Here is the 5th episode in the Ford Fairlane Auto History Series. Please help the channel out if you enjoy this content by giving the episode a 👍Like👍 and also Subscribing. It’s free and makes a big difference to the success of the channel to help make it worthwhile to bring you more old car history. Thanks for watching. 👍
@@markbehr88 Yup, dad and my brothers were in the trade, family business... This is my 50th year in the automotive scene.. good times and great memories..🙂 I wouldn't change it for anything..
C'mon lets just take a step and breathe, engineering and ingenuity was a joke compared to what came decades after, these cars were was just left after from from the 1960s, it wasnt until the 1995s they had better, the emissions control regulation and rising petrol prices in the 70s and 80s, made those models gas guzzling slugs after 1975, but yes you are correct that the styllng and the freedom of design they cars stood out in that era , it was a unique era that never came again
An XA Fairmont with four headlights is how a mate of mine described it at the time. The HQ Statesman looked less like a Kingswood than this did like a Falcon and the Statesman looked drop dead gorgeous. The difference was in the driving though, the Fairlane (all of them up to the ZH) somehow captured the perfect balance between ride and handling. The Statesman had a lovely ride but it's seating and handling just didn't quite get there. The CH Chrysler (my favourite) had the best drive train but Torsion bar front end made sure it couldn't match the other two for ride comfort. Mark thanks again for the post. I just love your videos and always look forward to the next one.
@@area51isreal71 Thanks very much. I agree this model’s styling was more generic. The HQ had a great ride, the Chrysler wasn’t bad ride wise but not really luxurious. The Fairlane was comfortable but could absorb a bad country road too. 👍
Hi there area 51, I always liked the looks of the ZF/ZG's from day 1 a clear knock off of the Torino's and even more so of their sister car the Mercury Cyclone even the pointy nose on the grill, bonnet & the front bumper, the ZD Fairlane even uses the Cyclones hubcaps !! One of my school mates mums bought one in Austral Bronze, parchment vinyl roof and fabric interior, Glenda owned it for years well into the 1980's All 3 of the new Big 3 sedans looked good, the Statesman clearly different from its cheaper siblings with its almost fin like finish at the rear, the clever use of the station wagon and ute/panel van rear taillights & the clever split grill front end design However rating the 3 makes I'd go Holden 1, Chrysler 2, Fairlane 3, for durability and overall reliability. I always remember mum telling dad to leave that rotten black thing (chrysler by chrysler coupe) out in the front street as it was such a pig of a thing to start its 360ci V8 when cold, when for whatever reason he'd have used one of the V8 Falcon panel vans, these could be a pig to start in the wet if it was really humid in summer thrown in with the rain. Where dad's own personally owned Kingswood 3.3 litre 6cyl, pump the gas pedal twice, pull out the choke & turn it on, rain, hail or shining sun 10 out of 10 perfect it started every time. My mums car was one of the last of the giant pre-XJ6 Jaguars a big MK10, or 420G as the last update model was called new in March 1971 it would frequently be used to jump start either a Falcon or the Chrysler, the Jag's electrical system being so powerful it would make the defective car's starter roll over at near double speed compared to usual. I'd experienced all 3 brands new and saw with my own eyes how they performed. Dad bought his own Kingswood, we as a family still own it, with a mere 129,700klms on it. An American in Australia with a senior diplomatic role he had a new 2 door triple black coupe Chrysler by Chrysler, as service vehicles his division also had 2 beige Falcon panel vans an XA 351 auto, and an XB 302 auto special builds the both of them with P5 LTD vinyl covered aeroback front bucket seats, with a rear facing bench seat in the back compartment and a well to put your feet into for comfort if using that seat. One of the maim problems with this era Ford was front end suspension wear and, in the photos, here you can see it already in Paul Behr's white ZF, front tyres leaning in at the top and flaring out at the bottom. Continuing problem with both of the two US Commerce dept panel vans, also when it was about 6 years old the351 powered 1972 XA started getting cracks in the front suspension towers and needed to be patch welded. Dad's first C by C 2 door coupe was run into outside home when it was about 3 years old by a female drunk in a blue Datsun Bluebird triple S 180B coupe and was written off by then no more 2 door C by C's so he ordered a new Black paint, black vinyl roof & deep plum purple-maroon brocade trimmed fabric interior, C by C sedan these also wore out front suspension rubbers, not as at an alarming rate as the Falcons did, plus the Falcons wore out front ball joints too. Whereas Dad's old Kingswood still has its original suspension componentry now in 2024, although with low miles (or k's) it still ran up around 100,000 ks in its early life with the last almost 30,000 k's being added over the years when Dad had retired. In late 1980 I ordered a new WB series 1 Holden Statesman Caprice, I only had it for about 2 years and it was stolen, I debated for a few months whether I'd buy another one. Initially I bought a 1974 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham in Sept' 1982 as my daily, I still own it & 42 years later it's still my daily & Mark's done a video on this too. After a think-over I decided to buy another WB by then in mid 1983 they started series 2 production so a Silver Caprice was purchased, I sold this years ago and after a while I was sorry I'd done so. In the early 2000's I bought another series 1 WB as my first one, and 22years later I still own this too.
@@gregharvie3896 Hey Greg, thanks for the reply. It was great reading and very interesting. I would agree with your rating of the three and I reckon the Statesman was still better than the Fairlane right up to the last one in 1984. Compare the dashboard of the HX/HZ Statesman to the flat black plastic ZH Fairlane dash for instance. A black Chrysler coupe with black vinyl top was really something. The similarites of that car to the 1969 to 1971 Chrysler New Yorker are obvious.
@ After the launch but there was an XA series version of the P5 and P4 which had the extruded hubcaps. For XB the P5 and P4 had the colour coded flush caps. They did not pick up the flasher stalk due to the concealed headlights. 👍
@@jashugg yes I worked there for years, even when younger when the dealership was called City Motors, owned by a rich Midlands farming family, the owner was Sir Francis Foster, who sold it to the Tilbury family. I still remember their phone no at the time 343011. They have since taken over the Repco Parts building next door when they became a Multi Brand dealership, after we left Australia.
