FORD FALCON EB II-EL XR8

THE BIGGEST NEWS WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE EB FALCON WAS THE RETURN OF THE V8 ENGINE AFTER A DECADE

Ford Australia in the early 1980s was famously blindsided in 1982 when it predicted the imminent death of V8 engines and of performance cars in general. A decade after declaring Australian demand for V8 engines was dead, Ford acknowledged its error and again offered a V8 option to its EB Falcon range.

First word of a sporty Falcon came in 1991 with the addition of a 165kW S-XR8 Pack which was joined in 1992 by an S-XR6. The first stand-alone XR8s were the ED versions, released in 1993 and followed by a limited production (200 cars) Sprint that used the 192kW EB GT engine.

Basic EBII and ED XR8s developed just 4kW more than the cheaper XR6 but came with an exhaust note that the six-cylinder car couldn’t duplicate. The differential ratio was lowered to trigger improved mid-range acceleration, yet top speed was an achievable 215km/h.

Differentiating XR models from others in the ED range was the distinctive four-light nose and unobtrusive boot spoiler. Trim was boring but durable, with woven cloth on the seats and cabin plastics that seem to last longer than most before succumbing to fading and dash cracks.

Loads of seat adjustment and a steering column that moved vertically would allow almost anyone to be comfortably seated in an XR8 for hours on end. That was particularly useful for those who frequently ran between major cities such as Sydney-Brisbane. With a 68-litre tank capacity and Highway Cycle consumption of 9.5L/100km, the trip could be completed with a single fuel stop and mid-point driver swap.

The updated EF launched in 1994 brought a longer nose, fluted bonnet and a miserable 3kW power increase. EFs were highlighted by restyled alloy wheels and an expanded colour range.

Ford claimed that EL versions sold from 1996-98 were quieter than any previous Falcon, due to additional sound deadening and improved construction procedures. Cars sold after October 1997 included air-conditioning and around 700 were fitted with 185kW engines. These cars also featured improved rear suspension geometry to reduce body roll.

Although at least 25 years old, these Falcons remain enjoyable and sufficiently competent to serve as everyday transport. They were the first Falcons with a driver-side airbag as standard and one for the passenger optional.

ABS brakes came standard too, but the braking system is an XR8 weakness and lots of owners have spent money on upgrades. Cars with upgraded, after-market brakes are worth having but don’t pay ridiculous money.

Sadly, lots of XR8s were seen as underpriced fodder for street racers to thrash and crash. Anything from minor body damage to a simple mechanical failure would see otherwise good cars scrapped without a second thought. Stocks available to the current market are restricted as a result.

With demand for good cars surging and value increases, buying with the future in mind has become important. The desirable cars are manual, with low kilometres in colours other than white or red. Be wary of the XR8 with cracked or poorly aligned bumpers which hint at more serious crash damage and possible consequences for suspension alignment.