I knew there was a reason I was drawn to this car.
While browsing the Cohort for ideas, invigoration, and inspiration, I bumped in to this evening’s Aussie Ford, photographed in New Zealand by CC regular Bryce. Going only by its basic shape and lines (because I know zilch about cars made in the other hemisphere) I figured this car was a Mondeo-sized (or -based) front-driver.
The clean lines and well-trimmed exterior reminded me a bit of the American Ford Escorts from the same early 1990s era, but this Fairmont is obviously larger and better-equipped. Still, I figured there wasn’t much special about it. But then I Googled.
What I discovered was that the Fairmont is a luxury trim level of their Ford Falcon, and Falcons drive the correct pair of wheels, unlike a Mondeo. You could furthermore choose from a couple of different largish inline sixes, or a 5.0 liter V8.
Say what you will about a 4.0 liter six or a 5.0 Windsor not being all that hot, but remember that this was 1992. Now rifle through your memory banks for a moment and see what you come up with for 1992 cars sold in the American market with 4 doors, rear drive, and an available V8 and manual transmission.
Did you come up with anything good? Not really? I thought so.
Sure, you could compare the Taurus SHO, or perhaps a Maxima, but I know which car I’d choose. Or, I know which car I’ll say I’d choose, but who really knows what would happen once I’m in buying mode?
GM brought us the lovely Pontiac GTOs and G8s, which were just a badge-engineered Holden V8s that every gearhead said they’d buy if only GM were smart enough to sell them here.
So, does a snorty V8, rear-drive coupe or sedan for reasonable money sound good? If so, run right down to your local Pontiac dealer and get one if you can! People are probably on wait lists a mile long for cars like this!
Glad to know more about it because the styling looks like it was done by Hyundai.
Oooh, it does look a little Excelly…
Upon initially seeing the picture, I thought it was a Chevrolet Corsica.
I had exactly the same reaction! (Saw a Corsica on first read)
now that you mention it, there is a lot of Corsica in that greenhouse. Maybe with a little bit of Saturn mixed in for seasoning. One way or the other, that has got to be one of the most un-Ford-looking Fords around.
Styling is a carryover from the 88 EA Falcon which was a car rushed onto the market to compete with the new VN Commodore neither car was particularly good but the Falcon was so bad the Commodore seemed good by comparism. The EB adressed most of the EA failings and saw the V8 reintroduced having been absent since the XF of 85. This particular car the owner tells hasnt missed a beat for the 10 years she has had it needing only regular servicing though it is now fairly expensive to fill up our gas is $10gallon.
They drove pretty well too, especially on the open road out of the cities. I drove one for work and preferred it over the Holden Commodore of the same year. Plenty of room for the family who wanted to get from A to B, and plenty of options for the motorheads who wanted to add a bit of spice. The air conditioners had a habit of dying after a few years. My sister’s EB Falcon wagon suffered that fate too.
I can think of a 1992 car sold in the US that I’d rather have a 92 CV either a “touring sedan” or a full boat LX with the HPP option. While I like the 5.0 I love the 4.6 and I’ll take a full perimeter frame over a uni-body any day of the week.
Me Id take the Falcon unibody ahead of a BOF any day far stronger these cars were the default taxi cab in OZ and survive hard use well and are able to tow 2000kg I see the one in the video has a heavy duty reese hitch the CV has no advantages over these and for rough road durability it is at a disadvantage being BOF.
No BOF is much more durable for rough roads and overall. There is a reason CVs and other Panthers were used for Livery service of all kinds, because after 500,000 miles they still have their structural integrity even when stretched to twice the original length.
my understanding is that bof is more durable but the squeaks and rattles are much less with unibody.
Falcon and Holden utes built for hard work and bush road condition are built the same as these sedans unibody they last.doing hard work. BOF christ dont make me laugh so hard we had plenty of Chevs and Ford pickups were built in OZ they fall apart with hard use the steering assemblies on F series are weak as piss the suspension is boulevarde soft they cant carry a load they were rubbish what makes you think a city car like a Crown Vic would do any better on corrugated dirt roads.
I’d take a unibody car over a BoF car any day. The XJ Jeep Cherokee is proof that a unibody can be extremely tough and durable.
I got to drive a 2010 Grand Marquis Ultimate Edition as a rental last year. Unimpressive acceleration, flabby unsupportive seats, and not much passenger room given the huge size of the car. I know Panthers are cheap to fix and pretty durable, but honestly, that’s the only appeal I could find.
The original 1988 EA shape of these (the same except for different taillights, the blue oval was on the bonnet, and the B-pillars were black) was seriously great looking back in the day. I remember the June 1985 issue of Wheels had undisguised scoop photos of the EA, and 11 year old me was blown away by the styling! But yes, they were rushed onto the market with a number of issues – another annoying one was the electric window lifter cables breaking. Very, very annoying and difficult to fix.
My grandparents had a 1991 Fairmont Ghia from new – it was an EA2, a mini-facelift which gained body-coloured B-pillars and a 4-speed auto. It was a great car – wall to wall velour, very comfy. Weird instruments (analogue tacho and digital speedo) though. They traded it in 2000 for a new Renault Scenic.
