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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ธ.ค. 2024
- Here is the next instalment of the Ford Fairlane Auto History Series - the ZG. I hope you enjoy it! Please help me out by making sure you give the episode a Like👍 and please Subscribe so you don’t miss any future episodes. Thanks for watching! 👍
Here is the latest instalment in the Ford Fairlane Auto History Series - the ZG. Please help the channel out big time by hitting the 👍Like button and also Subscribing so you don’t miss a future episode. Thanks for watching. 👍
Yes, around the grille it is a bit like a Galaxie. 👍
@@markbehr88 I had a 351 LTD in white with the powered pneumatic headlights! Good times!!!!!!!!!
@@theaustralianconundrum Very cool. My favourite Aussie car. 👍
Your:memory of the details of the fairlaine we had is a lot better than mine Mark. I do recall it being yellow with I think a half way vinyl roof with a sunroof. It was light colour inside but not 100% sure on the details.
@@robrogers1964 Yes Rob. Bright yellow with a half vinyl Continental roof and sunroof, power windows, white interior. It looked great. 😀👍
What a handsome car. Ford made amazing cars in Australia during this period. Ford Australia at its best.
@@Melbournelost66 Agree. 👍👍👍
Always loved this model , mix of old school and modern design.
@@michaelcalder9089 Yes. The luxury standard back in the day in its category. 👍
Cool video, classy looking Ford, I like the burgundy one with the cream coloured roof.
@@masteryoda498 Yes. Very nice. 👍
Nice to see HEV280 . The red Chrysler by Chrysler looks great . The 70s and 80s had great cars . Probably showing my age . Keep them coming thanks Mark
@@GerardDaly-y1n Thanks Gerard. I miss HEV280. Wish you still had it. 👍
Many thanks lots off lovely memories we had the same fairlane in South Africa we had zf and also Zg in our family have some fotos
@@mohamedbhamjee1856 Thanks very much. That is very cool you had those cars there. 👍
The first car I ever owned was a ZG 351 back in 1986 when I was 17 paid $2500 for it.I wanted a GT but could not afford one great memories though and great time.
@@craig9242 Wish they were still that price i would buy 10 of them. 😀👍
Very informative brings back memories more interesting than plastic cars of today.
@@frankpalermo3882 Thanks. I agree. 👍
Well said...
👍
From the age of 5 - 16 years, mum n dad had an HQ Premier.
I was always impressed with these Fairlane’s, they looked like they weighed 5 tons in my eyes.
Got my L’s in the Prem, but I’d been sneaking it out since I was 14 lol if there was enough petrol in it that is.
Never got caught, never pranged it, I’ll probably get run over by a bus in the morning!
Thanks for the video Mark.
Ha. Thanks. 👍👍
Great stuff Mark! As a kid of the 60s/70s the Fairlane was the car I aspired to. It was the mark of success and one day I owned a P5 LTD. Tremendous styling and features. They still look great to this day. I love the vintage commercials, thank you!
@@markhooper1352 Thanks very much. I would like to buy a P5 LTD. 👍
I reckon the ZG & XB were a fine Ford interpretation of market vs luxury sedans. Both are classic design, I was lucky my dad got both as co. cars. Plus, ZGs finally looked & felt like a worthy successor to the [mighty in my young eyes] ZB. Thanks Mark.
@@UncleJoeLITE Thanks. I liked both too. 👍
Had one of these with a 302, 4 of us bought it for $400 (combined) and gave it a radical chop top and covered it is synthetic grass in one weekend for a summernats cruiser, I welded the doors up so it wouldn't crumple from the rust. Was a piece of shit but we had fun.
Sounds like it wasn’t a minter? 🤔
Beautiful car Mark. I've been watching and thumbs up for all of your fantastic productions. Absolute pleasure to watch 👍
@@neilstleon6251 Thanks very much. 👍
Excellent episode Mark!! I’d love to see an episode on the Ford Fairmont Ghia era vs Holden SL/E-Calais.
