Back in 1988 as a 21 year old working in tyre sales, I was very impressed of the XF Fairmont Ghia, the 15” alloy wheels and the futuristic all digital dash display.

I had an 84 XF 4.1 , T bar auto . After many years the motor was smoking badly , the auto was slipping and she was getting tired . I spotted a low milage ZL Fairlane on the side of the road for $400 which had been rear ended but was still drivable . I fitted the Fairlane engine , auto box and limited slip disc brake diff into my XF . The digital dash also went straight in the XF and to my surprise everything worked , oil pressure, tacho etc.. My XF was one of the rare ones that missed out on the standard factory rust . It was 25 years old when I retired it . Overall a bloody good car..

"EFI + EEC IV + WOW" I still have the sticker that came in a car magazine at the time (Modern Motor I think).

My one & only speeding ticket was in ‘94 in a Monza red EFI auto XF S pack that belonged to a mate’s dad. He was drunk, and ran out of beer. I stopped him driving to the grog shop to get more, by volunteering to take him. First auto I’d driven, and it got away going down a hill. Cop wasn’t amused when my mate’s dad started abusing him for pulling over someone who was keeping a drunk off the road. He got straight into writing the ticket. I’ll never know if he might have reduced my 71 in a 60 zone to a warning or not. XFs were everywhere in the day. Many of my school mates parents had them as company cars or family cars. The fact they were on sale for just under 3.5 years helped, but also the shift back to larger cars won them many more sales away from Holden at the time too. I quite like them.

I traded in my VL Holden wagon for an XF Falcon wagon mainly because it had much more room for packing our families camping/holiday gear, plus, with its front bench seat, it separated any fights between the kids.

I bought an XF Fairmont Ghia in 1990 it was an 85 model drove the guts out of it. I now drive a Honda Accord Euro Luxury 2012 model. But parked next to the Honda in my garage is a 2010 FG XR6 Turbo with just 50.765 km on the clock

Here is my latest video on the history of Falcon. The XF. The best selling Falcon ever! Please make sure you Subscribe and 👍Like👍. It doesn’t cost a thing and really helps my channel. Thanks for watching. What do you think of the XF? 👍

I had a 1984 Fairmont Ghia and my memories was the velour seats, pioneer stereo, digital dashboard and automatic center air vents, not to mention a y2k incompatible travel computer lol

When Ford changed to unleaded on the xf an easy way to identify one is the reflector on the side of the front bumper. They were a much more refined car over the xe a very nice ride.

Easiest way to differentiate between leaded and unleaded was the top of the bumper bags were painted instead of all black top and they had the side repeater indicator in the side of the bumper.

My first car was given to me from my late father 21 yrs ago, fuel injected Spac sedan that marine blue, he grabbed it off the side of the road for 800$ wit 6 months rego. Will never foget that moment in my life ❤

In 2001 I purchased an XF1/2 for $3000 with 70k on the clock and maintained it for more than fifteen years. First thing I did was shove it on LPG. It was a big, comfortable car but was let down by a multitude of things: head gaskets, door handles, power steering leaks, a/c failure, accelerator cable melting by heat from the manifold and towards the end the plastic tubes for the vacuum operated HVAC system deteriorated so that you had to plug up the leaks or cut off the cracked bits that were near the tree and try and join them. When everything was working it was a big, comfortable cruiser. You could drive all day (which I often did) and still not be tired or stiff at the end of the trip. Pity Ford (as usual) skimped on the quality. Replaced it with $500 1994 Nova (Corolla) with 200k. Everything still works.