I know looks are subjective, but I've always loved the style of ZF / ZG series Fairlanes even over more recent ones. The ZG my favourite even though the changes were subtle over the ZF. Another great episode. Thankyou.
@@George-dl7gv Thanks. I think they have improved with age. Originally I thought they were too close to the Falcon but now even an XA sedan is a novelty to see. 👍
I remember that Ford made a big deal of the high back front seats, wrap around dash ("cockpit") and, I'm pretty sure, collapsible steering column with integrated steering lock at the time. It's odd the things that stick in one's mind as a kid..... We were a Fairlane family but preferred our four year old (by then) ZB. I was a luddite at an early age!
I went to a two classroom country school outside of Young in primary school, 1st 2nd 3rd one class 4,5,5th the other with probably no more than ten kids. I remember feeling a king when the old man dropped us off in his brand new to me but 2nd hand metallic green ZF with black vinyl roof. Two weeks later I was the Court jester when Sandy, the kid on the property up from us and my rival at school rocked up in a shiny black LTD land yacht.
reminds me of my younger days, A freind of mine bought one of these fairlane's with A 351,while I bought A chrysler by chrysler 2 door with A 360 we used to drive eachother's cars amazing how similarly the fairlane and chrysler drove,similar straight line performance and handling and ride.
Very cool. I am betting the Chrysler by Chrysler was quicker off the mark and the 351 pegged it back as you went along? That was my experience. The Fairlane would have had much better steering in terms of road feel. The Chrysler system was way over assisted. I had a 4 door Chrysler by Chrysler. 🤔👍
@@markbehr88 yes the chrysler had very light steering,wish I still had mine considering only 400 chrysler coupes were made and one recently sold for 157 k!!!
Excellent work as always Mark ! I really miss the Australian car industry - Ford, Holden, Mitsubishi, Nissan,Toyota and the rest . Good times, clever people . Thanks for revisiting .
I had the ute... The Falcon ute - XA 302 V8. Virtually the same as the Fairlane under the skin. -The very first 'stylish' ute, having the swept back cab roofline. Mine was 'Wild Violet' (With the gold wave side decal) and I had it optioned it up with LSD, 4 on the floor, bucket seats, centre console, etc. About as cool as you could get back then. Wish I had it now. Silky power.
Hi Mark My mum had one of these when new She was a big boat … I learnt to drive in this thing She could haul arse !!! Saw the speedo disappear off the end of the dial quite a few times !!! Magnificent vehicle for interstate long haul trips We did many long hauls sitting around 100 mph for hours!!! Great car !!! We sold it with 200 k miles on it still going strong Never gave a problem
Had one of these when I was twenty, cream with maroon leather & inserts interior, 302 & column shift auto. Its was beautiful, but I sold it to go travelling in Europe.
I had a ZF Fairlane in the early 90s. It was a 302 with column auto, gold 12 slot wheels and great factory air. Pretty sure the high back seats were vinyl but quite comfortable. The car was an absolute pleasure to drive.
I’ll never forget the first time I saw one of these. It was in the 90s and straight away I could tell it was something special. Looking forward to the ZG and ZH videos.
Just think about it for a moment, the ZF had the same amount of difference from the XA as the ZA Fairlane had from the XR. They placed four light's where there are two on the Falcon, in a similar frontal design. At the back, both were longer with lower rear wheel arch openings than the Falcons had. My personal favourites are the ZD and ZJ. The latter looked great with those Volante alloy wheels, and had massive amounts of room in the back. The ZJ still offered the 351. Though ADR 26A tuned by that stage, it was in a lighter car now.
@@noelgibson5956 Yes, that is true. There was some feedback that the ZF and ZG looked too similar to Falcon, which is why they made more significant changes for ZH. I too like the ZJ. I have a ZK 302. 👍
I remember these driving around. One of my primary school teachers had one. I really like the font end. Although the rear has aged better on the later ZH models. Thanks for the series Mark.
I would absolutely love a zf-zg fairlane, unpopular opinion but i like them more than the XA. The best generation of fairlane other than the za and zb generation
I can't believe how little these cars weighed compared to modern cars. It's only 5mm narrower than a VE commador yet it's almost 400kg lighter. When you look at it in that light the power to weight ratio was competitive.
@@markbehr88 Is even the VX light compared to the current cars ? I remember pushing it in the garage, and thought I wouldn't like to do too much of that . There isn't much to choose from ( if anything) in the way of a sedans these days .
Great stuff Mark. Highlight of the week. Your brother was crazy letting that 351 white knight go. Edit: My Brother-in-law's late dad had a Landau. Sold it off to help himself retire ~15 years ago and suddenly passed away soon after at just 60. BIL still has some of Landau parts.
1983 Bought a purple with fawn hardtop, white interior Z F Fairlane in Newcastle for 1500 bucks, . Great car, did few trips Gold Coast to Batemans and back , never missed a beat.So comfortable and relaxing to drive. My missus swapped it for a 4 door Marina while i was at sea,( too big to park) not happy Jan.
Hi, most of my high school walking from home was a ZF or ZG fairlane parked in the cul-de-sac next to the park - Very dark green similar to british racing green, cream interior , 351 T-bar Aircon and power windows - glamour gar always immaculate and i dont recall ever seeing it in a different spot - the park pathway ended at the culdesac it was the house on the end, then more grass then the other road was at the front of the house
Another good vid Mark, thank you. Mum n dad had a green ZF in the very early 80s, complete with a bone coloured vinyl roof n jellybean mags. Mum thought it was too big, so dad sold it and bought a HQ Statesman DeVille... Strangely mum felt the Stato was a much easier car to drive n park(??) Go figure 🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@markbehr88 indeed, I remember dad trading in the Statesman for a brand new Mitsubishi Starwagon in 1985 at Prattens Mitsubishi, Lismore NSW. They gave him $1,500 for the Statesman!! Crazy
Another fantastic piece of history and what great looking car. Not that enthusiastic about the continental roof. Never seen one and wish I hadn’t, I don’t feel well 🤢 😂Thanks for all the time put into the history of Australian cars, fantastic channel ❤❤👍👍
Thank you Mark. Thank you for sharing it was based of Ford Torino. I knew it. I kept thinking that car looks like a Torino. That other thing that was the interesting is they thought about some Mercury Influence as well. Those taillamps look like the early 1970's Thunderbird. I am thinking 1973. That Chrysler by Chrysler looks like the early 70's Plymouths and Dodges. That HQ Holden looks like a Oldsmobile. I do like how Australian Ford made this Fairlane their own car. That was interesting they had bench and bucket seats as well. Finally power windows! That took a while. The length is getting longer. It is getting there. This car was truly Australian Ford. Your brother loves his Fords. Good for him. Ford is still maintaining market leadership. I enjoyed the video.
