Countdown to the Falcons emotional end, share your feelings here

[kazawaki]

I have had all types of fords, from xm, xp, Xr zh, au ba and Fg and progressively the service and warranty on these cars have gotten worse so even if they were still producing I wouldn't buy another one.

[malazn mafia]

City Ford Melbourne on Elizabeth St is no more. I guess the faded blue roof they never bothered repainting for the last decade was a sign of the times. Very sad times indeed.

[kazawaki]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

City Ford Melbourne on Elizabeth St is no more. I guess the faded blue roof they never bothered repainting for the last decade was a sign of the times. Very sad times indeed.

Yep Bayford service centre

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by tempted

What's the story there? There were rumors about them closing on here not too long ago but nobody knew anything of it, now I hear they have suddenly closed???

That was a prime location to lose, basically one of the first landmarks you see approaching melbourne cbd from the north or west. Still fondly remember the big Ford flags they had in the 90s, and the proudly sponsoring 'Ford Australia Open' flags every year. Melbourne City Toyota on the same road is flourishing and always has been. If this is anything to go by, maybe Ford's business direction is downsizing and one day it may be as difficult to service a new Ford vehicle as it is to service a Subaru. Certainly not a strong selling point?

[EBSXR6]

As market share shrinks so does the viability of the dealers. I find it amazing more Car manufacturers trying to sell in Australia a population of about 23.5 million than the USA of about 321 Million epscially considering the majority of the countries drive on the same side of the road as the USA.

Back in the early 60's when Holden dominated the market there was almost a dealer in every suburb.

[JG66ME]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

That was a prime location to lose, basically one of the first landmarks you see approaching melbourne cbd from the north or west. Still fondly remember the big Ford flags they had in the 90s, and the proudly sponsoring 'Ford Australia Open' flags every year. Melbourne City Toyota on the same road is flourishing and always has been. If this is anything to go by, maybe Ford's business direction is downsizing and one day it may be as difficult to service a new Ford vehicle as it is to service a Subaru. Certainly not a strong selling point?

The Melbourne City Toyota site used to be City Ford. I went there for the release of the EA range.

[au2000]

city ford melbourne , not too suprised they closed tbh. last time I went there to look for a car was my GT a few years ago, the mrs & son in tow, looked at & found at the time the GT i was after, White FG II GT manual, 335 with black stripes.
I should be thankful the sales rep bothered to come say hi I guess as thats all we got from her. Even after we told her we were looking to deal today she still did not even unlock the car let alone offer a test drive.
Obviously I did not look the part to her I guess and city fords loss was bayford gain.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

That was a prime location to lose, basically one of the first landmarks you see approaching melbourne cbd from the north or west.

I'm note sure how many cars they sold there, But Id assume outer suburb dealers would do better. they are certainly a lot Bigger.

The land value would be too great to ignore too

[janddbone]

They were a good dealer too as far as Ford dealers go. One of the few I would recommend.

[CRKA4]

Hey There,

I have been a member of this forum for some time but have never posted any comments,

I have owned fords my whole life,

My first car was a 1976 XB Falcon 500 but sadly that car went to the big wrecker in the sky,

My next car was a 1978 XC Fairmont GXL update model,midnight blue with a light blue vinyl roof, It has the 5.8 engine and top loader resides where the fmx used to be,I still have this car and it has been garaged since 1988 and has 110 000 kilometers on it,

Sitting next to my GXL is a 1977 XC Fairmont that i purchased from the second owner in Albury,
The story with that car was that the original owner was a long time employee of Ford and was given this car as retirement present,

I have owned a 1976 XB Fairmont Coupe, 351, Toploader, 9 inch
I sold that car for $6000, ,

My other cars were,

Xw Falcon 302 auto in polar white

XA Fairmont 6 cyl

XD Fairmont ghia 302, i put a JG33 engine into that car for a while then removed it,
I still have that motor sitting in my shed,

I have owned a EF Falcon GLI

I have a series 2 XR8 manual that i rarely drive, It has 6 piston brembo's up front and 4 piston brembo's at the rear,
I also have FG GT 335 wheels fitted to it as well

My wife drives a BA XR6

I am currently building a Ba Fairmont ghia with XR6 turbo engine and driveline ( I will do a build tread on that car )

I suppose what i am getting at is i love my falcons and have supported the brand for a long time,

I wish that more people would have done the same thing
especially our government,

This is a very emotional time for me,

FORD FALCON RIP.