@@Luke-er6pg Thanks. I have covered all the Falcons, including Ghias in my Falcon series. Check out the Playlists. There is also a Commodore one there. 👍
An interesting footnote: As well as the 19,556 ZGs assembled by Ford Australia, there were also 624 units exported to South Africa as CKD and assembled at Port Elizabeth. The ZG was the last model Fairlane to be exported as CKD. I think it had started with ZD. You can still see examples on South African car sales websites.
@@xk2fg Very cool. I wonder what they go for?
Correct, my Dad had a '76 Fairlane 500 in dark blue with white vinyl roof in Cape Town. It was great when he dropped my friend and I at school as he always put foot in the hoek! - he floored the accelerator. I remember washing the Fairlane 500 on weekends. I still love this range of cars. Thanks for your nice collections of cars. I remembered the 3 speed column auto did not activate 1st gear but the selling dealer rectified it quickly. Moorreesburg Ford. Greetings from South Africa.
@ Thanks very much. When I was at school, one of my best mates (who came from South Africa), Gary Knep) had a 1976 Ford Granada Ghia. Blue with a white vinyl roof and sunroof. 3 litre engine. That was a great car for us high school seniors to ride in. 👍
@markbehr88 A smart car here also! It's probably the same dark,royal blue paint that Ford shared locally,in P.E.
@ Could be. I wish I had bought it off him. 🫣
Thanks once again Mark.
Big fan of the big fords.
Looking forward to the ZH, my favourite.
@@mrdoiii Thanks. Mine too. 👍
Great video, i have had a zg for about 17 years now, paid $800 for it back then i love the long styling of it and the long landau style taillights overall a lovely car
Thanks very much. Enjoy your ZG. 👍
Great video as always. I personally preferred the next series of Fairlane with the much more squared off look.
Me too. That will be the next Fairlane episode. My favourite. 👍
Great ep Mark👍, that 50th anniversary Fairlane was a "Town car" if i remember correctly
@@chrisF351 Thanks Chris. I believe the 50th Anniversary was a Town Car. Not sure about the Fairlane? 👍
I had a ZF fairlane and a work colleague had a ZG. We were mechanics at the time and noticed the ZG sat 25mm higher (the ZF's lower control arms were horizontal where the ZG's sloped downward towards the bottom ball joints like a standard XA or XB Falcon), this was odd as they were both dead stock and his ZG was heavier as it had A/C and electric windows. We asked the wheel alignment machine repair technician about this when he was at the shop and he said this was standard from the factory as Ford wanted the then new ZF to look 'low, long and wide' but there was backlash from country drivers about lack of ground clearance so they raised the car back up for the ZG!
@@MiltonBaker-t9h Yes, I was about to say, that was a ground clearance issue. 👍
Thanks Mark. What a car! Horrible that the pollies eventually decided not to ride in Fairlane's and LTD's instead in German Bogan Motor Works taxis when the Aussie car industry was on its knees. Look at what we let go.
Agree. What happened. 🫣
Thank you Mark. This one looks like a early 1970's Mercury Marquis. That Statesman you showed looked like a Oldsmobile in the front. The Caprice and later Statesman looked like a early 1970's Chevrolet Caprice/impala in the front. It was clear American Ford and GM were influencing the designs. Interesting to see the Cadillac Deville name on a Holden as well. That Holden Caprice you shared had a Chevrolet Caprice hood ornament too. I see the interiors were getting better in the Fairlane. I saw power windows. They were using bench and bucket seats wow... It was a 198 inches. It is getting longer. It is improving. It is the same length as a 1987-1991 Pontiac Bonneville H Body car. The Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 are the same length as Fairlane was back then. The steering wheel is the same one they used in American Fords at the time. Your dad's Galaxie was more equipped than the American version from the photo. The American version did not offer those exterior mirrors and exterior trim like that. That was offered on the American LTD. I see the Australian LTD in the video had Lincoln exterior mirrors and was influenced by American Ford design. You are right about those Thunderbird wheel covers too. I enjoyed the footage as well. Thank you again.
@@OLDS98 Thanks Olds98. The cars are becoming more elaborate and larger with plenty of American influence as you say. 👍
@@markbehr88 I agree. You can see it. It is trending now...