@@OLDS98 Thanks Olds98. Glad you enjoyed it. I love all the US influences across our cars back then. Often there were American designers in charge based here. My brother does love his Fords 😀👍
@@markbehr88 You can clearly see the American Ford influence on the Australian Fords when they did not have Asian influenced styling or European influence styling. Australia Ford and Holden tended to navigate well between styling influences. I noticed the Americans working for Ford and Holden over the years and that is why so many of the Holdens look like Oldsmobiles and Pontiacs over the years. I did enjoy.
Hi Mark, hope your well, You can tell it's a Ford of the 1970's with the twin horizontal head lights, the bulge on the front grill, bonnet bulge and the coke bottle side lines just looks like an over sized Cortina ( 1970-76 ) you can see the US styling of the Torino. I bet there's not many of these Fairlanes left on Australian roads. As always a great video catch you soon Take care
@@shaun30-3-mg9zs Thanks Shaun. Yes, the Cortina followed US styling themes too and probably had a US designer. You see the odd one around. They used to be common. The same is true for the Falcon. 👍
Nice cars, had a ride in this model and the next on the way to cricket as a teammates Dad had Fairlanes. Later on my cousin had a Custom, bench seat, 250, column auto from memory. I think my Uncle directed her into it so that she had plenty of metal ‘protection’ around her. Even as the Custom I thought it was a nice car.
Totally impractical unless for two, IMO the presentation of the Chrysler x Chrysler, 2 door coupe, dark blue, gold coach stripes and black island vinyl roof blew them all away.
The front really resembles the 72 Galaxie LTD. Can't unsee it now. I prefer the guards in the prototype pictures, going all the way without the indicators on the edge. Looks nice in profile. Never liked the continous taillight look on this or the ZG. I need to see some divider. Again, this made me appreciate it like never before.
@@markbehr88 Im more accepting of it now but never liked it. Just my my personal taste. It's like it breaks the rules of car design like having triple headlights as one Alfa has.
G’day Mark, Best looking Fairlane imo. Had an uncle who had one & it was absolutely gorgeous. It was a little blue pascal colour, white vinyl roof, white interior, T Bar Auto & 302 V8. I begged my parents to buy it to no avail. The biggest problem with my uncle Fairlane 500 was he was a keen fisherman & towed his boat down to Altona boat ramp. Well by 1984 the salt water did a number on the Fairlane on close inspection. Still remember it to this day. Amazing no 4BBL on either V8. Was a 351 LTD or Landau a 4BBL or 2 BBL ? Great video thoroughly enjoyed it. Cheers Louis Kats 👍
I had a bronze wine / cream roof 351 fairlane with power windows & ac, one of the best cars i've had, awesome for long drives. I put in an xa gt dash which was a straight swap. Shame the rust ate the body away ! Still have the drivetrain in an xc gxl.
Yes, a return to form of sorts after the ZD, for me. Standard discs were great. I liked the return to more classic lines but it looked too much like a Falcon imo. Dead front on, I see very distinct Cortina vibes & not much Torino style left apart from a few lines tbh. Thanks Mark.
@@UncleJoeLITE If you look at the roof, trailing rear fenders and the style line running along the car in plan view, you’ll see Torino. The only Cortina element (assume you mean TC) is the coke bottle hip line but that was generic to most US cars from the late 60’s to early 70’s (which influenced the Cortina). 👍
The dragway alloys might have been a dealer option, but not factory. Notice no ford badge on the centre cap. I think XC introduced alloys for Fairmont and GT. xa and xb the GT still had 12 slot steel wheel Will watch more vids in the series✌️
Can't say I ever liked the dragway alloys much. Too cheap looking for the Fairlane, which was meant to be a prestige car. Steelies with covers far better. Some wheels just don't suit some cars.
Dad ( a Dealer principal at a long established dealership in vic) had a copper bronze fully optioned ZF. What I would give for it now. I have a photo of us kids hanging out of the sun roof
I always thought the front end of these were styled after the 1970 ford galaxie. Everything else rearwards of the XA body style yes very torino, even more so on the 2 door coupes. Also the leading edge of the front guards in that prototype looks very XC falcon, without the integrated blinker. Would have been nice if you had have included the P5 LTD
@@jesus_built_my_hotrod Hi. I have a 1970 Galaxie but don’t really see the resemblance. Re the P5 LTD , it is a Fairlane series so there will be a separate series on the LTD models. 👍
@@markbehr88 No resemblance but the wrap around dash looks familiar. You have a 1970? Wow. I'd love to find mine but I think it's been scrapped. SA Pol say it was last registered in SA in 1994. Mine was a black on red 1 of 3 built for the American Embassy - Sydney. It had a mobile phone and flag on the bonnet. Sold it to a wrecker in 1980 for $1,500 as couldn't find a buyer. The owner said it was too good to scrap and kept it for himself. I last saw it around 1990 lowered with wide wheels but original hubcaps.
@@2DogsVlogs Yes, the Fairlane dash was influenced by the 1969 and 1970 Us Fords. Mine is mint, all stock, black with a red interior. I believe it was a Qld Premier’s Dept car. 👍
Dad traded the '56 Customline in on a Rambler 660?,I think he bought it in Mirboo north,he was rapt in the coil spring rear suspension,how did they compare Mark?
