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ST Probe

ST Probe

The front-wheel drive Ford Probe debuted in the USA in 1988.It was based on the third-generation (1987-1991) Mazda 626 Coupe (MX-6 in Australia), and was built alongside it at Mazda’s Flat Rock, Michigan plant.Australians had to wait until the Probe Mk2 of 1994. Again spawned off the MX-6 (the fourth-generation 1991-1997 edition), the Ford differed from its Mazda stablemate by being a three-door hatchback rather than a two-door coupe.And speaking of design, it is actually historic for being the first production car in the world with styling overseen by a woman (Mimi Vandermolen). How she overlooked the name then remains a mystery.Only the single four-seater model made it locally, powered by a 121kW/213Nm 2.5-litre quad-cam 24-valve V6 engine mated to a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual gearbox.The Probe 24V’s long list of standard features included dual front airbags, anti-lock brakes, air-conditioning, alloy wheels, an alarm, cruise control, power steering and power windows.However, sales were slow as the sports car segment – then dominated by the Toyota Celica, Honda Prelude, MX-6 and Holden Calibra – began to slide against the tide of compact 4WDs.

Ford Probe

Ford Probe

Australia had to wait until the Probe Mk2 of 1994 which was spawned off the MX-6 (the fourth-generation 1991-1997 edition), the Ford differed from its Mazda stablemate by being a three-door hatchback rather than a two-door coupe.

WB Festiva

WB Festiva

Mazda again provided the basis for the Festiva, but although the South Korean light car benefited from its 121 “bubble” donor’s improved strength and driveability, it was never as good.Prudently, Ford purposely styled the WB to echo the late and lamented “bubbleback” Laser of the 1980s. Sales rocketed as a result.Nevertheless, the newer Hyundai Excel, Toyota Starlet and Nissan Micra were palpably better cars.An improved 48kW 1.3 provided motivation while a well-equipped GLi became the standard five-door option.A limited edition Grand Slam Festiva was also available throughout 1996.

Ford 1992 Courier XL Crew-Cab 4x4 utility

Ford 1992 Courier XL Crew-Cab 4x4 utility

FORD and Mazda have been partners since the 1970s, and the Courier light commercial ute was one of the

XG Falcon ute

XG Falcon ute

A reworked grille and front bumper bar denotes the XG utes and vans.Ford had depleted its supply of the old 4.1L OHV engine, so it engineered the old XD platform to accept the then current EB Falcon passenger car series’ 148kW/348Nm 4.0L six-cylinder engine, and five-speed manual/optional four-speed auto transmissions.The result was a smoother, quieter, better performing package. But the suspension and chassis remained the same. Ute payload rose to 820kg, the vans’ to 780kg.Inside, much of the trim was pure EB, although the dash’s basic architecture betrayed its XF origins.Inexplicably, Ford also tagged on the “Longreach” badge (the original 1920s QLD hometown of QANTAS airlines).The GLi was the new base model, featuring power power steering and a radio/cassette player, while the S added fancy stripes and sports wheels.Ford also launched the successful XR6 ute, powered by a Tickford-enhanced 161kW/365Nm version of the 4.0L engine. Its payload was reduced to 560kg.In mid-'95 the Outback model was introduced, sporting extra ground clearance, a long-range fuel tank and a limited slip diff. Anti-lock brakes became an option.Despite all these changes, the much newer Holden Commodore utility outclassed the Falcon in sales and on the road.Special editions:· Dec 95 – Tradesman: air-conditioning, rear tray bedliner.

AX Telstar

AX Telstar

Bulbous organic aero styling inside and out sat on comprehensively revised drivetrains, new suspension and a wider cabin and track.Based on the fourth generation Mazda 626, the Telstar TX5 Ghia hatchback ran concurrently with the dying Corsair until the GLX and Ghia sedans usurped the latter in late ’92.Equipment levels were high while the top-line TX5 was the only Ford to offer faddish four-wheel steering.Two new twin-cam, multi-valve engines and transmissions were available – an 85kW 2.0L “4” or Mazda’s smooth 121kW 2.5L V6, paired to either a four-speed auto or five-speed manual.Sales were brisk and both the Telstar and 626 deservedly won awards.

