Calling all local long wheelbase V8 Fords

Ford may have killed off the Fairlane in Australia, but there are still plenty of owners and enthusiasts out there ready to mark the occasion of the big car's passing.

As part of the 11th Early Ford V8 National Event in Bendigo, Central Victoria on June 7-8, there will be a special tribute to all long wheelbase Ford V8 models manufactured or assembled in Australia, to recognise the end of local Fairlane production in December, 2007.

Organisers of the national event, which normally caters only for side valve Ford V8 models from 1932 to 1954, have opened up the event for later overhead valve models to commemorate the end of Fairlane production.

Since the first Ford V8 was launched in Australia during 1932, Ford's local prestige V8 models underwent many detailed changes for local production and conditions, even though the early cars were based on US models.

This ultimately led to a uniquely Australian range of long wheelbase Fairlane and LTD models that ended with the launch of the new FG Falcon range this year.

The 75-year heritage of Ford's V8 prestige models was first broken for eight years when the locally manufactured Cleveland V8 was withdrawn from all local Ford models during the XE Falcon/ZK Fairlane series which ended in 1984. 

Ford's long wheelbase models then returned with a V8 engine in 1991 after then Ford Australia President Jac Nasser insisted on bringing back the latest imported EFI version of the original Windsor small block V8 in 4.9-litre capacity.

However, it returned only as a premium option after Ford's local six cylinder engines had become the main powertrain for Ford's prestige models.

The very first version of this small block V8 was launched locally in 1962 under the bonnet of the first compact Fairlane and powered most Fairlanes from 1962 until 1973, when the Australian version of the Cleveland V8 took over. The rare Windsor 351 and Cleveland 351 options of 1969-72 are now serious collector's items.

After Nasser brought back the Windsor small block V8 in 1991, it powered the Fairlane and LTD models until it was finally retired in 2002 at the end of the AUII series. A special locally-engineered 5.6-litre version powered the last of the very rare Tickford TL50 versions.

The final V8 option for the Fairlane was the basic 5.4-litre version of Ford's modular V8, launched in 2003 in the BA Fairlane. 

Organisers of the 11th Early Ford V8 National Event are looking for owners of factory original 1955-58 Customline/Mainline ute, 1959-61 "tank" Custom 300/Fairlane 500/Ranch wagon, 1962-64 Fairlane compact, 1964-72 Galaxie/LTD, 1967-72 Fairlane 500 and 1973-2007 Fairlane/Marquis/LTD examples to display their cars at Bendigo on Saturday June 7, to create the biggest display ever of Ford's 1932-2007 local long wheelbase Ford V8 heritage.

For further details, contact The Early Ford V8 Club Vic Inc at phibbert@swiftdsl.com.au.

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