But the family wasn’t left without an EA/EB for long, as my sister gained a new boyfriend (now husband) shortly afterwards, and he had a 1992 EB Fairmont Ghia V8 – identical colour to the example Bryce photographed. Being a V8 Ghia it came with BBS-style alloys, lowered suspension, premium sound system with factory sub in the parcel shelf ,and leather and wood interior trim. I only drove it once a couple of years ago, it was well-worn, but it could still fly and sounded awesome 🙂
When my brother-in-law wanted to upgrade 2 years ago Ford wouldn’t give him enough as a trade-in, but GM would, so he now drives a Holden Commodore SS (aka Pontiac G8). It’s awesome too – but newer exhaust regulations meant the Fairmont actually sounded louder and better.
I think the final EA/EB facelift, the EF, is one of the best-looking cars ever – every line inside and out looked right. Even Leo Pruneau, formerly GM-Holden’s Chief Stylist, said the EF was beautiful and the Ghia’s headlight/indicator was possibly the most perfect bit of such design in the world – high praise indeed!
The EF was a better car unfortunately these models had so many warranty issues Ford mother ship threatened closure and even launched the Taurus downunder to peove they could do it with a FWD import. 2 things went wrong with that first Ford OZ lifted their game and got some quality back into the local cars and the Taurus was an awful POS nobody could figure out why Americans would buy such an awful car however thanks to this site Ive realised compared to some of the other crap on the US market the Taurus wasnt too bad.
it is really weird that we don’t build much that isn’t bland here in the u.s.a. most of the people that i know who actually care about driving buy european or japanese. it is a damn shame.
Who claims the Windsor V8 or Cologne V6 as “not that hot”? They were staples of stateside Forddom and the HO 5.0 is flat out legendary thanks to the Fox chassis.
Those of us that have gearhead relatives on the other side of the pond are constantly taunted with cars we never received here.
This little guy looks a little more early 80s Audi (4000?) to me than Hyundai.
No V6 here, these had an inline OHC six, 200hp and 260lb-ft torque
I did go out and buy a G8 because GM sold it here.
I’m glad I did.
Were these related to the MN-12 (i.e. Thunderbird), Fox-bodies, or European Scorpio?
(I know nothing about these cars.)
No relation to European Fords
“Still, I figured there wasn’t much special about it. But then I Googled….”
Don’t most car buffs know about the Aussie RWD Ford Falcons? Been around for decades. They’re not related to the MN-12 nor the Fox platforms. An Aussie could chime in for more info.
I knew about Falcons, but didn’t know the Fairmont was basically a Falcon.
Tough room!
The Fairmont was the top trim series of the Australian Falcons from about 1965 on, with the XP Falcon line. (I wrote about the origins of these cars last year.) Since the early Falcons had a bad reputation in OZ, at least one source I found suggested that Ford Australia considered changing the name — if that had happened, my assumption is that Fairmont would have been the leading choice.
Starting in 1967, there was also an Australian Fairlane, which was an interesting agglomeration of Falcon and U.S. Fairlane pieces. In the seventies, that spawned an Australian LTD, similar in concept to but a good deal smaller than the U.S. version.
The Falcon and Fairmont share the same wheelbase and body the Fairmont being better optioned the Fairlane and LTD use a longer wheelbase and more luxurios standard equipment but the hanging panels interchange throughout the range. There were various engine options including Tickford prepped cylinder heads on the 6. There were XR 8 &XR 6 models introduced as sports versions to replace the S options and buyers new could mix n match trim options the rest of us do so at the wrecking yards.
“If so, run right down to your local Pontiac dealer and get one if you can! ”
Most Pontiac dealers have folded by now. G8’s are rare and collectible, though.
i’m sure mr. tactful’s tongue was firmly in his cheek. his point is that pontiac couldn’t get enough ‘mericans interested in rwd domestic metal to save their bacon.
It was so firmly planted in said cheek that it actually burst through and licked my ear.
True statement. Late Pontiac GTOs (Holden) had, for America and Canada, bland, generic styling that was very Hyundai-esque. Sure, it’s whst’s under the hood that counts, but sales wise, these cars fell on thier ass. Now the Pontiac G8, that was a HELL of a car – but – too little too late. Kudos for Holden Pty. for engineering a good car. I for one would like to see an Aussie Falcon platform dressed up with 2002 Continental Show Car styling to become a new Lincoln. I’m afraid we’re going to get another high-belted, FWD “pig” of a car – MKZ Fusion redux – and sadly, will put the final nails in Lincoln’s coffin.
An Aussie Falcon would make an excellent starting point for Lincoln. Wake up Ford, or you’ll pull a Packard.
I wouldn’t necessarily say they’re that rare. I see maybe one a day.
The GXP trim is, there are just over 1800 (probably less, through attrition) on these shores.
Sort of an odd set of circumstances which may have bred a true cult classic.
These cars are about the same size as a Taurus – 110″ wb, 189.4″ length, 73.1″ width, the wagon version is 115.1″ wb, 197″ long.