👍
The rural market was still strong for the ZG and influential enough to make Ford take heed of rumblings about ride height and overhang which resulted in some changes we will see in the ZH.
Yes. Fairlane was very popular in the bush. 👍
That Galaxy your dad had looked super cool. Didn't know such things existed and don't remember seeing them on the road. Perfect styling. Would love to see more on that particular car. I remember the fairlanes though. There were a lot of these in country vic and - from my primary school memory - they were pretty nice inside. Soft seats and lush carpet. Quite the contrast from the vinyl floor and hard seats in my parents kingswood.
Thanks. There is a video of it on the channel. 👍
Love Australian cars
@@frankcastle2045 Me too. 👍
How good is the yellow one, love that.
Very cool. And I would love an orange one. I got Trax to make a 1/43rd model of it. 👍
@@markbehr88 that's cool as, man. The 70's Fairlane colors to me are reminiscent of old Dupont nitro colors like on Fender guitars.
@@davidwood9966 Yes. Very cool. 👍
Hi Mark, Like the style of the 1970's Fords the coke bottle shape and this Fairlane ZG is a cool looking car. Like the Fairlane ads at the end. Great video Take care
Thanks ver6 much Shaun. I know the sound wasn’t the best regarding the ads but better to see them than not at all and I don’t believe these are anywhere on the internet. 👍
Thanks for your videos. In my early 20's ( early 1990's}, I had a 72 ZF as my daily. 302. Never missed a beat. I went on a road trip with my brother and a friend from Perth to Exmouth and pretty much everywhere in between without any drama. Great time. Fast forward to around 2014 and getting all nostalgic I ended up buying a 74 ZG 302 in that darkish green colour. Needless to say that is not my daily driver these days but with summer coming it will be coming out for more drives.
@@mikfalk8019 Thanks. Good on you for getting a ZG. In 2007 I bought a ZH for the same reason, after having one in 1983 👍
@@markbehr88 I also had a zh in mid to late 90's no power steering was tough
@@mikfalk8019 Gee. That was standard. What happened?
@@markbehr88 rusted out under vinyl roof. Cars were cheap..sold
@@mikfalk8019 Yes.
Holden never got the importance of differentiation in the 70s out of a penny pinching approach. A mistake that Ford would repeat in the 2000s.
Love the Fairlane ads. I think my brother and I drove our father mad until he brought a ZH Fairlane.
@@anthonywalsh2164 I think that is a fair assessment. 👍
Another great Ford Australia history video. The Fairlane was a real aspirational car along with the Statesman.
@@phil4977 Thank you. 👍
Love to see videos on the Landau series.
@@ozgarage956 That is coming. 👍
Another top episode, thanks Mark. Has a 351 in the 80's. Did plenty of country miles without a problem. Cheers.
@@slepper98 Thanks very much. 👍
About 40 years ago I tried out 302ci and 351ci ZG Fairlane 500's, the 302 was a slug by comparison although better on fuel. Very comfortable cars and fully optioned. Thanks again Mark!
@@judgedread-q4t Thanks. Yes. Make mine a 351 please. 😀👍
I had a dark metallic blue ZG Fairlane with 302 and T-bar auto. I eventually replaced it with a ZH, also T-bar auto but with the 351 Cleveland. The ZH was definitely the better performer, but the ZG with the 302 was no slouch. I kept the ZH for 13 years because I loved it so much. Now I wish I'd never sold either car 😢
@@davidhynd4435 Love the blue. Still have my ZH in chocolate brown. 👍
I remember when these were new cars, I was just a little kid at the time, but thought these cars looked cool (in the late 70s). We knew a family with a Fairmont at the time with electric windows, apparently they would get stuck, then shoot up quickly and smash the window!
Gee. I never heard of that with the windows. Something seriously amiss there! 🤔👍
@@markbehr88 Maybe a Friday special?!
@@AphonenewNew Possibly 🤔
Thanks Mark, yet another gem from you. I really look forward to your videos mate.
