Ford XB Falcon

Ford Falcon 500 Sedan (XB) with GS Rally Pack

Ford XB Falcon
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford Australia
Production	September 1973 – July 1976
Body and chassis
Body style	4 door sedan 5 door station wagon 2 door hardtop 2 door coupe utility 2 door panel van
Powertrain
Engine	200ci 6-cyl 250ci 6-cyl 302ci V8 351ci V8
Transmission	3spd manual (column) 4spd manual (floor) 3spd auto (column & floor)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,819 mm (111.0 in)
Length	4,808 mm (189.3 in)
Width	1,900 mm (74.8 in)
Height	1,369 mm (53.9 in)
Curb weight	1,394 kg (3,073 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Ford XA Falcon
Successor	Ford XC Falcon

The Ford XB Falcon is a car which was produced by Ford Australia between 1973 and 1976 and was built exclusively in Australia. It bore minor cosmetic differences to the preceding model, the XA, aimed at giving the car a more muscular stance. First time equipment offerings included standard front disc brakes on all models and an available carpeted interior.

Model range

The XB Falcon range included the following models:

• Falcon Sedan
• Falcon Wagon
• Falcon Utility
• Falcon Van
• Falcon 500 Sedan
• Falcon 500 Hardtop
• Falcon 500 Wagon
• Falcon 500 Utility
• Falcon 500 Van
• Futura Sedan
• Fairmont Sedan
• Fairmont Hardtop
• Fairmont Wagon
• Falcon GT Sedan
• Falcon GT Hardtop

A Grand Sport Rally Pack option, which included bonnet scoops, striping, GS insignia and "GT" instrumentation, was available on Falcon 500, Futura and Fairmont models.

John Goss Special

Main article: John Goss Special
Among the limited edition variants of the XB was the John Goss Special, released in 1975 and named for the race driver who took a Falcon to victory in the 1974 Hardie-Ferodo 1000 Touring Car race at Bathurst. These specials were based on the Falcon 500 Hardtop, with decals and other bolt on options, such as the GT Bonnet. They were available in White with a choice of two accent colors: Emerald Fire and Apollo Blue.

McLeod Ford "horn" cars

Max McLeod owned a Ford dealership in Rockdale, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney, and sponsored John Goss entered Falcons in the South Pacific Touring Series, ATCC and multiple Bathurst 1000 races. In addition to further modifications to Fords own John Goss Special, McLeod offered the "horn" pack to various falcon models. These cars are known for their stand-out "strobe" stripes that were applied to the cars, these stripes were the same as used in the McLeod sponsored John Goss racing cars.

Ford XB Falcon Van with GS Rally Pack	Ford XB Falcon 500 Sedan	Ford XB Falcon 500 Sedan with GS Rally Pack
Ford XB Falcon 500 Hardtop with GS Rally Pack	Ford XB Falcon 500 Utility with GS Rally Pack	Ford XB Fairmont Sedan with GS Rally Pack
Ford XB Fairmont Hardtop with non-standard wheels	Ford XB Fairmont Wagon with GS Rally Pack	Ford XB Falcon GT Sedan
Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop	Ford XB Falcon Hardtop "John Goss Special"	Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop McLeod Ford "Horn car"

Motor sport

Allan Moffat won the 1974 Sandown 250 driving an XB Falcon GT Hardtop. He also won the 1976 Australian Touring Car Championship driving an XB Falcon GT Hardtop and drove both an XB Falcon GT Hardtop and an XC Falcon GS Hardtop to win the 1977 Australian Touring Car Championship.

Movies

In the movie Mad Max, Mel Gibson's black Pursuit Special was a limited GT351 version of a 1973 Ford XB Falcon Hardtop. Two 1974 XB sedans were also used as Main Force Patrol pursuit vehicles. A 1974 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop is the main subject of the movie Love The Beast starring Eric Bana. The film documents the 25 year history of Eric Bana's XB Falcon, which he purchased at the age of 15.

Replica of Mad Max 1's Pursuit Special

Mad Max 1 Main Force Patrol pursuit vehicle

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Last updated on 16 August 2014 at 22:52.