The Ford XD Falcon is a car that was produced by the Ford Motor Company of Australia between 1979 and 1982.
The XD series was introduced on 28 March 1979 and was initially offered in five models:
- Falcon GL (sedan and wagon)
- Fairmont (sedan and wagon)
- Fairmont Ghia (sedan)
There was also an ESP (European Sports Pack) model released in 1980.
The base engine was a 3.3-litre six-cylinder with a 4.1-litre (250 cu in) six, a 4.9-litre (302 cu in) and a 5.8-litre (351 cu in) also available. Transmissions available were three-speed column shift manual for six-cylinder versions, the popular four-speed manual floor shift, and the most popular transmission choice, the three-speed automatic with the selector lever located either the column or floor. Stylistically, the XD was strongly influenced by the European Ford Granada Mark II of 1977.
Commercial variants of the XD Falcon were released in September 1979 with four models offered:
- Falcon (utility and van)
- Falcon GL (utility and van)
A total of 197,293 XD Falcons were built.
Falcon GL sedan Fairmont sedanFamous quotes containing the words ford and/or falcon:
“All this stuff you heard about America not wanting to fight, wanting to stay out of the war, is a lot of horse dung. Americans, traditionally, love to fight. All real Americans love the sting of battle.... Americans play to win all the time. I wouldn’t give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That’s why Americans have never lost—and will never lose—a war, because the very thought of losing is hateful to Americans.”
—Francis Ford Coppola (b. 1939)
“My falcon now is sharp and passing empty,
And till she stoop she must not be full-gorged,
For then she never looks upon her lure.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)