ANNIVERSARY

FORD FALCON

Come September this year the first of seven generations of Ford Falcon, the XK, can chalk up 60 years having arrived here in the ninth month of 1960.

Ford’s Australian outpost was established in Geelong in 1925 as a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company of Canada Limited, a separate entity to the USA. Henry Ford had granted manufacturing rights of Ford vehicles in the British (later Commonwealth) empire except the United Kingdom, to Canadian investors.

In the late 1950s Ford purchased land at Campbellfield in Melbourne’s north and in July 1961 commissioned the newly built facility as its Australian headquarters.

The first vehicle assembled here in the 1920s was the iconic Model T from Complete Knock-Down (CKD) kits exported by Ford of Canada and 35 years later the Falcon XK also arrived here in CKD form.

But things could have been very different as the first locally built (as opposed to assembled) Ford was slated as the Mk II Zephyr, but when Ford Australia boss Charlie Smith and his team were shown the XK in 1958 in the USA, he is said to have told Australia to cancel the Zephyr.

Project Thunderbird as it was known internally, the XK Falcon (1960-1962) introduced the nameplate to Australia in two trim levels with a wagon following in November. May 1961 saw the introduction 1961 a ute and Falcon Delivery sedan (panel van).

The XK was basically a USA model adapted to suit Australian road conditions and Ford marketed the XK as ‘A World of Difference’ with its sales brochure stating, ‘The Falcon is without limitations and making a world of difference in Australian outdoor living and, it is ‘Australian with a world of difference’ as well as ‘An Australian car with a world standard in design.’

As time would tell while this all-new car did provide a World of Difference, it wasn’t quite as well suited to the rigors of Australian road conditions as the brochure claimed. Within a year running changes included the fitment of compact Fairlane ball joints. Gearboxes were also a weak link.

But the look and size of the XK were spot on and parked next to the FB Holden it looked light years ahead.

Also appealing to buyers were the XKs light steering and comfortable ride, at least on smooth roads.