You wonder what the purpose of these cars were given that the interior was probably comparable to the dimensions of the Falcon, which weren't small cars. I 'd assume it would have a more extensive, options list, being a luxury model. Still, good looking.
I think that style suits long wheelbase application more than short. The XA looked too short. I think the following ZG had heated rear window for first ever time. Have you looked up "Drive South"? Some dude that wants to begin manufacturing LX Torana hatches again using Torana styling paired up with modern technology and safety. I don't personally like the idea, but some may. If your gonna bring back local manufacturing, then style cars with your DNA and footprint on them rather than returning fifty year old designs than belong to another era. It will be interesting to see how it goes if he can get up and running.
Not my favourite, they just look so odd, but I saw these in Western NSW in the mid 70s on a family holiday. Must have been popular with the graziers. Our Holden Monaro 308 was overheating constantly on that holiday and my father, in a rather colourful comment on crap Holden V8s wished for a Ford V8, something that would come true with a ZH!
Here is the 5th episode in the Ford Fairlane Auto History Series. Please help the channel out if you enjoy this content by giving the episode a 👍Like👍 and also Subscribing. It’s free and makes a big difference to the success of the channel to help make it worthwhile to bring you more old car history. Thanks for watching. 👍
No leather option.
@@Eric-kn4yn That’s right. 👍
Ahh Sweet Memories... Dad drove us around as kids in the Fairlane ZF 302, Chrysler 360 and Statesman HQ 350.. Thanks Mark..
@@redhunterandgatherer2367 Great times hey. 👍
@@markbehr88 Yup, dad and my brothers were in the trade, family business... This is my 50th year in the automotive scene.. good times and great memories..🙂 I wouldn't change it for anything..
Agree. Great memories. 👍
I'm going to go out on a limb here, but... I am convinced that the XA Falcon / ZF Fairlane was the pinnacle of Aussie car engineering and ingenuity.
Fair enough. I hope you gave the episode a Thumbs up then? 😀👍
@@markbehr88 return customers brand loyalty made Fairlane number 1 .?
@@Eric-kn4yn That certainly helped. 👍
C'mon lets just take a step and breathe, engineering and ingenuity was a joke compared to what came decades after, these cars were was just left after from from the 1960s, it wasnt until the 1995s they had better, the emissions control regulation and rising petrol prices in the 70s and 80s, made those models gas guzzling slugs after 1975, but yes you are correct that the styllng and the freedom of design they cars stood out in that era , it was a unique era that never came again
Certainly, yes. However, I prefer the XB Falcon styling.
An XA Fairmont with four headlights is how a mate of mine described it at the time. The HQ Statesman looked less like a Kingswood than this did like a Falcon and the Statesman looked drop dead gorgeous. The difference was in the driving though, the Fairlane (all of them up to the ZH) somehow captured the perfect balance between ride and handling. The Statesman had a lovely ride but it's seating and handling just didn't quite get there. The CH Chrysler (my favourite) had the best drive train but Torsion bar front end made sure it couldn't match the other two for ride comfort. Mark thanks again for the post. I just love your videos and always look forward to the next one.
@@area51isreal71 Thanks very much. I agree this model’s styling was more generic. The HQ had a great ride, the Chrysler wasn’t bad ride wise but not really luxurious. The Fairlane was comfortable but could absorb a bad country road too. 👍
@@markbehr88No doubt the XA/ZF bucket seats were a significant part of the comfort over distances.
Hi there area 51, I always liked the looks of the ZF/ZG's from day 1 a clear knock off of the Torino's and even more so of their sister car the Mercury Cyclone even the pointy nose on the grill, bonnet & the front bumper, the ZD Fairlane even uses the Cyclones hubcaps !! One of my school mates mums bought one in Austral Bronze, parchment vinyl roof and fabric interior, Glenda owned it for years well into the 1980's
All 3 of the new Big 3 sedans looked good, the Statesman clearly different from its cheaper siblings with its almost fin like finish at the rear, the clever use of the station wagon and ute/panel van rear taillights & the clever split grill front end design
However rating the 3 makes I'd go Holden 1, Chrysler 2, Fairlane 3, for durability and overall reliability. I always remember mum telling dad to leave that rotten black thing (chrysler by chrysler coupe) out in the front street as it was such a pig of a thing to start its 360ci V8 when cold, when for whatever reason he'd have used one of the V8 Falcon panel vans, these could be a pig to start in the wet if it was really humid in summer thrown in with the rain. Where dad's own personally owned Kingswood 3.3 litre 6cyl, pump the gas pedal twice, pull out the choke & turn it on, rain, hail or shining sun 10 out of 10 perfect it started every time. My mums car was one of the last of the giant pre-XJ6 Jaguars a big MK10, or 420G as the last update model was called new in March 1971 it would frequently be used to jump start either a Falcon or the Chrysler, the Jag's electrical system being so powerful it would make the defective car's starter roll over at near double speed compared to usual.
I'd experienced all 3 brands new and saw with my own eyes how they performed. Dad bought his own Kingswood, we as a family still own it, with a mere 129,700klms on it. An American in Australia with a senior diplomatic role he had a new 2 door triple black coupe Chrysler by Chrysler, as service vehicles his division also had 2 beige Falcon panel vans an XA 351 auto, and an XB 302 auto special builds the both of them with P5 LTD vinyl covered aeroback front bucket seats, with a rear facing bench seat in the back compartment and a well to put your feet into for comfort if using that seat. One of the maim problems with this era Ford was front end suspension wear and, in the photos, here you can see it already in Paul Behr's white ZF, front tyres leaning in at the top and flaring out at the bottom. Continuing problem with both of the two US Commerce dept panel vans, also when it was about 6 years old the351 powered 1972 XA started getting cracks in the front suspension towers and needed to be patch welded. Dad's first C by C 2 door coupe was run into outside home when it was about 3 years old by a female drunk in a blue Datsun Bluebird triple S 180B coupe and was written off by then no more 2 door C by C's so he ordered a new Black paint, black vinyl roof & deep plum purple-maroon brocade trimmed fabric interior, C by C sedan these also wore out front suspension rubbers, not as at an alarming rate as the Falcons did, plus the Falcons wore out front ball joints too. Whereas Dad's old Kingswood still has its original suspension componentry now in 2024, although with low miles (or k's) it still ran up around 100,000 ks in its early life with the last almost 30,000 k's being added over the years when Dad had retired.