Aah the beloved XF Falcon, much like the HQ Holden a decade earlier they were everywhere at the time and I doubt that there were too many Australians that didn't own, had driven or at least rode in one at some point back in the 80's / 90's. Dad bought one new in 85, a 3.3 litre GL wagon, no it never won any traffic light drag races but it was bullet proof reliable and once it got going it would cruise the flat plains of north west N.S.W where we lived at the time at 120 Km/H all day with no problems at all with it's tall gearing. To the people who hate on the 3.3 for having "NO GUTS" they weren't tuned or geared for that, they were tuned to get good economy, that's the way the motoring world was like back then with the technology available at the time, if you wanted power you sacrificed economy and vice verse, not like today where you get the best of both worlds. Dad wanted economy and the 3.3 delivered, I don't recall exact figures but I do recall being able drive long distances and the fuel gauge barely seemed to move. That GL wagon was a top car though I secretly wish he bought a Fairmont Ghia, as a kid I thought those digital dashboards looked so cool. Another great video as always Mark, Thank-you for your efforts.

Who wished they kept there XF? 30 years on ,still regret trading in my Ghia . Traded in on a new ED XR6 Traded my XF Ute for a BA turbo Ute Traded my S Pack for a EA Fairmont Ghia ( as bad as their reputation it was a bloody good car)

Just picked up a XF panelvan 3/88 model. Guessing that panelvans/utes continued as XFs after February 88 till the XG a few years later. Love the XF and remember when everyone changed their XD/E to a XF front ends. My Boss at the time picked up a 88 Fairmont for $9999 Drive away when the EA changeover happened. Best car ever !!

Fairmont Ghia is gorgeous. Really well reported.

I can remember when XD's , XEs , XF,s were everywhere you looked, where did they all go ?. The only time I ever saw Peter Brock racing , he was driving a Mobil sponsored XF Falcon at the Thunderdome in Melbourne, I was right there when it burst a radiator hose, and that put him into a big sideways slide , he recovered it masterfully of course, that was 1989 .I could hardly believe it later on when I found out that the Thunderdome ended up being abandoned and in ruins, I thought it was great.

EEC IV was the introduction of the dreaded TFI module. I have replaced thousands of them over the year and ended up buying modified looms they used on mustangs to mount them on something cool like the firewall and not the stinking hot distributor body . EEC IV lasted until the end of ED production.

Being a diehard Dick Johnson fan,I really liked his SVO prototype,even though I wasn’t a fan of the XF … XD & XE,though are great especially with 5.8 + 4 spd 👌 One thing with DJ’s SVO it didn’t have a turbo,it was either carby or EFI.The wheels were steel wheels and dress rims of what the alloys would of looked like,had it went in to production. The car in magazine is still up in QLD with the SVO 17 plates.

Got my Ls in a 1985 XF Spack 4 speed manual. Awesome car. Super light steering though & only 2.2 turns lock to lock, could surprise you if not used to it.

The last ad on the ute is accurate now still.

I remember in 1987; my uncle getting the ‘S’ pack. Black with red stripe around it. I thought it was the coolest car ever! It drive so smooth. He had previously owned a XC GXL Fairmont, which I absolutely loved! But the XF was so superior in feel and comfort!

My favourite Falcon of the lot. The whole fourth generation actually were great cars.

I had this model with EFI and the factory towing pack, and a friend of mine in Darwin had one with the "Outback Pack" .... great reliable cars

Had a XF wagon for home and work. Clocked up 400 000 km and it was ok. Went through 3 gear boxes and 3 power steering units but they were cheap to replace. Finally traded it in on an EF wagon and that car was fantastic, chalk and cheese.

Hi Mark, wow thank you for this XF video, my parents purchased a GL model in 84. This certainly brought back memories. ❤

I remember in about mid-1988 going for a trip down to Warrnambool in me XB 302 manual with the girlfriend - we are in the CBD (😂) and this white XF sedan with 351 clevo and a toploader comes roaring down the street 😱 !!! I only new the spec coz Streetmachine had done a spread on it that year. Was other-worldly, just like the red XF GT HO efi 351 clevo Streetmachine built that year. A vision of what coulda been.

Enjoying this series Mark! XF For me is all about that digital dash and the snowflake alloys on the Ghia! Very smart looking car!