[hackney]

All I can say is let it die in peace,it's time to move on to "greener" pastures,I will miss them,but there is far,far better product's out there.RIP Falcon,it has been nice knowing you.

[xr8cam]

What annoys me is the governments lack of vision. yeah, car co's cost a lot & can lose money BUT the amount of 2nd tier businesses that feed of the car makers is endless. Technology is not always the best for the masses. Give the car co's tax breaks so they can stay open & maintain employment. It is like a word processor. Yes it saves time & money but it replaces thousands of people. Not all of us went to university or did yr 12 but we still need a roof over our head and to put food on the table. I know it may not make sense economy wise, but it keeps people employed. Just an opinion, nothing more.

[hackney]

Originally Posted by xr8cam

What annoys me is the governments lack of vision. yeah, car co's cost a lot & can lose money BUT the amount of 2nd tier businesses that feed of the car makers is endless. Technology is not always the best for the masses. Give the car co's tax breaks so they can stay open & maintain employment. It is like a word processor. Yes it is cheaper & saves time & money but it replaces thousands of people. Not all of us went to university or did yr 12 but we still need a roof over our head and to put food on the table. I know it may not make sense economy wise, but it keeps people employed. Just an opinion, nothing more.

Yes,but for a auto maker to "remain viable" it has to produce at least a minimum of 100,000 units per annum(worldwide),Nissan at their Sunderland plant in the UK produce over 1,000 Qashqai's a day!)has nothing to do with "lack" of vision.Holden & Ford combined could not do that.The competition in our market place is fierce(more than the USA.)They did not move with the times soon enough & as a result are paying dearly.The blame lies with them as far as I am concerned,I do not want my hard earned dollars "propping" up a car manufacturer."End of Rant"

[Trump]

Originally Posted by hackney

I do not want my hard earned dollars "propping" up a car manufacturer."End of Rant"

No tax dollars should be used to prop up a private enterprise, however govco offers it to other, less worthy enterprises (from an employment standpoint) and in far greater numbers.

[CRKA4]

Yeah your right in what you say hackney,
But like xr8com says the flow on effect from loss of employment
and 2 more manufacturing companies lost in Australia is devastating.

[hackney]

Originally Posted by Loud_Noises

No tax dollars should be used to prop up a private enterprise, however govco offers it to other, less worthy enterprises (from an employment standpoint) and in far greater numbers.

Where do think the "green innovation fund" came from? (To help Ford with their Ecoboost program as well as Hybrid Camry for Toyota.(From you & I.)Cheers

[CRKA4]

No tax dollars should be used to prop up a private enterprise, however govco offers it to other, less worthy enterprises (from an employment standpoint) and in far greater numbers.


You would be surprised at what your Tax Dollars prop up in this country.

[hackney]

Originally Posted by CRKA4

Yeah your right in what you say hackney,
But like xr8com says the flow on effect from loss of employment
and 2 more manufacturing companies lost in Australia is devastating.

Yes,the flow on effect is the really sad part of it,but a lot of component manufacturers have "pulled" their fingers out and are innovating into other area's,which is great to see.

[hackney]

Originally Posted by CRKA4

No tax dollars should be used to prop up a private enterprise, however govco offers it to other, less worthy enterprises (from an employment standpoint) and in far greater numbers.


You would be surprised at what your Tax Dollars prop up in this country.

No I wouldn't it's "wide spread " in a lot of industries.IE: agriculture.Cheers

[Syndrome]

Not long now until I become an ex-Ford man.

[hackney]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Not long now until I become an ex-Ford man.

I am " half" way there!

