I hope you like this video on the XK Falcon. What do you think of the XK? I like it!
@Imperious685
5 ай бұрын
Early 1978 after emigrating to Brisbane from the UK, this was the first car my Dad bought here, an XK sedan. I remember Him looking at a Valiant AP5 Safari wagon but can't remember why He chose the Falcon, It was probably cheaper. The XK had the 144 and also had that nice falcon bird chrome emblem on the bonnet. The first time out to the shops at Cannon Hill the Gearbox or clutch failed. I think the previous owner helped out with the repair cost. Christmas Day 1978 the suspension collapsed on the right front. prior to that happening When we were at cubs/scouts I distinctly remember I always knew when dad was coming as there was this creaking noise from the suspension You could hear from 100 metres or so away. Then next Christmas we went to Sydney. The exhaust fell off around Warwick. Then we came all the way back from Sydney on 5 cylinders and I can remember the poor little 144 protesting every time we went up a steep climb. He put a 170 pursuit in it but sold the car in 1980. He wasn't a fan but I had a soft spot for it.
@markbehr88
5 ай бұрын
Gee. Sounds like he had plenty of problems with it. My Dad had one too. I was very young but he never seemed to have had any issues (it was the standard auto) and he bought a green and white XL wagon after that (I have an episode on the channel) and then bought our Galaxie (which I still have). At least you have fond memories of it! 👍👍
@markoastler1592
Жыл бұрын
Hugely significant car in Ford’s global history given its success in the US compact wars of the early 1960s and its infamous debut in Australia. Its early durability issues planted the seed for Ford’s fantastic local Falcon development program which ensured they became more than tough enough for Aussie conditions. I’ll always have a soft spot for these early birds.
@markbehr88
Жыл бұрын
Me too Mark and good point re what a massive success it was in the US.
@phillipm1039
11 ай бұрын
Your channel just keeps getting better and better
@markbehr88
11 ай бұрын
Thanks very much Phillip. Appreciate it.
@jamiefrangos9233
Жыл бұрын
Nice work Mark ! Dad had an XP 170 Pursuit I believe. The drivers floor was rusted so he got some concrete and coat hangers to fix it. Ya gotta love Australia's self reliance and inginuity back then.
@markbehr88
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Jamie. I must say, I have never heard of fixing floorpans with concrete and coat hangers 😀. Well, it it works…. There used to be a lot of these old Falcons around. I do have an XL wagon (see episode on the channel) that needs plenty of work. My brother once had a very nice Rose coloured XK he bought back in the 80’s for $500 or so. I wish I had of bought a few back then too.
@lffit
7 күн бұрын
My father was one of the first in our city to buy one, I used to be so proud when he dropped me off in school in it, such a head tuning modern car was a surefire head turner. It was Koala Grey with a white top which he paid an extra 25 pounds to be added. Through his friendship with the salesman at the dealership he got me my first job at 17 as a cadet salesman. At the time the local Holden dealer had bought an XK and was showing their customers how flimsy the Falcon was by comparison with the Holden, their favourite trick was to pull out the front guard arch, which angered us all enormously, thus the battle began! Prior we always had Zephyrs in the family, from the Mk 1 model then onto the Mk 2 series. On my first day a work they had a MK3? on display, I never saw another come into stock after that!.
@markbehr88
7 күн бұрын
@@lffit Thanks very much for sharing that story. I am sure you have many fond memories of the car and your father. It reminded me of our XK sedan and XL wagon. Wonderful memories but also a little sad too of times gone by. I’m glad these videos can bring back recollections of those days. 👍
@MitchTube
5 ай бұрын
I love that part of the sales video was a guy doing some circle work out the back of the workshop 😂
@markbehr88
5 ай бұрын
Yes, it was very dark and dramatic before they softened it at the end with the kids sleeping in the back. 👍
@jasoncarpp7742
8 ай бұрын
Although I was too young at the time, I remember reading about the Ford Falcon.
@markbehr88
8 ай бұрын
Yes, it came out before I was born too, however, I remember seeing plenty on the road.
@noelroberts8199
6 ай бұрын
The advertising tells you it's the best car on the road, the facts are it was a lemon as far as suspension is concerned, but isn't that what advertising is all about, "It's shiny new, It's strong and it's dependable, buy it now, and hand over your hard earned dollars"... 🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗
@markbehr88
6 ай бұрын
Suspension issues aside (which were somewhat remedied with the Compact Fairlane balljoints and other components) what the Falcon did deliver was a reliable engine, very modern styling well ahead of the FB Holden and a roomy body for 6 people in a relatively compact and economical package. The suspension was too soft although we never had an issue with ours - which was used as a normal family car and not driven to the back of Bourke and beyond.
@gerarddaly3538
Жыл бұрын
Great video very informative thanks for putting the ford promotional video on . Keep up the good work
@markbehr88
Жыл бұрын
Thanks very much Gerard.
@icascone
Жыл бұрын
Great insight video!