In late 1980 I ordered a new WB series 1 Holden Statesman Caprice, I only had it for about 2 years and it was stolen, I debated for a few months whether I'd buy another one. Initially I bought a 1974 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham in Sept' 1982 as my daily, I still own it & 42 years later it's still my daily & Mark's done a video on this too. After a think-over I decided to buy another WB by then in mid 1983 they started series 2 production so a Silver Caprice was purchased, I sold this years ago and after a while I was sorry I'd done so. In the early 2000's I bought another series 1 WB as my first one, and 22years later I still own this too.
For sure plus the extra wheelbase assisted the ride quality too. 👍
@@gregharvie3896 Hey Greg, thanks for the reply. It was great reading and very interesting. I would agree with your rating of the three and I reckon the Statesman was still better than the Fairlane right up to the last one in 1984. Compare the dashboard of the HX/HZ Statesman to the flat black plastic ZH Fairlane dash for instance. A black Chrysler coupe with black vinyl top was really something. The similarites of that car to the 1969 to 1971 Chrysler New Yorker are obvious.
the ZF XA looked so modern in 1973 ....that wrap around dash, the coups , the Landau the LTD....Ford had a great range on offer in '73
They sure did. 👍
@@markbehr88 Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the Landau came out AFTER the XA ?
@ After the launch but there was an XA series version of the P5 and P4 which had the extruded hubcaps. For XB the P5 and P4 had the colour coded flush caps. They did not pick up the flasher stalk due to the concealed headlights. 👍
Wow, your brother's car! It looked really nice. It just makes a person want to cry when you think about all of the machines we just should have kept 😢
@@davidhynd4435 Absolutely 🥲👍
Just needed a little hindsight and a large shed to keep them all!!
@@tafnamtaf8909 Exactly. 👍
Yes you are right about the manual option in the 6, I remember a friend’s dad had one here in Tassie, but it must have been a rare spec.
@@jashugg Yes. Can’t say I would have ordered one but out on Tassie rural roads it would be fine. 👍
Nice looking car, at the time I was selling them new in Brisbane Street Hobart , but from memory not so many. but never ones with mags or a sunroof!
@@lffit that would have been from Tilfords, they are still in Brisbane St.
@@jashugg yes I worked there for years, even when younger when the dealership was called City Motors, owned by a rich Midlands farming family, the owner was Sir Francis Foster, who sold it to the Tilbury family.
I still remember their phone no at the time 343011.
They have since taken over the Repco Parts building next door when they became a Multi Brand dealership, after we left Australia.
@@lffit Very cool. 👍
I know looks are subjective, but I've always loved the style of ZF / ZG series Fairlanes even over more recent ones. The ZG my favourite even though the changes were subtle over the ZF. Another great episode. Thankyou.
@@George-dl7gv Thanks. I think they have improved with age. Originally I thought they were too close to the Falcon but now even an XA sedan is a novelty to see. 👍
Agree.
@@michaelcalder9089 👍
Those were the days.....Australia in 1972.....the best.
@@michaelcalder9089 For sure. The year m Dad’s Galaxie was built. 👍
I remember that Ford made a big deal of the high back front seats, wrap around dash ("cockpit") and, I'm pretty sure, collapsible steering column with integrated steering lock at the time. It's odd the things that stick in one's mind as a kid.....
We were a Fairlane family but preferred our four year old (by then) ZB. I was a luddite at an early age!
@@couttsy222 Both nice cars. 👍
I went to a two classroom country school outside of Young in primary school, 1st 2nd 3rd one class 4,5,5th the other with probably no more than ten kids. I remember feeling a king when the old man dropped us off in his brand new to me but 2nd hand metallic green ZF with black vinyl roof. Two weeks later I was the Court jester when Sandy, the kid on the property up from us and my rival at school rocked up in a shiny black LTD land yacht.
Forgot to add double 5th class because 2 kids were year 5 no one was in 6th class.
@@FromTheGong Cool. The ultimate one upsmanship with the LTD. 👍
reminds me of my younger days, A freind of mine bought one of these fairlane's with A 351,while I bought A chrysler by chrysler 2 door with A 360 we used to drive eachother's cars amazing how similarly the fairlane and chrysler drove,similar straight line performance and handling and ride.
Very cool. I am betting the Chrysler by Chrysler was quicker off the mark and the 351 pegged it back as you went along? That was my experience. The Fairlane would have had much better steering in terms of road feel. The Chrysler system was way over assisted. I had a 4 door Chrysler by Chrysler. 🤔👍
@@markbehr88 yes the chrysler had very light steering,wish I still had mine considering only 400 chrysler coupes were made and one recently sold for 157 k!!!
@@darting100 That’s crazy money! 😳
I remember as a kid looking at the Ford brochures at the time and being mesmerized by them.
@@marklittle3551 I still have all mine. 👍
Still a very handsome car. Really nice. 😊
@@kelvinh8327 Agree. 👍
My personal favourite Fairlane model.
Fair enough. 👍
Excellent work as always Mark ! I really miss the Australian car industry - Ford, Holden, Mitsubishi, Nissan,Toyota and the rest . Good times, clever people . Thanks for revisiting .
Thanks very much. I miss it too. 👍
Agree will never be the same.
@@perpetualgrin5804 Yes 😢
I had the ute... The Falcon ute - XA 302 V8. Virtually the same as the Fairlane under the skin. -The very first 'stylish' ute, having the swept back cab roofline. Mine was 'Wild Violet' (With the gold wave side decal) and I had it optioned it up with LSD, 4 on the floor, bucket seats, centre console, etc. About as cool as you could get back then. Wish I had it now. Silky power.
@@joolstacho8114 That would have been a very nice ute. 👍
Hi Mark
My mum had one of these when new
She was a big boat …
I learnt to drive in this thing
She could haul arse !!!
