The Ford Fairlane and LTD are full-sized luxury vehiclesFord Fairlane, Landau & LTD at www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au. Retrieved 11 May 2011 produced in a series of models by Ford Australia between 1959 (with the LTD commencing production in 1973) and 2007.
From 1959 to 1964, the Fairlane was a locally assembled version of the American Ford Fairlane, which had taken its name from Henry Ford's estate, Fair Lane, near Dearborn, Michigan. The car was Ford Australia's top-of-the-range model until replaced by an Australian-assembled version of the full-sized American Ford Galaxie. In 1967, Ford Australia reintroduced the Fairlane, this time as an Australian-developed, luxury, long-wheelbase version of its mainstream Falcon/Fairmont, positioned between the Falcon and the Galaxie. The locally assembled Galaxie evolved into the LTD which was itself replaced in 1973 by an Australian-developed, Fairlane-based model, also known as the Ford LTD. Unlike its designation in Australia, in North America the LTD was not considered a luxury vehicle. In Australia, "LTD" originally stood for "Lincoln Type Design", although Ford Australia later promoted a connection with the meaning "Limited".
The Fairlane and LTD competed in the marketplace with the Holden Brougham (1968–1971), the Statesman (1971–1984), and later with the Holden Statesman and Caprice (1990–2007).
Ford produced the Fairlane/LTD at the Broadmeadows Assembly Plant and Eagle Farm, Queensland, in the early years. Until around March/April 1978 with the upcoming release of the XD Falcon and its derivatives, Ford consolidated Falcon production at Campbellfield and Fairlane/LTD manufacturing to Eagle Farm. Around the release of the next generation during the EA Falcon era (1988), Eagle Farm ceased manufacture of cars and only produced heavy trucks until its closure in 1998.
Australian-assembled US Fairlanes Full-size Fairlane (1959–1962)
In September 1959, Ford Australia released three new locally-assembled models, the Fairlane 500, the lower specification Custom 300, and the Ranch Wagon.The Australian 1959–60 Ford Fairlane, Restored Cars magazine No 84, July 1990, pages 4–6 They were sourced from Ford of Canada,1959 Ford Fairlane at uniquecars.carpoint.ninemsn.com.au . Retrieved 3 November 2010 but were essentially the same as their 1959 US Ford counterparts. Tooling for local manufacture had taken nearly two years and had been completed at a cost of almost £1.5 million Australian.Australian Motor Sports, August 1959, News Review, Three New Fords, page 314
The sedans were 9½ inches longer and 5 inches lower than the Ford Customline models which they replaced and all three models featured a V8 engine. The Custom 300 and Ranch Wagon was fitted with a three-speed manual transmission as standard equipment and the Fairlane 500 used a fully automatic transmission. Wheelbase was 118".
For 1960, the range was updated with the grille and trim from the 1959 Canadian MeteorNorm Darwin, The History of Ford in Australia, 1986, page 136 and engine power was increased to .
Intermediate Fairlanes (1962–1965) FB (1962)
In May 1962, the smaller 1962 US Fairlane 500 sedan was introduced as the FB modelBruce McColl, The Compact Fairlane Story, Restored Cars, Number 121, Mar–Apr '97, pages 38–42 and a Windsor V8 was fittedNorm Darwin, The History of Ford in Australia, 1986, pages 138–140 in lieu of the 332. Although classified as an intermediate-sized car in the United States,John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars, 1946–1975, Revised 4th Edition, page 408 the new model was referred to in Australia as the "compact" Fairlane. The new model, which was assembled in Ford Australia's Homebush plant in Sydney, New South Wales, was £200 cheaper than its predecessor at £2,000; 1,632 examples were produced.
FC (1963)
Assembly of the 1963 US Fairlane 500 sedan as the FC model was commenced by Ford Australia in November 1962. It featured a revised bonnet, front guards, grille, headlights, and taillights, and was fitted with the "Ford-O-Matic" automatic transmission as standard equipment, and a Windsor V8 engine was now offered as an option. The Australian production of the 1963 model totalled 1,771 units.
FD (1964)
The 1964 US Fairlane 500 sedan was assembled by Ford Australia from December 1963 as the FD model.Bruce McColl, The Compact Fairlane Story Part Two, Restored Cars, Number 122, May–Jun '97, pages 38–41 It was introduced in April 1964, distinguished by a lack of tail fins and a new grille with seven vertical bars.Glass's Dealers Guide, Passenger Vehicles Values, South Australian and Northern Territory Edition, June 1973, page 57 A choice of two powertrains was offered in the new model, a Windsor V8 with Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission or a Windsor V8 with Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission. The 1964 model was the last of the US Fairlanes in Australia, as Ford discontinued the model locally in 1965 to make way for the larger Ford Galaxie; 1,344 examples were produced in Australia.
Australian Fairlanes First generation ZA (1967–1968)
The ZA Fairlane series, introduced in March 1967,ZA Fairlane Retrieved from www.goauto.com.au on 6 August 2010 was designed and built in Australia, although its front-end styling resembled the American Ford Falcon sedan of that year (except for the quad headlights). The body shape was similar to the 1966–67 US Fairlane sedan, however. Offered as the Fairlane and the Fairlane 500, it was based on the Australian XR Falcon. The 2819 mm wheelbase of the Falcon was stretched to 2946 mm, the front and centre body sections were retained and a new twin-headlight grille was added. The rear quarter panels and boot from the US Fairlane were used, and square taillights (sourced from the 1966 USA Fairlane) replaced the round units used on the Falcon.
