Ford Fairlane (Australian)
| Ford Fairlane | |
|---|---|
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Ford Australia |
| Also called | Ford LTD |
| Production | 1959–2007 |
| Assembly | Australia: Campbellfield, Victoria; Eagle Farm, Queensland |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size luxury car |
| Body style | 4-door sedan |
| Related | Ford Falcon (Australia) |
The Ford Fairlane and LTD are full-sized luxury vehicles 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. This 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, 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. In North America, unlike its designation in Australia, it 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 Campbellfield, Victoria, and Eagle Farm, Queensland, in the early years. Until around March/April 1978 with the upcoming release of the Ford Falcon (XD) 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.
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