Always loved the XF Ghias. Still do. The epitome of 1980s excess! 4 cigarette lighters 😂 Owned one in 1996. Nice cruiser. Sure don't see many these days.

My personal favorite Falcon.

The XF 1/2 also got a colour keyed side sill. From my driving experience the XF EFI 4.1 unleaded went like a scalded cat while the 3.3 leaded carburetor was gutless.

Early unleaded engines used to suffer from pre-detonation, the cure was to round the sharp edges on the head near the inlet valve. They used to build up with deposits on the sharp edge and cause the air fuel to ignite as it passed. From memory Monotorque used to put a leaflet in the early VRS kits to have this mod done by a cylinder head specialist.

I was at Ford when the XF came out and it was very refined over the XD and XE. In the service department, there were not many inherent issues with the XF which is why taxi's held on to them well after the model change to the AU. 549 liked

That would have to be my favourite episode so far mark since the last new falcon I bought was in January 1987 and was an XF S pack wagon in dark metallic blue I Really liked that car but now know why it was so gutless, less than100 kw that is so sad and it was an auto so that didn’t help And it was the first time I had bought an automatic car 👍👍

G'day Mark, Great video yeah I remember XF they were everywhere just about every local police car was a XF especially the deevee vans. My parents bought an XF in 1990 in maroon colour & served the family well on LPG, unfortunately it got stolen on Mother's Day in 2015 after 25 years with the family. Mum was devastated all the worse on Mother's Day, police never found it. Great video Cheers Louis Kats 👍

9:12........i gotta say, that yellow Corona is a handsome car! Toyota's EH Holden perhaps? Very stylish and well proportioned. Probably worth big coin soon.

When i had my XE, the XF utes and vans were still in production, and the sedans and wagons were still everywhere, despite being recently superceded by the EA. I recall not liking the XF as much. Yeah they were newer, had more bling, digital dash, etc, yet there was still something missing. I hated those caramel brown interiors. The bumper bars were held on by plastic clips i think, and were never aligned properly, and often came away very easily if car hit something at low speed. Mechanically, they were great, but the Windsor EFI V8's then offered in locally assembled Bronco's would have been a welcome option for buyer's wanting more excitement. I hope you cover the XG and XH utes and vans, of which the latter did offer V8's in the utes. Finally..........an EA ute SHOULD have been made.

I love the panel van and ute ad at the end never seen it before!

I had a S pac fuel injected 4 speed , leaded fuel in french blue. Never let me down and previous owner had fitted koni shocks and some nolathane suspension bushings, very nice handling car.

Traded in my VL Commodore for a XF S Pack Fantastic car. Thank you for another great edition

A nice overview of the XF range, Mark. In my mind, the most boring Falcon model ever made up to that point. The look was just not cohesive at all -- a real dog's body. Considering that not that long before we were getting a new model Falcon every 12 or 18 months, the 4 years or so that the XF was around seemed to go on forever! That's why it was the best selling Falcon model ever, just because it was sold for so many years. I know it was a very competent (if dull) car but I remember wishing that Ford would just bring out a replacement! As a purchasing manager for an international company I never bought one XF Falcon but I did buy several Holdens -- they were just such a better car to drive. The ute, of course, was the one redeeming XF version and went on to be manufactured for many years to come.

Thanks for posting the XF vid Mark, very enjoyable👍 i had a few XF's back in the early 2000's when they were cheap from the trading post. I enjoyed driving them. I really love the XF Ghia, those 25th anniversary Falcon are really nice too with the FE LTD wheels.👍. Keep up the good work👍

Okaaaaay....here goes ...it was at this point. ..with allll the XF Falcon problems etc.. ...& the dropping of the Cleveland V8.....that i begrudgingly admitted that Holden had the better car with their VL Commodore & the turbine smooth RB30 & they still had their V8...admittedly they dropped the 4.2...no biggy...but the 5.0 could be livened up....& it needed it....hence my VL Calais thumbnail....& I'd been an absolute Ford tragic....it wasn't until the EF/EL that i took notice again & then ....the AU....& the rest is history💕💘🔥❤💘

This comment is biased because my father had an 85 XF Falcon GL (silver/bench/column?) and it was officially the first car I ever drove, but the XF falcon will always be my personal favourite falcon. 2nd favourite model? FG XR6, no prizes for guessing why either. I owned one 😂

Thanks mark another great video. Love the advertising clips

Door handles so many of them but an excellent Car, I had one.