EB II Falcon GT

EB II Falcon GT

The 25th anniversary of the original Falcon XR GT saw Ford release 250 EB II GT models.Most easily identified by an unsubtle body kit and oval bonnet scoop, the ’92 version pumped out around 200kW (official figure, though hotly contested at the time), with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 7.3 seconds. It also featured 17-inch alloy wheels, ABS brakes, uprated sports suspension, a luxurious Fairmont Ghia-inspired interior and engine immobiliser. Standard features: climate control air-con, trip computer, power windows, central locking, leather trim, limited slip differential, ABS, upgraded audio, clock, alarm (from early ’93).

Ford Festiva

Ford Festiva

The Festiva was a South Korean-built variation of the first and second-generation Mazda 121 light car, licenced to Kia Motors when Ford had a relationship with it prior to Hyundai's takeover in the late 1990s.

WA Festiva

WA Festiva

With its once unassailable Laser small car under serious attack from the light car segment below, Ford turned to its South Korean affiliate to provide it with a low-priced entry-level salvo.The WA Festiva was a first generation 1985-1990 Mazda 121 built under licence by Kia.Although affordable, its ageing design, flimsy quality and sloppy dynamics put it behind progressive rivals like the 121 “bubble” and Holden Barina.Both the three-door Trio and five-door “Festiva” were powered by a lacklustre 46kW 1.3L “4,” coupled to either a five-speed manual or three-speed auto.

NC Fairlane and DC LTD

NC Fairlane and DC LTD

Ford struck back against the popular VQ Statesman and Caprice range with the NC/DC LTD facelift, featuring the long-awaited return of a V8.Suspension and steering modifications brought significantly improved handling, while clear front indicators, a new grille and a subtle tail-light alteration mark the NC.While the Fairlane’s base engine remained as the 139kW 3.9L I6, the LTD once again gained V8 muscle with the importation of the US-built 165kW 5.0L OHV unit.New alloy wheels and body-coloured trim, and more standard equipment mark out the NC/DC range.A new model – the Fairlane Ghia – included a limited slip diff and self-levelling suspension.

Holden 1990 Commodore Vacationer 5-dr wagon

Holden 1990 Commodore Vacationer 5-dr wagon

HOLDEN'S half-baked 1988 VN Commodore was spared the public basting its Ford EA Falcon received

Ford Capri

Ford Capri

Stung by the Capri’s public quality crucifixion, Ford implemented continuous improvements such as a revised roof mechanism and a 77kW 1.6L twin-cam 16-valve engine and optional four-speed auto for the base model – as per the US export model which went on sale there at the same time.Colour-coded bumpers became standard on the turbo version, but otherwise the SB is visually virtually identical to the SA.

Mazda 1990 626 range

Mazda 1990 626 range

SMOOTHER, quieter, stronger and more spacious, the third-generation front-wheel drive GD-series 626

A30 Maxima

A30 Maxima

The Japan-built but US-designed Maxima arrived in mid-’90 to lukewarm reviews and sales.Based on the front-wheel drive Pintara platform, Nissan pitched it against the strong selling Toyota Cressida and Ford Fairlane.Two four-door sedan models – called M and Ti – were launched, powered by a 122kW 3.0-litre fuel-injected V6 engine mated to a four-speed automatic gearbox.The Ti added climate control air-conditioning, anti-lock brakes, electric seats and a gimmicky PIN touch-pad locking system to the M’s air-conditioning, power steering, cruise control, power windows, alloy wheels and central locking.The M-based LE of late 1991 featured a CD player and sunroof.

Holden 1990 Commodore Executive sedan

Holden 1990 Commodore Executive sedan

HOLDEN'S half-baked 1988 VN Commodore was spared the public basting its Ford EA Falcon received

Holden 1990 Statesman V6 sedan

Holden 1990 Statesman V6 sedan

HOLDEN just couldn't get the local prestige car thing right. Its first effort was the Brougham,

AV Telstar TX5

AV Telstar TX5

With the unloved Corsair representing the more affordable medium sector, Ford resumed importing the well-equipped TX5 Ghia and TX5 Turbo hatchbacks from Japan.A new grille, trim and wheels distinguish the AV.