The Fairlane was equipped with a six-cylinder engine as standard with a V8 as an option.Ford ZA Fairlane sales brochure The Fairlane 500 featured the V8 as standard equipment. The six-cylinder engine was available with manual or automatic transmission and the V8 only with an automatic. Production of the ZA Fairlane totalled 8,814 vehicles.
ZB (1968–1969)
A model change to the ZB series in March 1968 had the 200 grow to and the 289 grow to , the top model remaining the Fairlane 500 with the larger engine. The Fairlane name badge on the rear guards was now in script rather than capitals as it had been on the ZA. The only notable external change was the taillight design (sourced from the 1967 USA market Fairlane), again following the general look of the Falcon (in this case the XT). The base model was now known as Fairlane Custom.Glass's Dealer Guide, SA & NT Edition, June 1973, pages 56–57
Year Engines HP Transmission Wheelbase length 1968 3.6L six-cylinder;302CID V-8 210(V8) Cruise-O-Matic 116" 196.1"
ZC (1969–1970)
The facelifted ZC Fairlane series, which was introduced in July 1969,Fairlane ZC Technical Specifications. Retrieved 22 November 2010 featured vertically stacked rather than horizontal headlights,Ford Fairlane ZC. Retrieved 22 November 2010 harking back to the look of the 1966–67 US Fairlane models. Taillights were similar to those on the ZB (again, similar in style to the 1967 US Fairlane with the inclusion of the required amber lens), but with wrap-around styling. The ZC was available in Fairlane Custom and Fairlane 500 models.Ford ZC Fairlane sales brochure A 221 cu in (3.6L) straight 6 engine was standard on the Custom, a 302 cu in (4.9L) V8 was standard on the Fairlane 500 and optional on the Custom, and a 351 cu in (5.8L) V8 was optional (with the same specs as the XW GT) on both models. Air conditioning was offered as an option for the first time. 12,513 ZC series Fairlanes were produced.
ZD (1970–1972)
The ZD series was released in November 1970 for the 1971 model year. The base engine became a six-cylinder unit, while the 302 and 351 V8s remained, the latter found only in the Fairlane 500. Externally, the taillights were restyled (similar to XY Falcon), and a new plastic grille with metal surround (mimicking the USA and Brazilian market 1966 model year Galaxie 500) and new boot garnish were used. Internally, new door trim patterns debuted and the speedometer backing was now black instead of the silver used on ZCs.
The ZA to ZD were basically stretched versions of the XR to XY series Ford Falcons, respectively, with the extra length added behind the rear door, moving the rear seat back and giving more leg room.
Second generation ZF (1972–1973)
An all-new, Australian-designed ZF series Fairlane was launched in April 1972, with swoopier bodywork, but criticisms launched that it looked too much like a four-headlamp version of the basic XA Falcon. The ZF Fairlanes were joined by an even more upscale LTD in August 1973, with hidden headlamps and vinyl roofs. Model names remained the same (Custom and 500), as did the engine choices, as the previous model year. Although this car was designed and built exclusively in Australia, its styling is reminiscent of the US-market Mercury Montego. The 1973 ZF also had the last manual transmission; afterwards, all Fairlanes were automatics.
This model was also sold in South Africa, unlike the Falcon, which was discontinued in favour of the European Granada. Only the Fairlane 500, with column shift and seating for six, was available in South Africa. These cars were fitted with the Cleveland 351 (5.8-litre) V8 engine.
ZG / P5 (1973–1976)
November 1973 had the next series of changes, to the ZG-series Fairlane. The changes were mainly cosmetic, with a four-horizontal-bar grille and revised taillight lenses and garnish panel. An anniversary model with a standard 302 was released in 1975, but otherwise the range stayed the same as the 1974 versions. The Fairlane-based P5 series Ford LTD was released very late in the ZF model run in August 1973, three months prior to the ZG Fairlane. The LTD was only available as a four-door sedan, and the wheelbase was even longer than that of the Fairlane, itself a stretched Falcon. A luxury two-door coupé called the Ford Landau (also designated P5) was released at the same time. The Landau was based on the Australian Falcon Hardtop, so featured a wheelbase as opposed to the wheelbase of the LTD. Both models were notable for their concealed headlamps, which were revealed when their vacuum-operated grille sections were retracted. The technology was similar to that found on earlier models of the American-built Ford Thunderbird. Standard equipment on both the LTD and the Landau included integrated air conditioning, automatic transmission, electric windows, and a 351ci / 5.8L V8 engine.
Also in July 1975, Ford commenced a release of the Town Cars. These were 50th-Anniversary models, celebrating 50 years of Ford in Australia. They produced 250 of each in the LTD and Fairlane ranges. The Fairlanes in particular were optioned with LTD components, 15-inch wheels, leather interior, and electric windows to name some options. In the Fairlane, only a small handful was special-ordered with a 351 motor. All others were 302s. The LTD was 351-engine cars.
50th Anniversary Model badge
As the P5 was released during the ZF model run, it retained many ZF components. For example, the main interior upgrade from the Fairlane ZF to ZG was the turn signal stalk. The ZF had the older-style stalk with the high beam "dipper" switch on the floor. When the ZG Fairlane was released a big item was the new multifunction column stalk which incorporated the dipper switch and horn. The P5s, however, used the ZF-style stalk and still had a "squeeze rim" horn similar to Falcon GTs of the era. Because the P6 LTD was not released until about five months after the ZH Fairlane, some of the last P5s actually had a few minor ZH parts fitted.
ZH / P6 (1976–1979)