Had an August ‘85 build XF S-pac manual with Fairmont rims that I bought when it was 4 months old with 3,000k’s on it. Drove it as the family car for 18 years until it was replaced with an AU11 Fairmont Ghia. I still have many fond memories of the trips we did in it with the family to a lot of different places. Wished I’d kept it. I haven’t made that mistake with the 2008 FG G6ET. That’s a keeper.

By far the Fairmont Ghia was the standout model. It just left the lower tier models in the dust on outer appearance alone. The Fairmont looked too much like the base model and should have looked more opulent. It didn't even offer a power window option like the XD and XE models, which always bothered me. Even the Falcon S pack got electronic vacuum florescent display guages for fuel and temp which I was impressed with. I loved how there was a flashing border as a warning on the guages when readings got critical. Looked so advanced. I found the front a bit less masculine for a Falcon but was effective in updating it's appearance and looked quite good.

Excellent video Mark. Really enjoying the Ford Australia history. This model really showed Ford at the top of its game.

Great presentation as always Mark. I had 2 of these, a white 250 wagon auto and a 200 red ute, auto as well. The wagon had cruise control and adjustable steering column, two firsts for me. The wagon had a cazillion miles on it but still went like a rocket. They all seemed to have seat problems at high miles, in that they slowly disintegrated with continued getting in and out of the car. A friend of mine worked for the police garage in Sydney and all of the cop car's front seats were damaged even at low k's.

Had a hire car XF GL wagon with 4.1 and auto on a job in the Top End. It was OK to drive and hauled a drowned VL out of Jim Jim creek. Most annoying thing was its propensity to ‘break wind’ with the unmistakable whiff of hydrogen sulphide, causing my workmate and I to cast snide looks at each other with the inevitable ‘did you just drop one?’

I had 3 XF’s a S Pack in blue , a GLS Ute and a Fairmont Ghia. I absolutely loved the Ghia and put. Hella 181 driving lights next to the hella 151’s.

Hi Mark, I can’t remember the name of the Nissan version of the ute? Tradesman?? It was weird seeing a Falcon with a Nissan badge on it, but then it was also weird seeing a Holden Commodore with a Toyota badge, or a Corrolla with a Holden badge. The end wasn’t too far away from that point in time

Thanks Mark, XF was really comfortable but absolutely gutless. My mate had a white 25th anniversary model, beautiful car.

Memories i swapped a ke lazer for a XF pretty sure it was a fairmont. At the time i was young and stupid she was white with the 4.1 also a 4 speed manual. I remember it had a holley carb on it and it was a rocket ship.

My Falcon was fantastic. Just a lovely car.... It was a long time ago though...

Beautiful vehicles. Wish they could still be purchased. Not in new zealand anyway, they just are not around like they were 20 years ago where you could pick them up for around 2k. There are some for sale, but people are asking like 20k nowaways.

These were great cars and great value. However they suffered from from a few critical faults that caused many to be ended before their time. They would eat head gaskets. Not because the engine was a bad thing but it was due to the head being above the top of the radiator. They were fitted with a bleed valve but these were frequently ignored and the coolant system would never fill the head fully. If you took off the radiator cap it would frequently loose its level in the head. The 4 speed manual versions also suffered from a problem with the clutch. Higher mileage versions would often split the single layer firewall around the end that mounted the clutch cable. They were also the pick for every taxi for years longer than they should have been. Ford Australia's Second best model only surpassed by the AU.