Thank you 👍
I had a ZG Fairlane 500 with the bench seat option. I was able to transport our family of 6 around in it no problem. It only had 1 flaw, and that was with the column shift selector mechanism on cars fitted with the Ford C4 transmission . It had a known (but refuted by Ford) tendency to slip into reverse from park, if the car was left stationary, with the engine running. It caught me out doing that, twice. The first time I thought it was because I had neglected to put the selector in park properly, the 2nd time proved that there was a problem with the mechanism. There were also reports of similar incidents coming out of North America and also from the taxi industry, so, I knew that it was no “accident.” The simple answer was to turn the engine off as soon as the transmission was put into park. Incidentally, the 50th anniversary edition came with 15 inch steel wheel rims as standard. The rest of the range had 14 inch wheel rims.🎉
Yes, that transmission issue affected US Fords from the late 1960’s to the mid 1970’s. The 50th Anniversary had the LTD 15” rims as you say. 👍
Looking forward to watching this one Mark!
@@ckaparos Thanks. Please hit that Like Button 👍
My cousin inherited one of these. It had 4000km on the clock in 1988. Was a great cruiser for the boys although he struggled to feed the big 351
@@MitchTube Wow. Wish I had that one. 👍
I have a real soft spot for body colour hubcap centres. 60's and 70's Mercs, big Fords, the first Chrysler Sigma SE were all beautiful looking cars which featured these. Though very dated now, they did give the cars appearance a real lift.
@@noelgibson9857 I agree. My US 1975 Ford LTD has them and they look terrific. 👍
The last ad feature comedian Max Gillies of "The Gillies Report" fame.
@@smurftums It looks like him but it is the head of Avis. 👍
I would love to have one in mint green with the optional mag wheels and a 302.The rear lights were a nice upgrade,front could have a more stylish grill.
I liked the 50th Anniversary in Apollo Blue. 351 please. 👍
Excellent, thanks.
@@anthonymaddison9588 Thanks. 👍
Late 80's and I see a VJ770 Charger in a carlot. Go in to buy and the salesguy tries desperately to sell me a ZG Fairlane, sitting next to the Val. I wanted that Charger and I got it. Lo and behold a few weeks later my Dad rocks up in that very ZG! To this day that Fairlane was the best ride in any car I've had. Like floating on air. Gorgeous thing. Sadly, neither of us have those cars today. 😢
Cool story. 👍
Wasn’t it a great time. Hard to believe today that in a country of so few people we had such a great choice of Australian made vehicles
Yes but the leyland P76 was a choice too far.
Agree. Cool cars. 👍
I would own a V8 one. 👍
@@markbehr88 Oh yes! Wonderful life. Thanks mate.
@@theaustralianconundrum 👍
Thanks Mark, in its time I admired these cars, but in hindsight the short rear door lines (doors taken from Falcon) compromise the lines and rear access. Obviously over a 19,000-vehicle production run, a new door pressing could not be justified.
@@nhilltiger I guess it is still pretty low volume by global standards. 🤔👍
Have one with a 460..best car I've ever driven
Great engine. 👍
To me, the ZG looks more refined than the ZF, both were very nice cars and nice to drive.
@@aussietaipan8700 I agree although I do like both. 👍
My parents had a ZA Fairlane
And and later a ZG 351 Fairlane and both were awesome cars, lots of character. Later again they had an 85 Fairlane with EFI 6 and it looked too gimmicky and similar to the Falcon and underwhelmed without a v8. I thought Ford did an awesome job with the ZH Fairlane and I had a rough old one in 1990 but still loved it.
@@djackman4229 Agree. The ZH is probably my favourite. That will be the next episode. 👍
My dad's friend bought one brand new purple with bone white vinyl roof white interior his mate came to visit after they lost touch until 2008 as soon as he knocked I said sell me your Fairlane George said I sold it a while ago and bought a Taurus 🐂😥😥 another mate of dads drove a rare XA continental were vinyl comes along the back door these we're fantastic 👍👍 cheers Stephen from QLD Cobas 🤠🐨🦘✌️
@@stephentaege6255 Very nice. Great colour. 👍
Love the way Aussies say dayboo
😀👍
I had a 76 ZG but I blew the motor as all young blokes are want to do. I fitted a 302 4V and a C6SB gearbox out of a wrecked ZH and long with LS diff and the disc brakes. I had her for about 10 yrs before the rust got to her.
