XD Falcon ute

Crisp, glassy Euro-style Australian design that sat on carryover XC Falcon mechanicals marked the XD as a total re-skin of the 19-year-old series.

It gave Ford a decided advantage over Holden, which persisted with the ageing 1971 HQ-based HZ series.

But Ford still could not offer a rival to the 1000kg payload Holden Cab Chassis tray. GL replaced the “500” while the base model was simply known as “Falcon.” Weight-saving plastic abounded.

The standard GL spec included an 82kW/228Nm 3.3L in-line OHV six (I6) mated to a column-shift three-speed manual (a floor-mounted four-speeder was optional), though most buyers chose the three-speed auto. Payload was 750kg against Holden’s 775kg.

The sporty Sundowner van from October ’79 featured stripes and decals, and a reduced payload of 500kg.

Engine options: 94kW/295Nm 4.1L I6, 140kW/344Nm 4.9L V8, 194kW/415Nm 5.8L V8.