Saw the speedo disappear off the end of the dial quite a few times !!!
Magnificent vehicle for interstate long haul trips
We did many long hauls sitting around 100 mph for hours!!!
Great car !!!
We sold it with 200 k miles on it still going strong
Never gave a problem
Great memories hey! 😀👍
Excellent presentation brings memories much better vehicle than plastic look alike cars of today
Thanks very much. Agree re the plastic cars. 👍
6:49 Slim Dusty.
The ZD/ZF/ZG would rank as my equal-second favourite Fairlane. It ties with the AU/BA and is behind the NC.
@@Your.Uncle.AngMoh That’s him. I have been enjoying his song, Looking Forward, Looking back. The Fairlane is in the music clip. 👍
Had one of these when I was twenty, cream with maroon leather & inserts interior, 302 & column shift auto. Its was beautiful, but I sold it to go travelling in Europe.
Nice. Good memories of the Fairlane and Europe I am sure. 👍
I had a ZF Fairlane in the early 90s. It was a 302 with column auto, gold 12 slot wheels and great factory air. Pretty sure the high back seats were vinyl but quite comfortable. The car was an absolute pleasure to drive.
Yes, they were vinyl. Cool car. 👍
Great video as always, bring back the old TV commercials at the end, they really take me back!
Thanks. I might add a TVC into the next one. 👍
I’ll never forget the first time I saw one of these. It was in the 90s and straight away I could tell it was something special.
Looking forward to the ZG and ZH videos.
Thanks. Me too. 👍
Just think about it for a moment, the ZF had the same amount of difference from the XA as the ZA Fairlane had from the XR. They placed four light's where there are two on the Falcon, in a similar frontal design. At the back, both were longer with lower rear wheel arch openings than the Falcons had.
My personal favourites are the ZD and ZJ. The latter looked great with those Volante alloy wheels, and had massive amounts of room in the back. The ZJ still offered the 351. Though ADR 26A tuned by that stage, it was in a lighter car now.
@@noelgibson5956 Yes, that is true. There was some feedback that the ZF and ZG looked too similar to Falcon, which is why they made more significant changes for ZH. I too like the ZJ. I have a ZK 302. 👍
My first car was a 302 zf. I loved it. We could put our surfboards diagonal in the boot.
@@JohnStrange-q8r Cool 😎
I remember these driving around. One of my primary school teachers had one. I really like the font end. Although the rear has aged better on the later ZH models. Thanks for the series Mark.
@@Seiskid Thanks. Glad you liked it. 👍
I would absolutely love a zf-zg fairlane, unpopular opinion but i like them more than the XA. The best generation of fairlane other than the za and zb generation
Fair enough. They are definitely cool cars. 👍
I can't believe how little these cars weighed compared to modern cars. It's only 5mm narrower than a VE commador yet it's almost 400kg lighter. When you look at it in that light the power to weight ratio was competitive.
@@stephenchigwidden7504 Yes. Newer cars are big and heavy. 👍
My VX V6 Commodore weight is quoted as being 3349 pounds, My VH Valiant sedan is apparently 3100 pounds.
@@barrycuda3769 Light compared to today’s cars. 🤔👍
Unfortunately I got my kilo's and pounds mixed up but I guess everyone understands what I was trying to say.
@@markbehr88 Is even the VX light compared to the current cars ? I remember pushing it in the garage, and thought I wouldn't like to do too much of that . There isn't much to choose from ( if anything) in the way of a sedans these days .
Wish I had your Brother’s Fairlane now. Very nice! My Father and my uncle had one each that was very similar.
@@deanjohnson712 Me too. 😀👍
Incredible number of options. The effect on the production line would have been significant
@@phil4977 Yes. They just wanted to sell cars and people wanted options. 👍
@@markbehr88people get all the options today even entry level vehicles
True.
Great stuff Mark. Highlight of the week. Your brother was crazy letting that 351 white knight go. Edit: My Brother-in-law's late dad had a Landau. Sold it off to help himself retire ~15 years ago and suddenly passed away soon after at just 60. BIL still has some of Landau parts.
Thanks Chris. Hope you’re doing well 👍👍. Yes, he should have kept it and his XC 5.8 detective car, and his 351 ZC and his XT GT…….🤔👍
@@markbehr88 Thanks Mark. All's well hope you're doing ok too.
@@coalfacechris1336 👍
1983 Bought a purple with fawn hardtop, white interior Z F Fairlane in Newcastle for 1500 bucks, . Great car, did few trips Gold Coast to Batemans and back , never missed a beat.So comfortable and relaxing to drive. My missus swapped it for a 4 door Marina while i was at sea,( too big to park) not happy Jan.
Yes, a Fairlane for a Marina. Yikes! 😵💫
@@markbehr88 I've always been tickled that there's some guy getting around telling the story of how he swapped a Marina for a Fairlane . Gotta laugh.
@@anthonymaddison9588 His lucky day. 😎
Didn't realise how many options were available. Another great video .thanks mark
@@GerardDaly-y1n Thanks Gerard. 👍
Hi, most of my high school walking from home was a ZF or ZG fairlane parked in the cul-de-sac next to the park - Very dark green similar to british racing green, cream interior , 351 T-bar Aircon and power windows - glamour gar always immaculate and i dont recall ever seeing it in a different spot - the park pathway ended at the culdesac it was the house on the end, then more grass then the other road was at the front of the house
@@georgemaragos2378 Cool. 😎
Yes, I used to admire a similar car walking the 4miles back from school.
👍
Another good vid Mark, thank you.
Mum n dad had a green ZF in the very early 80s, complete with a bone coloured vinyl roof n jellybean mags.
Mum thought it was too big, so dad sold it and bought a HQ Statesman DeVille...
Strangely mum felt the Stato was a much easier car to drive n park(??)
Go figure 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Thanks. Both cool cars hey. 👍
@@markbehr88 indeed, I remember dad trading in the Statesman for a brand new Mitsubishi Starwagon in 1985 at Prattens Mitsubishi, Lismore NSW.