At least you gave it a second life. 👍
Wish i still had mine it was 351 auto 9inch same dark red as car in video with cream interior an 14x7 dragway rims
Nice. 👍
A white ZG Fairlane 500 was the Commcar of choice for Malcom Frazier back in 1975 when he & John Kerr sacked the Whitlam Govt. You can see old news clips of him turning up to Yarralumla and Parliament House in it.
@@thunderbird1454 Cool. They also used the LTD extensively and prior to that, Galaxies. 😀
@@markbehr88 He was only the leader of the opposition at the time, so he only got the Fairlane. Once he got to be PM properly, he got the LTD. Gough use to prance around in his Merc, he wasn't very patriotic.
@@thunderbird1454 Yes. That makes sense. Gough representing the “worker” in his S Class Benz. Well done Comrade. 🫣
@@markbehr88albo's gotterdammerung puts whitlam in the shadows only worth a foot note in our history
19,000 is quite a good number of ZG's built. I wonder where they all went.
You almost never see any of them now.
@@bossdog1480 Rust was a big killer. 👍
I'd take a Fairlane 500 with the 302 V8, front bench seat and column shift. Room for a passenger and an esky in the front on trips.
For sure. 👍
The horn on the indicator stork. I bet a few got broken in road rage.
That term wasn’t around in the 1970’s 😀👍
Love the promo ad at the end, "Ford Fairlane, the car built for MEN who enjoy success"....How'd ya reckon that'd fly over in today's politically correct Western world??😂😂
@@ozgarage956 The good old days. 👍
Makes me want to go back in time and buy 5 of them. 😂
@@OkinInc I know. 😀👍
The ZG was a really nice car, nicer than the opposition. That said, the Chrysler by Chrysler was pretty good.
Agree although I would love a Chrysler by Chrysler coupe. 👍
@@markbehr88 You and me both, Mark! There was bronze one on a Neapean Hwy used car lot, near the Lucas factory in Cheltenham, back in '75. Unfortunately I didn't have any spare cash back then. Still don't, sadly!
@@chrisweeks6973 Ain’t that he case when there is something good on offer.
@@markbehr88 chrysler by chrysler coupe i was mig welding VJs but the few coupes that came thru i was told to leave i think another more experienced welder did them he called them Royales.
Cool. 👍
The big Fairmont V8 wagon of the day would have made a great car also in Fairlane trim...Just like the big American Ford Wagons ! Similar to Fordburgers Torino Wagon road trip car !!!
@@romemancer7905 Yes Ford wagons were the top sellers back then. 👍
The farmers favourite car.
Exactly right. And the Real Estate agent’s. 👍
Is the Landau under the Fairlane family?It is my favourite of all Aussie cars.
More the LTD. The LTD was the P5 series and the Landau P4. 👍
Its a dam shame we took these beautiful cars for granted. No one looked after them and abused the hell out of them. No modern junk would take that abuse.
@@petergoodwin2465 Yes, that’s why the survivors are worth so much. 🤔👍
This thing with vinyl roofs glad its faded away and you paid extra for it.
I liked them but rust was often a friend. 🤔
@@markbehr88 any of the big 3 luxury sedans offer leather..
351 was badged 351 302 was badged V8 who could have taken a 250 fairlane who i ask you 👤
@@markbehr88 refer to vinyl roofs as a toupee 🤣 i think they would have been labour intensive to fit that spells danger in mass production
As far as luxury interiors i remember sitting in the chrysler by chrysler was unbeatable the fabric used for seating and the seats were made me feel like royalty 🫅
When you actually think about 19 Thousand units built, It goes to show just how many bodies were crushed back in the 90's as you just dont find these cars anymore.
@@steveskrobot9496 True 👍
The statemans dont have the presence of the ZG fairlanes. They only came into their own with the WB model.