@markbehr88
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Ivano!
@AussiePom
5 ай бұрын
When the Geelong plant was built Ford asked Victorian Railways how long would it take to build a rail line into the Geelong plant off their railway line. Back came the answer "5 years". Well Ford Australia wasn't going to wait that long so Ford built it themselves and had it up and running within three months. My dad had an XK Falcon as a company car and he kept it like new. It was traded for another company car which dad didn't get as the company decided to drop the salaries of those who had a company car so dad bought his own Cortina. He saw the XK on a used car lot for it still had the same rego plate and the speedo had been wound back from 35K to 19K. Dad never bought a car from them.
@markbehr88
5 ай бұрын
Great story. I am not surprised by the Gov’t response or the used car dealer! 👍
@AussiePom
5 ай бұрын
@@markbehr88My mum and dad were transferred to Australia by the company dad worked for in the UK so they weren't "ten pound poms" Dad's parents visited us in Australia about 1961-62 when we lived in Melbourne. Dad had the Falcon at this stage and his dad who had a Morris Minor asked at the airport if there would be enough room in the Falcon for their luggage. Dad told me he said "oh yes I think we might just be able to fit them all in the boot". Dad said even with all his parents luggage in the boot there was still acres of room and his dad was gobsmacked at the size of the car. When they got home after the luggage was inside the house and mum and gran were talking, as women do, dad and his dad were straight outside again with their heads under the bonnet discussing all things mechanical. We lived in Ashburton in Orford Rd off Warrigal Rd. When my brother was a little boy he was dyslexic so for him he lived in Awful Rd of Horrible Rd. For him at that age dad's Falcon didn't have windscreen wipers but windscreepers. My parents came to Australia by a P&O ship and the first Australian port they landed in was Fremantle where they were met by a company representative Dennis Farris, a name which means nothing to most people. But we has the father of the three sons who would later form the band INXS.
@markbehr88
5 ай бұрын
@@AussiePom Great story. Those Falcons were very space efficient 👍
@erroneouscode
8 ай бұрын
The suspension problems wasn't limited to ball joints. The XK particularly had a problem with the spring towers. Where the upper control arm mounted through the spring tower it could develop stress cracks around the bolt holes. Sometimes the upper control arm bolts could pull through the tower if the cracking problem was severe enough.
@markbehr88
8 ай бұрын
Yes, that is true. It was not restricted to ball joints although the Compact Fairlane ball joints were part of the upgrade package. 👍
@JohnShinn1960
Жыл бұрын
I'd love to get my hands on a '60 Ranchero. 🤠👍
@markbehr88
Жыл бұрын
Yes. They are a nice car. Our ute (Ranchero) had less overhang and the same doors as the four door. The Ranchero had the coupe doors I believe?
@triggeredleftyvegan6004
Жыл бұрын
Ball joints have never been a strong point of a Falcon even in later years, but the inline 6 is bulletproof.
@markbehr88
Жыл бұрын
Agree. Love your avatar by the way 👍
@UncleJoeLITE
7 ай бұрын
Good morning, quick engagement comment.
@markbehr88
7 ай бұрын
👍👍
@stephenvelden295
6 ай бұрын
I believe the differential axle tubes were just pressed into the centre housing. Apparently they didn't stay pressed in!
@markbehr88
6 ай бұрын
Really? I didn’t know that. Thanks 👍
@chriscollings5882
7 ай бұрын
dont blame it all on the US falcons, i imported a 1963 falcon hardtop factory V8 ps/auto about 10 years ago so i have a bit of interest here about the falcons front suspension, firstly my US falcon has what is discribed in the literature as fairlane suspension/brakes/engine/ 8.5 in diff, the front suspension has 4 bolt balljoints steel bush upper control arm bushes, early style roller spring perches all greasable, the steering box is old skool ram power assisted 16.1 with a one year only 1 1/8 sector shaft and a massive idler arm that i have installed an aftermarket roller bearing kit, one of the best things i have done, the list could go on here. my falcond front suspension parts are virtually the same as a 1966 mustang. i only could assume ford australia was a bit tight arse and made there own bits and did not use tougher suspension bits? look at the latter XM/XP,s still used RUBBER upper control arm bushes i mean, how cheep, they wear out in months, my falcon has double walled shock tower braces, local fords single skin, US falcons, thicker sheet metal all through the front, from front floor pans forward, the myth that roads in USA are all smooth concrete is rubbish, i travelled for 4 months from LA to yellowstone and jackson hole and back through colorado and nevada to LA in 1976 and take my word me the roads where just like our country roads here, hit and miss and rough, so imagine what it was like in the 60,s. i like my falcon and travel around WA country as much as i can black top to gravel and i have had no problems with my front or rear suspension, in reality all we ever got from FORD or GM in the early days where the povity packs. imagine if in 1963 you could have bought from ford a falcon with 260 ci windsor V8, auto or 4 speed T10 AC/PS 2 speed electric wipers, 2 speed heater demister. and proper engineered suspension you could if you lived in USA. Keep on cruising
@markbehr88
7 ай бұрын
Thanks. Your 1963 Falcon (Sprint?) V8 had beefed up suspension compared to the 1959 release US Ford Falcon (which is what we received) . No doubt part of the upgrade kit for the Australian Falcons was influenced by what was off the shelf in the US too. The US road system was and is, far better than ours. Per the episodes on my channel I have driven right across the US probably 10 times. You are right though, there are still plenty of poor roads too, including some major freeways in some states, where maintenance is not kept up to standard. Anyway, your car sounds pretty cool 👍
@robertmorris6529
3 ай бұрын
At a guess I would say 6 cyl base model ( lower kerb weight , less cost ) was our model source , your V8 as you say would have significant upgrades because expectations a harder life, Heavy Duty parts for a lighter model , would be regular for a larger one . How big was a ' 59 Fairlane ?