[roddy1960]

G'day all...Yep ...Falcon (and Territory) are soon to be gone forever but certainly not forgotten.That will not happen any time soon..We , as current blue oval owners , former fans and owners , future fans and owners, or whatever take on an awesome responsibility to pay respect to the mighty bird of prey name that all of us have been involved with since 1960..especially significant for me as that was the year I was born so quite literally next year will be the first year that I've been around that a new Falcon won't roll off the assembly line..I can honestly say with my old XB ute , XE GL , EF Futura 5 speed , AU ll (ol' faithful) and still with me , BA fairmont ghia and now FG XR6 I've never looked like having any real issues , the occasional niggle but all quick easy fixes..Between them I've probably racked up half a million plus kms and all of them have been the 6 cylinder versions..One day though I'd like to pick up a tidy old V8. That'd be fun .No-one builds a more durable , reliable engine and lets face it , the donk is the heart of the car and high tech they may not necessarily be compared to many offerings but bloody tough they certainly are..I often wonder even if Ford , GMH and Toyota had still sold 80-100,000 units a year whether it would have made a massive difference.In Ford's case I doubt it because Dearborn has been all about 'global platform' for a goodly time now..Our cards were probably marked for at least a decade and poor Falcon/Territory sales gave the US execs the perfect excuse to shut down our unique platform..That said cynical or not , Remember the Falcon fondly because so many of us in OZ know she's been the best Australian built car EVER.. Cheers Rod..

[Trump]

Originally Posted by CRKA4

You would be surprised at what your Tax Dollars prop up in this country.

I know full well what govco subsidises, doesn't make it right though.

[xr8cam]

I just remembered one year on holidays in Brisbane. Did a head gasket in my EFII Fairmont on the 30th december. I had to get me,wife & dogs back to Sydney the next day.
I armed myself with 4 x 20 liter water containers and a 4 liters of radiator concentrate. 11 hours later we pulled into the driveway, never lost oil, temp gauge never went above 3/4, when it did start rising, I pulled over and topped the rad up. Just on 1000kms travelled plus we left at midnight, less trucks,traffic and police....mostly. The motor in that EF had done 293,000kms when the head went, and whilst I looked after her, I did drive that car pretty hard. Another great Ford memory I had forgot about untill I saw this post. Great stuff.

[FalconXV]

Pretty sad. Feels like a mate is about to get executed. Weird to say that about a car.

[music189]

We won't know what we had till its gone the whole thing is a debacle from the Government with absolutly no idea, to the US controlled manufacturers forcing little or no exports
And now they want to take our heritage away too

http://www.wheelsmag.com.au/news/160...ralian-archive

This country is controlled by morons on both sides, the book Ford Australia the people the cars says it all perfectly in the last pages
Manufacturing in this place will be gone

Sad
Sad times ahead

[Eaturbo]

Great to see this thread pop up again, it's certainly getting very close to the very end with what could only be another 500 odd Falcons left to be built.

[CRKA4]

Hey all,
I'm just trying to reflect on some of Fords great cars,

I'm not really into the political side of it,

So as the title of this thread suggests,

Can anyone remember some special falcons,

We all know the XR to XB GT's and should surely be on the list but there were some small production models that were either factory, dealer or aftermarket

Here are two to start with,

XE Dick Johnson Grand Prix Turbo

EB 11 SS

[GO FURTHER]

Originally Posted by CRKA4

Hey all,
I'm just trying to reflect on some of Fords great cars,
So as the title of this thread suggests,
Can anyone remember some special falcons,
We all know the XR to XB GT's and should surely be on the list but there were some small production models that were either factory, dealer or aftermarket
Here are two to start with,
XE Dick Johnson Grand Prix Turbo
EB 11 SS

The one I always admired, that looked great IMHO... XC Cobra

[CRKA4]

Originally Posted by BAXRSIX

The one I always admired, that looked great IMHO... XC Cobra

image

Yes that is at the top of the list for me as well,
I still remember watching Allan moffat and Colin bond going 1 and 2 at Bathurst.