XC Falcon

It only took Ford 17 years for its Falcon to become Australia’s best-selling car – a feat the XC achieved during 1977 against the frankly hopeless HX Kingswood.

Part of the reason was that Ford’s response to the July 1 1976 mandatory ADR 27A anti-pollution laws was to redevelop the Falcon engines with a cross-flow head for greater efficiency and better driveability – especially compared to the rough-running HX.

The revised 3.3 now produced 80kW/220Nm, the 4.1 low-compression 85kW/272Nm and the 4.1 high-compression 92kW/289Nm, while the 4.9 and 5.8 V8s developed 151kW/364Nm and 162kW/429Nm respectively.

Ford also fettled with the steering and suspension, to create what it advertised as “The Great Australian Road Car.” In top-line Fairmont GXL guise, with its four-wheel disc brakes, lowered suspension and well-equipped interior, it was.

Sadly though, the GXL replaced the once-hallowed GT in the local line-up, while the Futura also vanished.

Ford also addressed the XA/XB vision problems by expensively redesigning larger-windowed rear doors and installing an all-new dash with higher seats. Better flow-through ventilation was also incorporated.

A less aggressive nose (with square headlights on the Fairmont models) gives the XC away from the outside, along with redesigned tail-lights with new separate reverse lights and large (and unsightly) American-style chrome bumpers.

In April ’78 Ford responded to Holden’s successful “Radial Tuned Suspension” package that revitalised HZ Kingswood sales with the “XC 1/2”, with firmer suspension settings, more standard features and repositioned Ford badges.

This was the last of the overtly American design-influence Falcons.

In all, 171,082 XCs were built before the completely rebodied, European-style XD Falcon took over in early 1979.