They gave him $1,500 for the Statesman!! Crazy
@@chriss1905 Thank you. Very cool re your parent’s car. The trade in I mean. 👍
Another fantastic piece of history and what great looking car. Not that enthusiastic about the continental roof. Never seen one and wish I hadn’t, I don’t feel well 🤢 😂Thanks for all the time put into the history of Australian cars, fantastic channel ❤❤👍👍
Thanks very much. I remember seeing a few Continental roofs back in the day. 👍
Thank you Mark. Thank you for sharing it was based of Ford Torino. I knew it. I kept thinking that car looks like a Torino. That other thing that was the interesting is they thought about some Mercury Influence as well. Those taillamps look like the early 1970's Thunderbird. I am thinking 1973. That Chrysler by Chrysler looks like the early 70's Plymouths and Dodges. That HQ Holden looks like a Oldsmobile. I do like how Australian Ford made this Fairlane their own car. That was interesting they had bench and bucket seats as well. Finally power windows! That took a while. The length is getting longer. It is getting there. This car was truly Australian Ford. Your brother loves his Fords. Good for him. Ford is still maintaining market leadership. I enjoyed the video.
@@OLDS98 Thanks Olds98. Glad you enjoyed it. I love all the US influences across our cars back then. Often there were American designers in charge based here. My brother does love his Fords 😀👍
@@markbehr88 You can clearly see the American Ford influence on the Australian Fords when they did not have Asian influenced styling or European influence styling. Australia Ford and Holden tended to navigate well between styling influences. I noticed the Americans working for Ford and Holden over the years and that is why so many of the Holdens look like Oldsmobiles and Pontiacs over the years. I did enjoy.
@@OLDS98 Yes. Great looking cars. 👍
Hi Mark, hope your well, You can tell it's a Ford of the 1970's with the twin horizontal head lights, the bulge on the front grill, bonnet bulge and the coke bottle side lines just looks like an over sized Cortina ( 1970-76 ) you can see the US styling of the Torino. I bet there's not many of these Fairlanes left on Australian roads. As always a great video catch you soon Take care
@@shaun30-3-mg9zs Thanks Shaun. Yes, the Cortina followed US styling themes too and probably had a US designer. You see the odd one around. They used to be common. The same is true for the Falcon. 👍
Nice cars, had a ride in this model and the next on the way to cricket as a teammates Dad had Fairlanes.
Later on my cousin had a Custom, bench seat, 250, column auto from memory. I think my Uncle directed her into it so that she had plenty of metal ‘protection’ around her. Even as the Custom I thought it was a nice car.
@@jgsheehan8810 Very cool. They were certainly popular. 👍
The more new cars I see, the more I´m sure to get an old one.
Me too. 👍
A thoroughly enjoyable vid. It put a smile on my face. 👍
@@TexasBlues-123 Thanks. Glad to hear it. 👍
Just like the purple one in your photos.
Wild Violet is the colour. 👍
@@markbehr88 The white interior made it POP.
@@anthonymaddison9588 Yes, I love the white interiors. I like that Tesla has them now. Very retro. 👍
When Ford Made real cars . 👍🏻🇦🇺✌️.
They were great. 👍
Totally impractical unless for two, IMO the presentation of the Chrysler x Chrysler, 2 door coupe, dark blue, gold coach stripes and black island vinyl roof blew them all away.
@@mikevale3620 who cares about practicality if it looks good 👍
The front really resembles the 72 Galaxie LTD. Can't unsee it now.
I prefer the guards in the prototype pictures, going all the way without the indicators on the edge. Looks nice in profile.
Never liked the continous taillight look on this or the ZG. I need to see some divider.
Again, this made me appreciate it like never before.
@@jamesfrench7299 Yes. Around the headlights it looks like the 72 Galaxie. I personally like the fill width tail light look. 👍
@@markbehr88 Im more accepting of it now but never liked it. Just my my personal taste. It's like it breaks the rules of car design like having triple headlights as one Alfa has.
@@jamesfrench7299 Fair enough 👍
G’day Mark,
Best looking Fairlane imo.
Had an uncle who had one & it was absolutely gorgeous.
It was a little blue pascal colour, white vinyl roof, white interior, T Bar Auto & 302 V8.
I begged my parents to buy it to no avail.
The biggest problem with my uncle Fairlane 500 was he was a keen fisherman & towed his boat down to Altona boat ramp.
Well by 1984 the salt water did a number on the Fairlane on close inspection.
Still remember it to this day.
Amazing no 4BBL on either V8.
Was a 351 LTD or Landau a 4BBL or 2 BBL ?
Great video thoroughly enjoyed it.
Cheers
Louis Kats 👍
@@louiskats5116 Thanks Louis. The LTD and the Landau were 4V. 👍
@@markbehr88 👍👍👍
@@louiskats5116 👍
@@markbehr88 4BBL not 4V unlike usa we had adversion to 4BBL except GTs was gas cheaper in usa.
@@Eric-kn4yn 4V for venturi in the carb. 👍
Had a 351 back in the day bronze with a white interior 👍
@@tonybennett638 Nice one 👍
I had a bronze wine / cream roof 351 fairlane with power windows & ac, one of the best cars i've had, awesome for long drives. I put in an xa gt dash which was a straight swap.
Shame the rust ate the body away !
Still have the drivetrain in an xc gxl.
@@Gokizzmass Very cool. Yes, rust was an issue. 👍
Thanks Mark, excellent work as usual.
Thanks very much. 👍
Yes, a return to form of sorts after the ZD, for me. Standard discs were great. I liked the return to more classic lines but it looked too much like a Falcon imo. Dead front on, I see very distinct Cortina vibes & not much Torino style left apart from a few lines tbh. Thanks Mark.
Did the ZD not have classic lines? Not sure I'm with you. They were both totally different, but both classic by today's standards.
