Is australian ford design unique in the world?

[maxford]

If I am correct starting from ford models EF, the body design is truly unique to Australia. Correct if I am wrong.

Whereas Holden just now decided to release its own shape, and they say that Holden is the only true Australian car, because it has unique name ...

[Dezza]

Actually the XA was the first Falcon designed exclusively for Australia.

[Ford_Boy]

i agree with you but this topic is done to death and will only create an argument about ford vs holden. both are not 100 percent aussie but i know the falcon has alot more aussie components and alot more aussie design then the commodore. that includes the all new aussie ve.

[Fairlane]

The body design has been unique to Aus since XA.

Ford US has always had varying degrees of input with projects Blackwood, EA 169; but ultimately the Falcon platform is only manufactured in Australia.

[RIPGMH]

Originally Posted by ea_silver_ghia

Actually the XA was the first Falcon designed exclusively for Australia.

The XD was based on a small english car, I think the Granda (styling wise) much the same way as the VT was basically a bigger version of the Opel Omega. Ford Australia has always produced cars which are more uniquely Australian than GMH, and yet haven't attempted to hide their US roots.

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by Ford_Boy

i agree with you but this topic is done to death and will only create an argument about ford vs holden. both are not 100 percent aussie but i know the falcon has alot more aussie components and alot more aussie design then the commodore. that includes the all new aussie ve.

Yeah I agree.

Anyone that's done research on both, knows neither were built from scratch, in Aus.

The Falcon came from the states and the Commodore came from Germany.

[BlueRaven]

All Falcons since the XA have had some kind of resemblance to American or European/UK Fords in one way or another and before that they were American cars. Its a tired point really.

[smciner1]

Originally Posted by RIPGMH

The XD was based on a small english car, I think the Granda (styling wise) much the same way as the VT was basically a bigger version of the Opel Omega. Ford Australia has always produced cars which are more uniquely Australian than GMH, and yet haven't attempted to hide their US roots.

While the XD looked like a Granada, no panel is the same. The XD is a Reskinned XC.

[new2ford]

I think P76 and Territory would be the only mass produced Australian cars designed here from the ground up. But if you get out the microscope even both of those had some Rover/Land Rover/Jaguar input. I was going to say thankfully nothing from the states but I remembered the Rover V8 started as a Buick engine. The best thing both Holden and Falcon ever did was get away from US design domination and look towards Europe. But Ford showed a bit more initiative in developing something more uniquely local.

Not that it has helped them in today's market where people buy something because its cheap and has a 'reputation' for quality. I wish the Australian govt had something with a bit more guts like US NHTSA and got stuck into safety issues - and actually banned imports with low primary and secondary safety records. They ban dangerous toys and yet cars like the Barina and Prado are allowed in no question. The Australian manufacturers have had a generally more responsible attitude to safety in design.

[Wally]

Originally Posted by Ford_Boy

i agree with you but this topic is done to death and will only create an argument about ford vs holden. both are not 100 percent aussie but i know the falcon has alot more aussie components and alot more aussie design then the commodore. that includes the all new aussie ve.

That's interesting. Can you itemise these differences for us please? Shouldn't be a problem if you know the subject.

[Lukeyson]

did i read in motor a while ago that the VE only scraped it in being allowed to use the Aussie made label wasnt it ? they had to lift Australian built components to closer to 60% ? my mind could be deceiving me though.

But if the Falcon or Commodore was 100% aussie sourced, we wouldnt be paying the fairly competitive prices we do now

[Ford_Boy]

Originally Posted by Wally

That's interesting. Can you itemise these differences for us please? Shouldn't be a problem if you know the subject.

so i take it you believe the commodore is more aussie? how about we start with the engine. commodore engine is shipped here from the us. falcon engine is designed and built here

[irsa76]

The Commodore V6 is locally produced, and exported all around the world. The V8 and the transmissions are imported.

[Ford_Boy]

the falcon 6 is designed and built here too

[Wally]

Originally Posted by Ford_Boy

so i take it you believe the commodore is more aussie? how about we start with the engine. commodore engine is shipped here from the us. falcon engine is designed here.

No I don't know the composition, but it seem lots of members here do, so I just singled you out randomly.

Apart from the engine, (not the import windsor) what else? I seem to recall brand names like, Saginaw, Bosch, etc. Did you know that the split lip rear seal on the ozzie six is the same as the one on the windsor... odd eh.

[Powdered Toast Man]

Windsor? Who still uses a windsor.

I remember reading somewhere that the Falcon has more Aussie parts than the Commodore but yeah, I agree Wally, it would be interesting to have the facts all laid out for both cars, as well as the Magna & Camry/Aurion for comparison. Probably could dig it up on the net but I cant be bothered tonight.

