1975 FORD FALCON XBGS
There’s something very special about the profile of this generation Ford ute when you see one roll up. At first it’s difficult to put your finger on what it is, but it seems to have a long swooping flow to its lines that you don’t see anywhere else. Sure the nose cone changed across XA-XB-XC, but the profile remains much the same.
What is it? Take a closer look. It is in fact a true coupe utility, literally using the longer doors from the XA-on coupe. Our own Dr John Wright, car historian extraordinaire, describes the significance of this series: “After the US Chevrolet El Caminos and Ford Rancheros kept the Aussie coupe ute idea alive at a time when it was dead in Australia, it took Ford until 1972 to revive it locally.
“Even if the XA ute’s load bed was related to the wagon, it had genuine coupe doors and a rakish two door coupe roofline. Its wheelbase was extended to the full 116 inches (2946mm) of the Fairlane leaving stretching room inside the cabin without the huge rear overhangs of US designs to maintain load length. The long wheelbase also allowed 55 per cent of the beefy 750kg load capacity to be positioned ahead of the rear axle.
“It closely resembled the latest Ford Rancheros based on the second generation Torino as they were basically the same size but with extra clearance and shorter overhangs. The XA Falcon ute was even re-badged as the Ranchero to replace the US models on the South African market where it was hugely successful. It now supports a cult industry ready to build a V8 version of your dreams. Because it so successfully combined US Ranchero-style with the Aussie work ethic and bush clearances, it won several South African awards at the time including Best Tow Vehicle.”
“A TRUE COUPE UTE USING THE DOORS FROM THE XA-ON TWO-DOOR”