Ford recently celebrated 100 years in Australia, marking the milestone with a special tribute to one of its most iconic models — the Falcon. For decades, the Falcon was not just a car; it was a symbol of Australian engineering, ingenuity, and identity. At the heart of the centenary celebration was the recognition that much of Ford’s local success was built on the back of this large, locally-developed sedan.
The Falcon’s journey began in 1960 when Ford Australia made the bold decision to choose the US-designed Falcon over the British Zephyr. “Charlie Smith went to Detroit… and fortunately for Australian buyers, they chose the Falcon,” said Peter Robinson, former editor at Wheels magazine, who drove his first Falcon at the 1963 launch and has tested every generation since.
From its early days, the Falcon proved it could be more than just a car imported from abroad. It was engineered, refined, and adapted for Australia’s vast and rugged terrain. “Falcon was a big car for a big country,” said Steve Crosby, product development director at Ford Australia. “It had the ride, the handling, the safety and the suspension to cover punishing distances from the city to the Outback.”
The Falcon quickly became a mainstay for families, tradespeople, and fleet operators alike — reliable, spacious, and versatile. Over seven generations, Ford engineers consistently pushed the envelope, improving performance, safety, and comfort. These enhancements were not just incremental; they set new benchmarks. The Falcon was the first Australian car to include seat belt mounting points in 1962. In 1973, it introduced front disc brakes as standard on 500 models, and by 1992 it was the first mainstream vehicle in Australia available with ABS brakes.
Many remember the Falcon for its high-performance variants. Models like the XT GT and the BA XR6 stood out for their engineering quality and road manners. “The XT GT was more refined than the XR and had a balance that the GTHOs didn’t have,” said Robinson. “The BA XR6… there was no compromise with that car. It was a terrific car — an excellent piece of engineering and a great car to drive.”
But the Falcon wasn’t just about stats and specs. It played a central role in the lives of many Australians. It carried families on beach holidays, couples on first dates, and kids to weekend footy games. On race days, it was Falcon versus Holden — blue versus red — a rivalry that captured the national imagination and still resonates with enthusiasts today.
“Extraordinarily important,” said Robinson, describing the Ford versus Holden rivalry. “Among enthusiasts, this rivalry still exists… More importantly, there’s still a strong emotional connection to these Australian-built cars. When I tested the later Falcons, I always came away with an overwhelming feeling from the driving experience that it was a car designed for Australian roads. That’s a real tribute to the men and women who designed, engineered and built the cars for Australia.”
Though production ended in 2016, the Falcon’s legacy endures. From its innovative safety features to its unmatched versatility and deep cultural resonance, the Falcon remains one of Australia’s most beloved automotive stories — and its place in Ford’s centenary celebrations was not only appropriate, but richly deserved.