[Gobes32]

Both holden and ford source their v8's overseas and produce their own 6 cylinder motors. And from memory they source the transmissions from the same supplier?????????

[Allen]

anyone noticed the similarities between XA coupe and the 1970 torino?

1972 XA Coupe


1970 Ford Torino Cobra


No panels are the same, but its obvious what the Ford AU designers were drawing their inspiration from at the time....

Although every body shape Ford AU has made since the XA has been unique to this country, It is my opinion that only recently, with the BA has Australia had a car that is unique.
Even the AU was styled to that of the Taurus (Why????)
And even though the BA is based on the AU, a large effort was made to move away from what the USA is doing... And thus we have the totally unique Ford Falcon...

[Richmalbill]

Originally Posted by new2ford

I think P76 and Territory would be the only mass produced Australian cars designed here from the ground up. But if you get out the microscope even both of those had some Rover/Land Rover/Jaguar input. I was going to say thankfully nothing from the states but I remembered the Rover V8 started as a Buick engine. The best thing both Holden and Falcon ever did was get away from US design domination and look towards Europe. But Ford showed a bit more initiative in developing something more uniquely local.

Your knowledge is very good. The P76 was styled by Michelotti in Italy and most of the engineering was done by BL in the UK (actually at the famous Abingdon plant, the home of MG) and the first prototype was built there.

Interestingly the Rover SD1 was to a large degree developed from the P76, in particular the Force 7.

The Rover V8 was a Buick design, although Rover modified it extensively over the years. It is actually a distant cousin of Holden's old 3.8 V6, which is also a Buick design, indeed Leyland Australia made a few proto V6s from their V8 (all alloy though). Rover also made a DOHC V6 from it which ended up powering the MG Metro 6R4 ...and the Jaguar XJ220!

Ironically Ford now own the rights to what was originally a GM engine!

[new2ford]

Your knowledge is very good also Richmalbill. Designed exclusively for the Australian market with local direction might be a better way of putting it. Such multinationals are obviously going to get inputs from all over the shop. Didn't know Ford had the rights to the Rover V8 - wish they'd drop it into the Territory!

Not so sure about Force7 and SD1, I know its mentioned and David Bache probably gave it an eye-over but its a long straw. Great pity about the Force 7 - I have the drivers handbook but no car to go with it!

[holmsy]

cbf finding the person to quote.
but if ford gets their v8's imported how are they the only company with a v8 assembly factory in aus?

[Powdered Toast Man]

Originally Posted by holmsy

cbf finding the person to quote.
but if ford gets their v8's imported how are they the only company with a v8 assembly factory in aus?

The 4V quad cam heads are aussie designed. The blocks for them and the entire 3V engine are US designed and out of the F-series trucks. Dunno if there are any internal changes to the Boss blocks; ie pistons, rods etc, but I'm sure some of the Boss guys could answer that.
The 3Vs are tuned to suit Aussie fuel, conditions and gearbox, same as the Chevy 6.0L.

[GXL078]

Originally Posted by V8GLI

Windsor? Who still uses a windsor.

V8 Super (dinosaur) cars do.

[Wally]

I thought the discussion included cars back to the XA?

[GXL078]

Originally Posted by ea_silver_ghia

Actually the XA was the first Falcon designed exclusively for Australia.

and New Zealand and South Africa

[smciner1]

Originally Posted by fairlane_ghia

anyone noticed the similarities between XA coupe and the 1970 torino?

1972 XA Coupe


1970 Ford Torino Cobra


No panels are the same, but its obvious what the Ford AU designers were drawing their inspiration from at the time....

Yep, especially when you look at them from the back.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by acosta32

Both holden and ford source their v8's overseas and produce their own 6 cylinder motors. And from memory they source the transmissions from the same supplier?????????

Actually the BOSS is assembled at FPV and there was alot of design input from them before it went into the BA (like trying to get the thing to fit for one!)

[Bossxr8]

Fords 6 is totally Australian designed and built, with an Australian 4 speed auto and 5 speed manual, German 6 speed auto and Mexican 6 speed manual. The 3V engines are fully imported from the US while the Boss engines are assembled here in Oz with American blocks, heads, cranks etc, with many locally made components such as manifolds etc.

The Holden V6 is a global design with blocks sourced from Mexico, and assembled here with an American 4 speed and 5 speed auto and a 6 speed manual made somewhere in asia. The Holden V8's are fully imported with either a mexican 6 speed manual or an american 6 speed auto.

Its obvious which one is more Australian. Ford has the highest local content of all the Australian manufacturers.

[Wally]

I have a mexican block 302.

[GTpilot]

1970 Ford Torino Cobra


Sorry, a little OT , but are there no windscreen wipers on these??