@markbehr88
3 ай бұрын
59 Fairlane was a big full size US car. Ford Galaxie.
@robertmorris6529
3 ай бұрын
@markbehr88 my comment re 59 Fairlane parts being the possible Heavy Duty parts fitted to 63 'SPRINT' V8 Ranchero mentioned . As GALAXIE was top line version of Fairlane , obviously the Falcon , being a lightweight , economy , family car lighter duty components were specified . They ( Ford engineers ) may have had to use them , what else would have been available at that point ? ' Mustang ? A little early perhaps ?
@robertmorris6529
3 ай бұрын
@markbehr88 BIG THANK YOU for your efforts , Insider info after the event really clears the air of dislike for ' Top Level ' decisions even if you cannot bring yourself to Forgive them . Also , other folks' efforts on KZitem in Automotive Industry ' fact finding ' and revelations about behind the scenes workings are to me most interesting !
@I.Live4oldcars.prospecting
7 ай бұрын
I know the son of the guy who had the XK Ford used in those vids
@markbehr88
7 ай бұрын
Very cool 👍
@I.Live4oldcars.prospecting
7 ай бұрын
@markbehr88 yeah. I didn't believe him when he told me. But he showed me pics. His dad bought the car off Ford once they finished with it. I could probably get copies of his pics if I ask him.
@markbehr88
7 ай бұрын
@@I.Live4oldcars.prospecting great story isn’t it. Imagine if he still had the car!
@petermurgatroyd2002
5 ай бұрын
Did not know that about the Wagon length was reduced for Australia.
@markbehr88
5 ай бұрын
Yes, too much overhand on the US version 👍
@davidbarnsley8486
7 ай бұрын
I’m a bit late to see this episode but the ford and equivalent Holden were like chalk and cheese I suppose because it was an established model overseas they thought it was ok for Australia And the gravel roads here sorted it
@markbehr88
7 ай бұрын
They were chalk and cheese styling wise and packaging wise. True to say the Ford needed more development of the suspension (see the later model episodes on that) but the Holden was still selling 1957 styling themes. It was not until the EJ that the styling became more contemporary for Australians. The competition was definitely good for the customer. Of that there is no doubt. Chrysler also played an important role in this too.
@jamesfrench7299
5 ай бұрын
Nice concise vid on the debut model. It forced Holden to wake up and start developing more up to date designs. Did the Ford of UK cars stand up better?
@markbehr88
5 ай бұрын
Thanks. The English cars were probably used mainly in city and suburban running didn’t get the same abuse. Plus, their sales were much lower too. 👍
@jamesfrench7299
5 ай бұрын
@@markbehr88 interesting.
@tonyelberg7814
6 ай бұрын
I HAD A MATE WHO HAD ONE OF THESE THE LINKAGE ON THE GEARBOX PACKED IT IN SO HE CUT A HOLE IN THE FLOOR AND USED A SHIFTER TO CHANGE FROM PARK TO DRIVE ETC HAHAHAHAHA
@markbehr88
6 ай бұрын
Makes sense 👍
@tba3900
7 ай бұрын
Ford still to this day say at every release they have done millions ok Km of testing. I once said to a Ford engineer , this million Km of testing,, did one car do 1million Km or did 1 million cars do a Km each. Sometimes I feel it’s the latter with Ford . Having blue blood , I even question some of the crap they imported here, especially the modern stuff , like Kuga, escape, ecosport . Australia used to be unique but I feel we are the dumping ground for unsold stock. Just look at Holden and daewoo alliance, that marriage produced some fugly children.
@markbehr88
7 ай бұрын
When they say 1 million KM etc that is the combined distance of multiple cars not one car. I know this because when I was in Product Planning for Holden we had to run up miles on the prototype VTs so we could make one of those claims.
@tba3900
7 ай бұрын
@@markbehr88 yeah I know , I just like taking the piss when manufacturers make these claims and some cars won’t see first service before a catastrophic failure happen, hence the 1 million cars 1 Km each.
@markbehr88
7 ай бұрын
@@tba3900 I know what you mean, especially back in the day.
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