Ford · 1972–1973

Ford XA Falcon

The Ford Falcon (XA) is a full-size car that was produced by Ford Australia from 1972 to 1973. It was the first iteration of the third generation of the Falcon and also included the Ford Fairmont (XA)—the luxury-oriented version. The XA platform was also used for the Australian Ford Landau.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Ford XY Falcon · Successor: Ford XB Falcon

All Ford XA Falcon data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Overview

Sold between March 1972 and September 1973, the XA series was the first Falcon to be designed (with assistance from Ford's US headquarters) and manufactured in Australia. Designed by Jack Telnack, it featured an entirely new body which was larger and more roomy than that of its XY series predecessor, giving it the "coke-bottle" look. and offered a longer list of options. Sedans and Wagons were introduced in March 1972, the Hardtops in August 1972. and the Utilities and Vans in October of that year. Wagons, utilities and panel vans now featured a longer wheelbase than the sedan. Fairmont wagons had a dual-action tailgate that could be opened either downwards or sideways, optional on base model Falcon and Falcon 500 Wagons. The addition of a two-door hardtop to the range marked the first time that this body style had been offered on an Australian Falcon since the XP series of 1965–1966. The XA hardtop bore a notable resemblance to the U.S 1971-1973 Ford Mustang hardtop. The XA hardtop's longer doors with frameless windows were shared with the utility and van, with a different shape glass to suit the commercial vehicles' body apertures. The shorter doors of the sedan and wagon with their framed windows were also available with optional quarter vent windows, though these were very rare, mainly fitted to cars in the hotter parts of Australia. This option was available in the subsequent XB and XC models, though very scarce. The XA Falcon range were the first Falcons fitted with in-dash vents for face level flow-thru ventilation, although they only worked while the car was in motion. A total of 129,473 XAs were built. While successful, the XA Falcon range proved to be short-lived as it gained a significant frontal appearance update to become the XB series in September 1973.

Powertrains and model range

The XA carried over the same six-cylinder engines previously offered on the XY Falcon range. In response to the growing popularity of its V8 engine options and the expense of importing V8s from North America, Ford Australia began local manufacture of the Cleveland V8 at its Geelong plant. As well as building the 351 cu in (5,766 cc) variant, it developed a de-stroked 302 cu in (4,942 cc) variant of this engine to replace the imported Windsor 302 engine. The high-performance variant of the 351 with four-barrel carburettor continued to be imported, eventually being replaced with a locally-produced variant during the XB model run. Engine options for the various models were as follows, with one or two-barrel carburettor options for the 250 cid inline six-cylinder and two or four-barrel options for the 351 cid eight-cylinder engines. Grand Sport Rally Pack. A Grand Sport (GS) Rally Pack was offered on Falcon, Falcon 500 and Fairmont models. The XA GS had rally stripes that ran from the front indicators to the end of the rear doors. It also shared many options as used on the GT Falcon, such as the 12 slot steel wheels with plain brushed centre caps, the three spoke wooden rimmed steering wheel with rim squeeze horn and full GT dash instrumentation featuring tachometer, odometer, oil pressure, water temperature and voltmeter as standard. For the first time the GS model range was also available as a two-door hardtop. The GS package was also offered as an option on utes and panel vans as per XY. The 260 hp (190 kW) two barrel version of the 5.8 L (351 cu in) Cleveland V8 was the largest engine option available. The GS option did not come standard with the Option 56 ‘driving lights’ grille which was standard on the GT, however it was a common addition. The GT bonnet with NACA s

Motorsport

Allan Moffat and Ian Geoghegan won the 1973 Hardie-Ferodo 1000 at Bathurst in a factory entered XA Falcon GT Hardtop and John Goss and Kevin Bartlett won the 1974 Hardie-Ferodo 1000 in a privately entered example.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Ford XA Falcon
Manufacturer: Ford Australia
aka: Ford XA Futura , Ford XA Fairmont , Ford Ranchero (South Africa)
Production: March 1972–September 1973
Predecessor: Ford XY Falcon
Successor: Ford XB Falcon
Class: Full-size car
Body style: 4-door sedan, 5-door station wagon, 2-door hardtop, 2-door coupe utility, 2-door van
Layout: FR layout
Engine: 3.3L (200ci) 6-cyl (130 bhp), 4.1L (250ci) 6-cyl (155 bhp), 4.1L (250ci) 6-cyl (170 bhp), 4.9L (302ci) V8 (240 bhp), 5.8L (351ci) V8 (260 bhp), 5.8L (351ci) V8 (300 bhp) (GT only)
Transmission: 3-speed manual , 4-speed manual , 3-speed automatic
Wheelbase: 2819 mm
Length: 4737 mm
Width: 1900 mm
Height: 1369 mm
Kerb weight: 1369 kg
Related: Ford ZF Fairlane, Ford Cortina
Designer: Jack Telnack, Brian Rossi, Allan Jackson
sp: uk