Yes, that was a good effort. 👍
These cars are mix between a Ford LTD and a Mercury , the rear section definitely 1970 LTD
@@markrenton1093 A lot of US influence 🇺🇸👍
Might be age Mark but I’m starting to think they were ALL great looking cars back in those days, flaws and all.
They were - compared to now. I agree with you and so do most subscribers on this channel I reckon! 😀👍
My High school English teacher Mr Collins had a White With Dark Vynil Roof Fairlane Like the one Shown 4:27
@@jamesgudgeon4868 Very cool. Our English Master had a white 302. 👍
@@markbehr88 looks like ford invested more money advertising the fairlane out of the big 3 ? Alloys would be good option many benefits apart from asthetics
@@Eric-kn4yn Yes, Ford would have spent more as they sold more. 👍
I think we'd all agree that these various film/video car advertisements need to be restored as a historical record. Unfortunately, until new automated AI powered AV systems are developed, which can quickly scan and correct the film/video media, I feel it's cost prohibitive.
Take an average frame rate of 24 frames/second and allow skilled operators 15 minutes per frame. That's 6 hours per second x 60 = 360 hours per minute, not counting audio restoration time = $$$$.
Then, that facility requires fully functional film/video equipment for all the various formats used over time. More $$$$.
Mark may have a rough idea of costs from talking to friends in that industry.
I hope the technology advances and pushes the costs down to more affordable levels.
@@johnclements6852 Yes. I may upload them later separately if I can get a better result. I feel it is better to at least give people an idea of the ads. 👍
This car is a mix between a Ford LTD and Mercury , I can see so many similarities , Ford did let hem stray too far from Detroit.
@@markrenton1093 That’s true. If you watch the Falcon series on the playlists you will see the same thing until 1979. 👍
The fairlanes options are standard and more on all vehciles 2024
Yes except the current styling is boring and that is standard. 🤔
@@markbehr88 i enjoy watching these utubes the history behind our car industry it touched every aspect of our lives for those generations of australians.
@@Eric-kn4yn Thanks. Glad you like them. 👍
It must've been a great time to be alive if ZG fairlanes were considered "generic"
It was. 👍
Speaking of the Statesman , what was the story with some of them having a different grille with a blue Chevrolet bow tie badge? , as far as I know that was a South African grille, and actually, weren't they called Chevrolet Caprice? .
@@barrycuda3769 Yes, they were South African exports. 👍
@@markbehr88I used to see HQ Monaro's in the magazines with that grille, just customized I suppose .
@@barrycuda3769 Yes, I never liked that sort of customisation 🫣
@@markbehr88Personally, I think that South African grille looks better on the Statesman ( or De Ville) .We didn't normally get South African versions of cars in Australia/NZ , any idea why they were an exception? . And, I cant remember, did the Australian Statesman have a Chevrolet engine and transmission, or the 308 and Traumatic?
@@barrycuda3769 The HQ had the option above the Australian 308 of the Chevrolet 350. The S. African cars were not sold in Australia as they were branded Chevrolet. The only Chevrolet sold in Australia at that time was the C series truck. 👍
The commercials at the end have no volume
@@V8pnut They do. You have to turn it up. 👍
I did that. It just distorts the sound
@@V8pnut Or you could just make your own episodes?
@@V8pnut That’s as good as it gets. You won’t find those ads anywhere else on the internet. Any positive comments?
Yes, I find your commentaries interesting and informative. I've watched nearly all off them.
🥝✔️
😀👍
I was thinking a tad Galaxy.
The Chrysler by Chrysler is as daft
As the Ferrari la Ferrari.
My father had a ZG fairlane 351 T-bar auto I thought it was alright but nothing special and I was an only child I had all the back seat to sit on,but later in time I owned a chrysler by chrysler black 360 V8 console auto it was a far better car than the fairlane ever was even my Ford fanatic father drove it a couple I times and said to me "I thought my fairlane i had was a nice car to drive and own but if i my choice again I would have bought one of those chrysler by chrysler like yours" he's exact words
@@garybakerthegazz8707 Hmmm I have driven both and owned a Chrysler by Chrysler. More power and torque in the Chrysler, ride similar, steering much better in the Fairlane 👍