Nissan 1989 Pintara T 4-dr sedan

Nissan 1989 Pintara T 4-dr sedan

“PROJECT MATILDA”, Nissan Australia’s great gamble to take on the popular Toyota Camry,

Ford Corsair

Ford Corsair

Nissan and Ford collaborated in bringing the 'Matilda' project to market in Australia, as their respective replacements for the ungainly rear-drive Pintara and expensive Mazda-sourced Telstar. But the front-drive Corsair was a disaster, with sub-standard levels of refinement and quality in a dull and uninspiring package. That it helped brought down Nissan Australia's local manufacturing arm is no surprise - the Corsair was perhaps the worst Ford sold here since the Cortina.

Ford Corsair

Ford Corsair

With a disastrous 1957 Edsel variant and dismal 1962 UK Ford preceding it, it’s a wonder Ford chose "Corsair" as the name for its Telstar replacement in 1989.This one was the plain, numbingly mediocre twin to the equally ignominious and outdated U12 Pintara, the front-wheel drive mid-sized four-door sedan (and, from September ’90, a useful hatchback) Nissan developed locally under the Federal Government’s model sharing plan.Two gruff four-cylinder engines (an 83kW 2.0L in the basic GL and 96kW 2.4L in the well-equipped Ghia) were available. Both could be had with a four-speed auto or five-speed manual transmission.Cruelly, the curse of the Corsair moniker struck, forcing its builder Nissan to shut-up shop as an Australian manufacturer in late 1992.

Toyota 1989 Camry Executive sedan

Toyota 1989 Camry Executive sedan

TOYOTA'S second-generation Camry became the locally made Corona replacement in 1987, kicking off

Ford Capri

Ford Capri

Ford's first exclusively locally made four-seater convertible was based on 1985-1989 Ford Laser running gear, but featured its own body and cabin. If the airbag-related delays that saw the prettier and punchier Mazda MX-5 beat the Capri on the world market didn't happen, then perhaps the car's eventual fate would have been much sunnier.

A101 Applause

A101 Applause

Flushed with the success of the Charade, Daihatsu decided to take on the Ford Laser-led brigade with the Applause.Its boxy sedan styling hides a usefully large hatchback door, good rear seat room and a spacious luggage area.Underneath though it’s small car conventional, with front-wheel drive and a trusty 77kW 1.6L four-cylinder engine mated to either a five-speed manual or four-speed auto transmission.Three well-equipped versions – base Li, volume selling Executive, luxury Xi and Ri Sport models – were available.But invisible marketing, a silly name and rapidly rising prices stymied any real success locally.Upgraded safety and equipment levels mirrored the minor facelift and small trim changes from late 1992.

Ford Capri

Ford Capri

Loosely styled on the 1983 Ford Barchetta convertible concept car by Italian coachbuilders Ghia, the KC/KE Laser-based, front-wheel drive, 4-seater Capri carried the export hopes of the Australian motor industry, as it was primarily intended for American market consumption.But a costly US regulations change and teething durability issues delayed the programme by over the year, and by the time the Capri hit the streets locally in October 1989 it was comprehensively overshadowed by Mazda MX-5 mania – the drop-top the Capri ironically shared some mechanical parts with.On going quality concerns, a leaky roof and the early ‘90s recession never ignited sales. Two engines were available – a 66kW 1.6L single-cam 8-valve base model (in 5-speed manual or 3-speed auto variations) and a manual-only 100kW 1.6L twin-cam 16-valve turbocharged unit.All Capris come with air-con, alloy wheels and power steering, while a steel hardtop was optional.

DB11 (Mk1) 121

DB11 (Mk1) 121

A redesigned grille, body-hued outside trim, revised fabrics and instrumentation, new colours and improved seats mark the mini Mazda’s minor facelift.The Mk1 121 lived on after the demise of the Mazda-badged version when Ford re-released it as the WA Festiva in October ’91, in three-door and new-to-Australia five-door hatch variants.However Kia Motors in South Korea built the WA Festiva for Ford until early 1994.

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