Top five Ford Falcon models to invest in

The Ford Falcon went on sale in Australia in 1960 – the year after its North American launch in Detroit.

This was due to Ford’s decision in 1956 not to proceed with the plan to manufacture the English Zephyr at its new Broadmeadows plant outside Melbourne, but instead to go with the American Falcon – a simpler, more modern car.

This XK Falcon was not sufficiently robust for local conditions and running changes were necessary. Its XL successor, introduced in July 1962, was much improved.

A highlight of the new range was the Squire wagon in the American tradition of ‘woody’ wagons; the ‘wood’, of course, was plastic.

The first generation was completed in 1963 by the XM Falcon, the first to receive significant Australian engineering input and claiming ‘Certified Golden Quality’, and the XP.

A stylish two-door Hardtop – a first from an Australian manufacturer – was the new flagship. Bill Bourke, an American wiz-kid marketing dude, conceived the idea of a 70,000-mile Durability Run at Ford Australia’s brand new You-Yangs proving ground at an average of 70mph.

At that stage no-one was even sure that such an average was possible around the tortuous, narrow track.

Bourke’s plan meant recruiting racing drivers to pilot the car. Fortunately for Ford’s reputation – already troubled – in this country, his bold scheme paid off and the Falcon’s poor fortune was reversed overnight.

Bourke’s next tricks were to produce a high-performance version of the Falcon and a luxury edition with a stretch in the wheelbase and a bigger boot: enter the Falcon GT and Fairlane respectively in the first half of 1967.

With the ‘Mustang-bred’ XR range launched in 1966, any Ford Falcon sedan could be optioned with the same 289 cubic-inch V8 that proved so popular in the Mustang.

While Bill Bourke’s US colleagues laughed at his invention of a four-door GT, customers loved it and so did racers. The XR GT and its successors wrote their names indelibly on the bitumen of Mount Panorama.

The Falcon was here to stay and by the early 1970s (with Bourke promoted from deputy managing director to the top job) was challenging Holden’s spot as the country’s top-selling car.

The rakish 1972 XA model also came in Hardtop form, which is how the XA/XB/XC appeared at Bathurst.

The comprehensive XB facelift (1973) saw the introduction of ‘The Great Australian Road Car’; with its better engines (sixes and V8s) and crisper handling than the Holden or Valiant, this was almost an example of truth in advertising.

The brilliant conceived XD – essentially a reskinned XC with great new features including extensive use of plastics – moved the Falcon towards a market dominance it would enjoy until the arrival of Holden’s VN Commodore in 1988, a car essentially modelled on the Falcon template.

Despite Australians’ love affair with many things American, they were not much charmed by the ‘woody’ Squire, which was the flagship of the ‘Trim, Taut, Terrific’ XL Falcon line-up.

The Squire was equipped with the larger 170 cubic-inch ‘Pursuit’ engine introduced as an option on Falcons during the final months of XK production, after requests from the police for more power. There was a choice of three-speed manual or two-speed automatic transmission.

With the prices of many Australian models rising steeply, the Squire – rare even when new – represents a good buying opportunity. Shannons sold an excellent example in 2019 for $23K.

The XD Falcon was the first range to include ESP variants. Standing for ‘European Sports Pack’, these cars had lowered suspension, driving lights and other niceties. Early on, the XD ESP used the entry-level Falcon GL as a starting point but, for XE, an ESP was a Fairmont Ghia configured and dressed to thrill.

The 4.1-litre alloy-head six-cylinder engine with Weber carburettor was the standard unit and this was replaced by the EFI version of the same six from early 1983. But buyers could also choose between the 4.9-litre V8 and the Cleveland 5.8.

With their Bilstein dampers, lowered suspension and striking gold seven-inch Sno-Flake alloy wheels, the XE ESP drove better than Commodores of the day, its margin increasing as roads worsened and the Holden’s rear-end grew twitchy.

Either V8 with manual transmission gives strong performance but the six goes reasonably well and uses less fuel.

These cars have become quite rare and values have spiked, so beware of lesser Falcons tricked up with ESP bits. It would be best to consult one of the Falcon car clubs before buying. This may actually be the easiest way of finding an example to purchase.

Given that the best examples of the XY Falcon GT command prices getting frighteningly close to seven figures, a Fairmont V8 makes a great and (relatively) affordable alternative.

The XY was extremely popular when new and it was a much nicer car to drive than the radical new HQ Holden which arrived on the market late in the XY’s tenure.

A larger 250 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine was standard on the Fairmont along with the new Cruise-O-Matic transmission.

A GS dress-up kit made lesser XYs look just like the GT.

The six-cylinder Fairmont is an appealing car but the V8 engine option makes it feel like a close relation to the fabled GT for less than 10 per cent of the outlay.

The XM and XP Falcon Hardtops were the most stylish models produced by the Australian motoring industry in the swinging sixties.

Despite its elegance, the Hardtop failed to appeal to sufficient Australian customers and thus appeared only in XM and XP guise, until it was reimagined for the XA to XC models from 1972 to early 1979.

Americans loved two-door hardtops, but Australian motorists seemed to believe that only second cars or true sports cars should come with just one pair of doors!

When equipped with the new Super Pursuit 200 cubic-inch engine and automatic transmission, the Hardtop had a reasonable turn of speed and one of these proved to be the quickest of the six XPs that were entered in the Durability Run.

All Falcons from this era are increasing in value but the Hardtops are the most sought after. The XP generally commands a slight premium over its predecessor but it is the one with You-Yangs provenance.

When prices of XR, XT, XW and most notably XY Falcon GTs rose dramatically two decades and more ago, the next shape XA and XB GTs were left a fair way behind.

That has been remedied in more recent years, but both still lag a way behind the earlier models and the XB – the last Falcon GT of the 20th century – remains easily the most affordable.

Hardtops command a premium over sedans, largely because of their Bathurst connection, which makes the XB GT Hardtop a great bet for a Ford enthusiast.

These cars are less practical than their sedan counterparts with compromised rear vision and rear seat ingress and egress. But don’t they look awesome and who could forget Mad Max?

Some sellers get greedy but good cars are available at the figures quoted here.