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By
DAVID PIKE
Introduced in September 1960 and looking clean and sleek the XK Falcon
gave the buyer wanting an Australian made car a choice for the first
time and was an instant hit with buyers looking for something with more
up-to-date styling or a little different from the staid Holden FB which
was to be its major competition.
Brochures and publicity of the day, touted the Falcon as
`Australian - with a world of difference'. In reality the first
model Falcon was a right-hand clone of the US model. This very
fact turned out to be a big problem for Ford Australia, because
the Falcon was to prove rather fragile when subjected to
Australian roads of the time, especially when they were promoted
with the catchcry `designed for Australian conditions'. Though the
new model was popular with Australian buyers, it was to be five
years before Ford Australia could begin to show a profit.
Almost austere in appearance, the Falcon XK carried a minimum
of exterior decoration and sold on release for $2274 for the basic
model. If the optional automatic transmission was fitted the cost
rose to $2512.
A deluxe model which differed only from the basic model in trim
and decoration was available at $2636. Because of the austere
appearance the accessory manufacturers had a field day producing
chrome wheel trims, rear wheel spats, sun visors, weather shields,
a rear window venetian blind and a chrome plated bonnet ornament.
A year or so after introduction of the sedan a station wagon and
then a utility were added to the range.
In comparison with the Holden, the Falcon's engine was somewhat
more powerful and automatic transmission was offered as an option.
The base model engine was the 144 cubic inch model (2.36 litres)
which had 6 cylinders in line with two valves per cylinder and
produced 67kW. The optional 170 cubic inch (2.78 litres) model
produced 75kW. The 144 engine powered Falcon had a top speed of
135 km/h accelerating from 0 to 100km/h in 17 seconds. Time to
cover a standing quarter mile (402 metres) was 20.8 seconds.
Hydraulic 229 mm drum brakes were fitted and the low geared
recirculating ball steering required five turns from lock to lock
for a turning circle of 11.6 metres.
Suspension was fairly basic and comprised independent coil
springs with hydraulic double acting shock absorbers and
stabiliser bar in the front and the rear had a live axle with
semi-elliptic springs and double acting shock absorbers. As with
the competition dash instrumentation was rather sparse with a
speedometer and odometer, fuel gauge, temperature gauge plus oil
and generator warning lights.
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