1962 Falcons and selling them brand new today like the British sold the dies for the Morris Oxford to the Indians and they have just stpped producing them in the last year or two.
I will admit as Johnboy did to the fact that I always believed the Falcon was Aussie designed and built and exported to Canada where they were built for the American market, so yes, an old dog can be taught something new.
So guys, remember, tongue in cheek aye....;);)
Best of everything to you, Robin, take care now.
Em
Since we're on the subject of Aussie/US made produced/shared car lines............... What country wants to claim fame to the newer GTO flop, or uh, I mean production run? :LOL:
STATE SIDE FALCON DEVELOPMENT CHRONOLOGY
(From Phil Cottrill's Book, The Ford Falcon: 1960-1963)
And a good Australian-built Falcon link:
Interesting.
Thanks for that 3 Bob; a definitive guide which has cleared up misconceptions.
The first 'coon we owned was an XA wagon, which was claimed by the Aussies as theirs alone.
Ya know Ive had a few of these over the years but to be very honest I never cared much for the body style until the 64 models came out. Prior to 64 the body was void of any exciting body lines. It always had a very utilitarian passive look to me. Now the 1964 model was a sexy ride in my eyes specially with that 289High Performance package it came with! Had lots of fun with that car.
I only found the links and posted them in hopes it would let you off the hook for having to take responsibility for hatching that egg on Australian soil. A much more appropriate name for a vehicle void of any real flash or body style... The Coon. I'm sure the Falcon badge was a marketing ploy to make it seem sleeker and more stealth like than the more appropriate name "The Coon". :LOL: Look at the original picture again... Now is that a Falcon perched in that tree or a treed Coon? Looks like a Coon to me and the other Bobs are in full agreement! And yes I do own a Coon right now and from here on it will be known as that.
And for the life of me I cant figure out what "your shovel is grubby" is all about unless your saying he is shoveling Sh-t your way? :confused: :eek: :LOL: Id like to know as I might want to use the term... :LOL: If a pm is more appropriate please feel free!:rolleyes:
Heck yeah, that is a new saying for me too Bob, Bob and Bob so would like to see the meaning behind it too. Robin has gone visiting his Mum so it maybe tonight our time before we get an answer on that.
So I did a bit of research tonight and boy was I surprised when I found that Down Under it is customary to partake in different drinking games. One of the games requires the loser's to hoist the family ride up into a tree and it can only be retrieved when the looser is 100% sober. Lots of these cars never come down! :rolleyes: It is becoming such a problem that the youth are now stuffing motorcycles in the trees and forgetting where they were left? On occasion in heavy weather a vehicle will randomly fall back to earth eliminating the looser from partaking in the drinking games for several weeks, if not forever!... The article went on to say that many believe that is where Ford came up with the name for the Thunderbird? Go Figure? :LOL: It's true, I read it on the internet!
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But it wasn't,Johnboy..The XA has definite shades of Mercury Marauder(about 1970,I think),,in the hood .. They have a little bit of a beak on them,,the XA has the same raised portion through the centre of the hood,,as is the layout of the front side lamps,,very similar..The XA/B/C coupes have the same lines in the sides,ie,rear quarter panels as the 69/70 or thereabouts Torino coupe,,and the XB Falcon GT hood is a direct rip from the 71-3 Mustang hood.. Very little the Aussies built is actually Australian..Even now,,the Holden Commodore is a rehashed German car with American and Asian input.. Which after 2017,,will problem be made in China,,and called a Hongdung,,or something similar.. ;) Sorry,,bring back the old pre 1980 Holdens,,with character,,and American designed underpinnings.. ;)
well, it broke my heart and I haven't slept for 2 nights,:LOL::LOL::LOL::LOL: you should be ashamed:LOL::LOL::LOL: - - - - in Texas we call that BSn or Hoorah'n a Pal. :cool::cool::cool: My departed Dad was the best or maybe worst at it and us whipper snappers had to stay on our toes all the time.
One more question please - - - - how come they're always Fords???????????????????????????????
everyones favorite car!