@@UncleJoeLITE If you look at the roof, trailing rear fenders and the style line running along the car in plan view, you’ll see Torino. The only Cortina element (assume you mean TC) is the coke bottle hip line but that was generic to most US cars from the late 60’s to early 70’s (which influenced the Cortina). 👍
@@noelgibson5956 Sure. Both are classics. The ZF was more closely related to the Falcon though style wise. 👍
Great watch
@@timfordfalconxf7714 Thanks 👍
I wonder if the angular mid-dashboard design inspired BMW to do likewise in the launch of its 3 Series from 1975 onwards?
@@ReddThreee Not sure. Ford Australia was inspired by the US 69 Galaxie. 🤔👍
Another great video Mark. Appreciate your work.
Thanks very much. 👍
The dragway alloys might have been a dealer option, but not factory. Notice no ford badge on the centre cap. I think XC introduced alloys for Fairmont and GT. xa and xb the GT still had 12 slot steel wheel
Will watch more vids in the series✌️
Those wheels were a factory option. They are in the brochure. 👍
@@markbehr88 mass produced aĺloys very expensive new technology early 1970s far superior to steel rims and asthetics too.
Can't say I ever liked the dragway alloys much. Too cheap looking for the Fairlane, which was meant to be a prestige car. Steelies with covers far better.
Some wheels just don't suit some cars.
@@noelgibson5956 I didn’t mind them but would have ordered the standard hubcaps. 👍
Also an option on the GT !
Dad ( a Dealer principal at a long established dealership in vic) had a copper bronze fully optioned ZF. What I would give for it now. I have a photo of us kids hanging out of the sun roof
Very cool. I have my Dad’s 72 Galaxie in Copper Bronze. Great colour. 👍
Very nice
@@gmarshall1026 Thanks. 👍
I always thought the front end of these were styled after the 1970 ford galaxie. Everything else rearwards of the XA body style yes very torino, even more so on the 2 door coupes. Also the leading edge of the front guards in that prototype looks very XC falcon, without the integrated blinker.
Would have been nice if you had have included the P5 LTD
@@jesus_built_my_hotrod Hi. I have a 1970 Galaxie but don’t really see the resemblance. Re the P5 LTD , it is a Fairlane series so there will be a separate series on the LTD models. 👍
@@markbehr88 oops , I meant 1972 galaxie
Yes, definitely around the headlights. I have my Dad’s 72 Galaxie. 👍
@@markbehr88 No resemblance but the wrap around dash looks familiar. You have a 1970? Wow. I'd love to find mine but I think it's been scrapped. SA Pol say it was last registered in SA in 1994. Mine was a black on red 1 of 3 built for the American Embassy - Sydney. It had a mobile phone and flag on the bonnet. Sold it to a wrecker in 1980 for $1,500 as couldn't find a buyer. The owner said it was too good to scrap and kept it for himself. I last saw it around 1990 lowered with wide wheels but original hubcaps.
@@2DogsVlogs Yes, the Fairlane dash was influenced by the 1969 and 1970 Us Fords. Mine is mint, all stock, black with a red interior. I believe it was a Qld Premier’s Dept car. 👍
Was only today on facebook I heard that variable ratio power steering was an Australian invention.
How true that is, I have no idea.
Yes, Bishop power steering. 👍
And they are still going today - licensing the technology in Korea and Europe.
Very cool. 👍
@@markbehr88i dont think any passanger vehicle uses steering box now all rack and pinion
G'day Mark. Another awesome video! Didn't you once cover the Ford Fairlane ZF? 🙂
@@jasoncarpp7742 Thanks. Yes, one of my car club members has a white one. 👍
@@markbehr88 Ahhh! Okay.
Will you be covering the Landau coupe in the next series ?
@@adrianmclean9195 Yes most likely. 👍
Were the big block Ford V8's ever offered in Australia? (429, 460?)
@@MisterMikeTexas Not in our car designs although we did assemble 390 Galaxies. 👍
@@markbehr88 😎
@@Rob-fc9wg And the Galaxie. I was just talking cars. 👍
Dad traded the '56 Customline in on a Rambler 660?,I think he bought it in Mirboo north,he was rapt in the coil spring rear suspension,how did they compare Mark?
@@MrLeslloyd Hi. I assume it was a Rambler Classic? I would say the Fairlane would be a much better road car - handling, ride, performance. 🤔👍
@@markbehr88 👍
👍
302 auto, went like a train.
1800s steam train?
@@ACDZ123 Nah, the ones that came through Cunderdin when i was a kid.
That was pretty funny. 😂
Well, they went reasonably well and were ultra reliable. For power the 351 was the go. 👍
Cunderdin..I live 156 kms from you 😁
You wonder what the purpose of these cars were given that the interior was probably comparable to the dimensions of the Falcon, which weren't small cars. I 'd assume it would have a more extensive, options list, being a luxury model. Still, good looking.
A lot more rear leg room. Very popular with real estate agents and farmers. 👍
@@markbehr88and egos.
Sure. And comfort too.
I think that style suits long wheelbase application more than short. The XA looked too short. I think the following ZG had heated rear window for first ever time.
Have you looked up "Drive South"? Some dude that wants to begin manufacturing LX Torana hatches again using Torana styling paired up with modern technology and safety.
I don't personally like the idea, but some may. If your gonna bring back local manufacturing, then style cars with your DNA and footprint on them rather than returning fifty year old designs than belong to another era.
It will be interesting to see how it goes if he can get up and running.
@@noelgibson5956 I don’t think that Torana idea will get off the runway. 🤔👍
@@markbehr88
Yeah I hope you're right.
Look him up and see what you think.
👍
Always viewed the ZF Fairlane as a glorified XA Falcon
@@PlumbBob-FGX They were criticised as too similar back in the day but it didn’t hurt sales and they look great now. 👍
Not my favourite, they just look so odd, but I saw these in Western NSW in the mid 70s on a family holiday. Must have been popular with the graziers. Our Holden Monaro 308 was overheating constantly on that holiday and my father, in a rather colourful comment on crap Holden V8s wished for a Ford V8, something that would come true with a ZH!
@@anthonywalsh2164 I love the ZH. That episode will come soon enough. 👍
@@markbehr88 Looking forward to it! Keep up the good work Mark.
Thanks 👍
@@anthonywalsh2164 👍