Had the silver s pak sedan at 17 and 1 week. Loved that car. Currently have a zl with the digital dash and efi. Still goes really well on the open road

I remember my old man buying a new xf s pack wagon,loved the digital dash,striking yellow

Love the videos. I've owned and XF all my life. XF GHIA currently. X2 I love them

Awesome eposode. Brings back memories the yellow one of Dads Yellow XF Falcon GL, which I ended up in the end. I LOVED that yellow

Thanks for doing these videos. They're great!

Ive always prefer the XF front over the XE

I drove the 6 seater station wagon taxi pack model of this and besides from the transmission, front bumper bar droop and interior door handles it was a great car and far better then the Commodore was. After about 1,000,000 km and just before it was taken off the road as a cab the boss put a new motor in it so he could claimed it on his tax and then used it as his private car for quite a while after.

There's just something about the overall look of an XF Fairmont Ghia with the snowflakes that previous or future Ghias just couldn't match. Obviously engines etc improved but the XF just had something the others didn't. The digital dash....the velour that peaked in that era...it never got as plush as that.

Great video again. What would driving one of these as a daily be like. Parts easy to find?

great video. love my aussie fords. maybe an obsession, have 6 atm, from xy to bf. 6 n 8 n turbos, 3 sedans, suv, ute, wagon. cant pick a favorite tho shame they let the aus auto industry as a whole wither n die. im sure we will regret it eventually if not already .

Very good Mark. I liked how you did several things: You mentioned the link to the Mustang with the taillamps. You talked about Holden. You showed and talked about that Australian car plan where they shared models. I would like to hear more. I saw Toyotas( Lexcen) that were Holdens(Commodore) and Holdens(Apollo) that were Toyotas( Camry). Ford worked with Nissan and Mazda. I liked how you shared the upgrades and the interiors. I liked the digital gauges I saw and I did not know they offered a front bench seat. I also liked when you talked about what happen to Holden Commodore at the time. I did not know American GM had to help them. This model reminds me of the 1980's Mazda 626/ Nissan Maxima. Thank you Mark.

We had a snow white S pac wagon. Such a nice cruiser

Friend had a white S Pac EFI & 5 speed, had optioned LSD. Damn that thing used to boogie for what it was (just prior to the JDM influx, very late 90's- 2000). I had a 351 XD ex NSW highway patrol sedan at the time; another friend had a Fairlane, it had these funny little front seat headrest inserts (like little pillows), i remember we would sit in the back pissed as farts punching these inserts all around the front of the car!

We had our late build 1988 XFon the road for 18 years...now all models having 4 wheel disc brakes...a GL wagon and just a good honest family car never garaged and never showed any rust...only issues being carbie problems from age...It also had the depression in the firewall for the bigger intech motor that came in later models ! cheers ...

Thanks for this fantastic Falcon series Mark!!!

Great job doing the Aussie car history Mark , brings back memories for me , as a young bloke i worked at two ford dealers and a holden dealer for several years in the 70s , i miss all the old cars from the 60`s 70`s , 80`s era that where old school and built to be able to be easily repaired and serviced unlike the expensive throw away plastic fantastic s of today . In my old age i even appreciate the 3 speed autos of the old falcons because they where very smooth , and ford was bit notorious for always putting a tall first gear in the falcon models using the torque rather than revving the tits off them like some brands.

Never liked the front and rear on the XF. Much preferred the XD and to a lesser extent the XE, which the old man had the X Pak version of. Great video though 👍

Hi Mark, I've only recently found your channel and I must say thank you! I'm 57 and these throw backs are.just awesome. One thing I need clarification on, is the XF the biggest selling falcon or is it the AU? I've read the AU across all 3 series makes for the biggest selling model. Clearly you know a tonne more.than most, having working with Ford and other badges. Cheers.

