Ford Falcon XD

Ford Falcon (XD)
Ford Falcon GL station wagon
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford Australia
Also called	Ford Fairmont (XD)
Production	March 1979 – March 1982
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size car
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon 2-door coupé utility 2-door panel van
Layout	FR layout
Related	Ford Fairlane (ZJ) Ford LTD (FC)
Powertrain
Engine	3.3 L I6 4.1 L I6 4.9 L V8 5.8 L V8
Transmission	3-speed automatic (column, floor) 3-Speed Borg Warner 0501 Manual (column) 4-Speed Borg Warner 0503 Manual (floor) 4-Speed Borg Warner 0506 Manual (floor)
Chronology
Predecessor	Ford Falcon (XC)
Successor	Ford Falcon (XE)

The Ford Falcon (XD) is a full-size car that was produced by Ford Australia from 1979 to 1982. It was the first iteration of the fourth generation of this Australian-made model and also included the Ford Fairmont (XD)—the luxury-oriented version of the Falcon.

The Falcon XD was released in March 1979 replacing the Falcon XC. It featured a new smaller body with no reduction in interior space. Stylistically, the XD was strongly influenced by the European Ford Granada Mark II of 1977. The only common components shared between the Granada and the Falcon however were the headlights. Unlike its predecessor, the XD range did not include a 2-door Hardtop model.

The base engine offered in the XD range was a 3.3-litre six cylinder engine. Other choices were a 4.1-litre (250 cu in) six cylinder, a 4.9-litre (302 cu in) eight cylinder and a 5.8-litre (351 cu in) "Cleveland" eight cylinder engine. Transmissions available were a three speed column shift manual for six cylinder versions, the popular four speed manual floor shift, and the most popular transmission choice, the three speed automatic with the selector lever located either on the steering column or the floor. All engines had a carburettor with electronic ignition. In June 1980 the 3.3 and 4.1 inline six's iron cylinder head was replaced by an alloy head.

A total of 197,293 XD Falcons were built prior to the XD being replaced by the Falcon XE in March 1982.

The XD series was offered in six models:

Commercial variants of the XD Falcon were released in September 1979 with four models offered:

Falcon GL wagon

Falcon GL sedan with ESP option

Fairmont sedan

Fairmont Ghia sedan

Fairmont Ghia sedan with ESP option

Falcon GL utility (with "S Pack" option)

Falcon GL van (with Sundowner option)

An "S Pack" option was introduced at launch in March 1979. It included slotted wheels, pinstriping, "S" badging, wool blend cloth trim, digital clock, driving lights, blacked out paint treatments and sports instrumentation which included a tachometer.

A European Sports Pack (ESP), noted as option 54, was introduced in June 1980. It was offered as an option on the Falcon GL Sedan, and included "Bathurst" globe alloy wheels, sports suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers, "Scheel" front seats, red lit instrument panel and clock and the 4.1 litre alloy head six cylinder engine. A European Sports Pack was also offered as an option on the Fairmont Ghia from January 1981.