Ford Falcon (XA)

Ford XA Falcon
Ford XA Falcon 500 Sedan with Grand Sport Rally Pack
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford Australia
Also called	Ford XA Futura Ford XA Fairmont Ford Ranchero (South Africa)
Production	March 1972-September 1973
Designer	Jack Telnack
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size car
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon 2-door hardtop 2-door coupe utility 2-door van
Layout	FR layout
Related	Ford ZF Fairlane
Powertrain
Engine	3.3L (200ci) 6-cyl (130 bhp) 4.1L (250ci) 6-cyl (155 bhp) 4.1L (250ci) 6-cyl (170 bhp) 4.9L (302ci) V8 (240 bhp) 5.8L (351ci) V8 (260 bhp) 5.8L (351ci) V8 (300 bhp) (GT only)
Transmission	3-speed manual 4-speed manual 3-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,819 mm (111.0 in)
Length	4,737 mm (186.5 in)
Width	1,900 mm (74.8 in)
Height	1,369 mm (53.9 in)
Curb weight	1,369 kg (3,018.1 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Ford XY Falcon
Successor	Ford XB Falcon

The Ford Falcon (XA) is a full-size car that was produced by Ford Australia from 1972 to 1973. It was the first iteration of the third generation of this Australian-made model and also included the Ford Fairmont (XA)—the luxury-oriented version of the Falcon.

Sold between March 1972 and September 1973, the XA series was the first Falcon to be designed (with assistance from Ford's US headquarters) and manufactured in Australia. It featured an entirely new body which was larger and more roomy than that of its XY series predecessor, giving it the "coke-bottle" look. The XA range also had a longer list of options, although the choice of engines carried over from the previous XY Falcon range. All V8 302 CID and most 351 CID "Cleveland" engines were now Aussie made. GT Falcons could have Aussie or imported 351 CID V8s fitted. Wagons, utilities and panel vans now featured a longer wheelbase than the sedan. Fairmont wagons had a dual-action tailgate that could be opened either downwards or sideways, optional on base model Falcon and Falcon 500 Wagons.

The addition of a two-door hardtop to the range marked the first time that this body style had been offered on an Australian Falcon since the XP series of 1965–1966. The hardtop's longer doors with frameless windows were shared with the utility and van, with a different shape glass to suit the commercial vehicles' body apertures. The shorter doors of the sedan and wagon with their framed windows were also available with optional quarter vent windows, though these were very rare, mainly fitted to cars in the hotter parts of Australia. This option was available in the subsequent XB and XC models, though very scarce.

The XA Falcon range were the first Falcons fitted with in-dash vents for face level flow-thru ventilation, although they only worked while the car was in motion.

A total of 129,473 XAs were built. While successful, the XA Falcon range proved to be short-lived as it gained a significant frontal appearance update to become the XB series in September 1973.

Sedans and Wagons were introduced in March 1972, the Hardtops in August 1972 and the Utilities and Vans in October of that year.

Ford XA Falcon 500 Sedan

Ford XA Falcon 500 Wagon

Ford XA Falcon 500 Hardtop (with non-standard wheels)

Ford XA Fairmont Sedan