Ford XB Falcon
 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop | |
| Manufacturer | Ford Australia |
|---|---|
| Production | September 1973-July 1976 |
| Predecessor | XA Falcon |
| Successor | XC Falcon |
| Body style | 4 door sedan 5 door station wagon 2 door hardtop 2 door coupe utility 2 door panel van |
| Engine | 200ci 6-cyl 250ci 6-cyl 302ci V8 351ci V8 |
| Transmission | 3spd manual (cloumn) 4spd manual (floor) 3spd auto (column & floor) |
| Wheelbase | 2819mm |
| Length | 4808mm |
| Width | 1900mm |
| Height | 1369mm |
| Curb weight | 1394kg |
The Ford XB Falcon is a car which was produced by Ford Australia between 1973 and 1976 and was built exclusively in Australia. It bore minor cosmetic differences to the preceding model, the XA, aimed at giving the car a more muscular stance. First time equipment offerings included standard front disc brakes on all models and an available carpeted interior.
Model range
The XB Falcon range included the following models:
A Grand Sport Rally Pack option, which included bonnet scoops, striping, GS insignia and "GT" instrumentation, was available on Falcon 500, Futura and Fairmont models. Among the limited edition variants of the XB was the John Goss Special, released in 1975 and named for the race driver who took a Falcon to victory in the 1974 Hardie-Ferodo 1000 Touring Car race at Bathurst.
Production of the XB series totalled 211,971 vehicles.
Motor sport
Allan Moffat won the 1974 Sandown 250 driving an XB Falcon GT Hardtop. He also won the 1976 Australian Touring Car Championship driving an XB Falcon GT Hardtop and drove both an XB Falcon GT Hardtop and an XC Falcon GS Hardtop to win the 1977 Australian Touring Car Championship.
Movies
In the movie Mad Max, Mel Gibson's black Pursuit Special was a limited GT351 version of a 1973 Ford XB Falcon Hardtop. Two 1974 XB sedans were also used as Main Force Patrol pursuit vehicles.
A 1974 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop is the main subject of the movie Love The Beast starring Eric Bana. The film documents the 25 year history of Eric Bana's XB Falcon, which he purchased at the age of 15.
References
- Norm Darwin, The History of Ford in Australia, 1986, page 169
- Ford XB Falcon Sedan sales brochure, Ford Sales Company of Australia, 10/73, page 15
- AC Bushby, The Australian Ford Falcon Collection, 1989, page 161
- Tony David, Aussie Cars, 1987, page 136
External links
- Home Of The XB Falcon GT
- Falcon Facts
- Ford XB Falcon Sedan brochure Retrieved from www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au on 21 February 2009
- XB Falcon Technical Specifications Retrieved from www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au on 21 February 2009
Retrieved from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_XB_Falcon