As my name and profile photo say, XF falcons are the best :D

G'day Mark. Another awesome video. Have you driven either of these Ford Falcons? I had a neighbour when I was a boy who had a Fairmont wagon. It wasn't as nice as the Aussie built Falcon, but it wasn't bad. 🙂

Really enjoy your channel, Mark. In '89 my old man traded his rusty ex-company XE ute (mine-site truck, did my learners in it) for an XF Ute straight off the lot, at the same time as he helped me get KE Laser cheaper in a two-for-one deal. The XF was a bit more refined than the XE, and compared to the non-powered rack in the XE the XF's power steering was so light it felt like steering a boat. XF was certainly the most mundane of the generation. Old man had an XD Fairmont too (wish he kept it). He later got an XH ute, Sill has a gas BF Ute now at 80.

Wayne Draper did the millennium falcon Ute , that did look really nice.

XF was a last for many Falcon things Last pushrod 6 Last carby engine Last rear fill fuel filler Last upright spare tyre placement on sedan End of front suspension design which date back to the XR ( interchangability) End of non folding rear seats End of broken door handles Last of the X series model Last model to have drum service brakes(drum park brake introduced in EF) Last EFI model to have air box mount above the exhaust (WTF where they thinking) But was a first in Unleaded fuel and catalyst converter Low beam - high beam incorporated head lamps on all specs Repeater indicator on side Colour coded mirror backs(high spec)

Fabulous series - big thanks !

8:55 “You can come too, grandma!”

I always liked the XE. Missed opportunity for an XE Turbo to counter the VL.

I have an XF ute it's unregistered at the moment but I hope to get it back on the road this year I'm more a Holden person and didn't really like the look of my XF ute until I saw a Mustang that looks much like it

Worthy of mention, note the rego number on the old Hilux @13:24 : )

Best driving car in the world

Modern motor mag did the sprintex supercharged falcon at the same time AIT did the All wheel drive falcon.

How cool it WAS, to drive around in my 3 on the Tree 3.3L 1980 XD falcin wagon. Could not have even heard of Torque/ NMs, how many seconds to 100 (to get a speeding ticket, OR WORSE, have a stack beceause you were being a dickhead). These cars had character and a vibe for our youth that heaps of folks reading this ( probably not many) will get!

VK Calais vs XF Fairmont Ghia: Which one was better in comfort, style and luxurious options?

Hi Mark, I do like this car with a nicer softer front end face lift of the previous model, the front look similar to a Nissan Primera P110 ( I have had 2 Primera's good car's ) and I noticed a Nissan badge version of the ute. I was quite surprised with this new car it was still available with a 4 speed manual gear box. This car is needing a V8 engine to the range, I liked the Fairmont Ghia Estate/wagon. I like the look of the alloy wheels on the 25 anniversary model, is this the last of this style of Falcon/Fairmont in 1988. I did notice the Holden Commodore which looks identical to the Vauxhall Carlton / Viceroy / Royale. Good car car ads, as always great videos on this Falcon series , Take care

Now 95% of those 278k XF's are gone. Probably a conservative estimate.

wonder if that all wheel drive is still alive

Such a shame these didn't have the V8 option. Back then a Windsor 5.0 would've been a very good combination in these.

OMFG. KZfaqrs take note: See how this guy got straight to the point and didn't bleat on with "LikE aND sUbSCribe" pathetisism? FFS this is a formula I can watch without simultaneously vomiting and using the "don't recommend channel" function. WATCH AND LEARN YOU NOOBS. This is how it's done.

Hello Mark, one question? Where came the design from? Was this pure from Australia or was there influence from other parties? If yes who and why? Why was the Ford Granada or Consul (Europe) not popular in Australia and New Zealand? Was it not cheaper for Ford in general to produce less models for economical reasons?

G’day mark

Collectible? I bought one of these at a government auction (NSW). An ex ETSA ute. Drove it around until a guy offered insane money for the 3.3 with auto. He paid cash, I signed the papers and caught a cab. Back to my trusty Corona.

I had one back in 96/97 it was on LPG and it got stolen!

6 pot underpowered how did motorists survive those days