By Pedr Davis
Introduced in September, 1960 and looking clean and sleek, the XK Falcon was an instant hit with buyers looking for something with more up to date styling or a little different from the staid Holden FB, its main competitor.
Brochures of the day touted the Falcon as “Australian – with a world of difference”. In reality, the first-model Falcon was a right-hand clone of the US model. This very fact turned out to be a big problem for Ford Australia because the Falcon was to prove rather fragile when subjected to Australian roads of the time, especially when they were promoted with the catchcry “designed for Australian conditions”.
Though the new model was popular with Australian buyers, it was to be five years before Ford Australia could begin to show a profit.
Almost austere in appearance, the Falcon XK carried a minimum of exterior decoration and sold on release for $2274 for the basic model. If the optional automatic transmission was fitted, the cost rose to $2512.
A deluxe model which differed only from the basic model in trim and decoration was available at $2636. Because of the austere appearance, the accessory manufacturers had a field day producing chrome wheel trims, rear wheel spats, sun visors, weather shields, a rear window venetian blind and a chrome- plated bonnet ornament. A year or so after introduction of the sedan, a station wagon and then a utility were added to the range.
In comparison with the Holden, the Falcon’s engine was somewhat more powerful and automatic transmission was offered as an option. The base-model engine was the 6-cylinder 144 cubic inch model (2.36 litres) and there was an optional 170 cubic inch (2.78 litres) model. The 144 engine-powered Falcon had a top speed of 135 km/h, accelerating from 0 to 100km/h in 17 seconds.
Hydraulic 229mm drum brakes were fitted and the low-geared recirculating ball steering required five turns from lock to lock for a turning circle of 11.6 metres. Suspension was basic and comprised independent coil springs with hydraulic double-acting shock absorbers and stabiliser bar in the front, while the rear had a live axle with semi-elliptic springs and double acting shock absorbers. As with the competition, dash instrumentation was rather sparse with a speedometer and odometer, fuel gauge, temperature gauge, and oil and generator warning lights.
