Posted by: SirAndy Jan 24 2023, 11:44 PM
QUOTE(wonkipop @ Jan 24 2023, 09:37 PM)
1984-88 ZL Fairlane
Looks like a longer version of the late model Ford Taunus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Taunus
Posted by: Van B Jan 24 2023, 11:44 PM
Those wheels on #2 look just like my ATS alloys!
But definitely the crown jewel is the period correct club on the steering wheel of #1 HA!
Posted by: wonkipop Jan 24 2023, 11:51 PM
QUOTE(SirAndy @ Jan 24 2023, 11:44 PM)
QUOTE(wonkipop @ Jan 24 2023, 09:37 PM)
1984-88 ZL Fairlane
Looks like a longer version of the late model Ford Taunus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Taunus
and you would be spot on there
@http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=179 .
the ford australia studio were in close communication and agreement with the german studio. both lots ganged up against ford detroit to try and do the "local".
the nick name for this series of ford falcons was the "for-cedes".
phonetically "fah-seedeeze".
we ran into an old ex ford engineer a year ago who told us the major obsession with the ford australia designers at that time was citroen. in terms of the interior design.
you can see it in the dashboard switchgear pods. same engineer was admiring my 914 at the time and saying how much he liked them and could remember them from stints he did with ford germany.
Posted by: wonkipop Jan 24 2023, 11:57 PM
QUOTE(Van B @ Jan 24 2023, 11:44 PM)
Those wheels on #2 look just like my ATS alloys!
But definitely the crown jewel is the period correct club on the steering wheel of #1 HA!
they're called Globe Bathurst alloys.
those ones are aussie.
were developed in circa 68 or 69 for the falcon GTHOs at bathurst. (mt. panoroma).
the ATS would be copies - inspired by the globes, almost certainly.
or the two companies were related. but the vintage is absolutely around the same time.
they are very famous wheels. (in aussie circles).
the club lock is pretty funny.
someone would nick it because it is an auto.
you are dead safe these days if you have three pedals and a stick shift.
you can leave your car unlocked.
Posted by: Van B Jan 25 2023, 05:34 AM
Oh for sure this style is trying to replicate the Ferrari five spoke that pretty much defined the era. Crazy how some designs become icons...
Posted by: emerygt350 Jan 25 2023, 06:11 AM
That 80s beast aged well. It is interesting to see how many different styling ques you guys had down there. The ltd and Fairmont up here was not as interesting to look at.
Posted by: wonkipop Jan 26 2023, 01:08 AM
QUOTE(emerygt350 @ Jan 25 2023, 06:11 AM)
That 80s beast aged well. It is interesting to see how many different styling ques you guys had down there. The ltd and Fairmont up here was not as interesting to look at.
the key move in the styling will be something you can relate to with your gen 3 mustang.
they lowered the belt line for the side windows using the rear view mirror to do it.
the move came from jack telnack who was a key person behind the mustang gen 3 and had been involved with ford australia before returning to the US.
so while Sir Andy is right, that there is a lot of ford europe (germany) influence in it, the euro sedans are smaller and they don't have the lowered belt line.
i think that is why i like this series of falcons and why i fixed up the ute.
its all here in link. tells the story of how the aussie design studio headed off the american proposal. these XD falcons on were really the first series that were not primarily designed in the USA. the joke about the mad max hard top falcons from the generation before is that they really aren't aussie fords, they were styled in detroit.
apparently henry ford II was a big backer of this aussie XD falcon series and gave it the go ahead.
https://www.shannons.com.au/club/news/classic-garage/1979-82-ford-xd-falcon-was-ford-robbed/
these 80s falcons are now of interest.
i had a guy harass me the other day trying to buy the ute.
he offered 15K on the spot. i thought he was insane.
(its not for sale).
i'd probably get more for the falcon ute than the 914 in another 5 years.
Posted by: jaredmcginness Jan 26 2023, 07:04 AM
Wow, I have never seen that model of a Fairlane. Thanks for sharing.
That's one of the coolest looking 80's Fords. Reminds me a bit of an Audi 4000 or something.