Black plastic grille featuring seven horizontal bars with the Ford badge in the middle
Rectangular headlights on all models, with wrap-around indicators
Plastic wrap-around bumpers
Alloy-Head motors introduced from July 1980 onward, identified by "Alloy Head" badges located on lower front guards of both 3.3 and 4.1 liter models
Also from July 1980 onward, badges denoting engine capacity are no longer used
Body:
Unitary construction (Monocoque)
Exterior Dimensions:
Total Length: 4737mm
Total width: 1860mm
Height at kerb weight: 1374mm
Wheelbase: 2818mm
Front Track: 1559mm
Rear Track: 1527mm
Kerb Weight:
Iron head: 1376kg
Alloy head: 1345kg
Fuel Tank:
77.0 liters
Turning Circle:
11.5 metres
Instruments:
Speedometer
Odometer
Econometer (Tachometer on Fairmont, Fairmont Ghia)
Petrol gauge
Temp gauge
Oil warning lamp
Alternator warning lamp
Digital clock
Transmission:
Manual
(Six, 3 speed Borg Warner)
1st: 2.95:1
2nd: 1.69:1
3rd: 1.00:1
Reverse: 3.67:1
Manual (Six and 4.9 liter V8, 4 speed)
1st: 3.06:1
2nd: 1.84:1
3rd: 1.32:1
Reverse: 3.04:1
Manual (5.8 liter V8, 4 speed)
1st: 2.36:1
2nd: 1.78:1
3rd: 1.27:1
4th: 1.00:1
Reverse: 2.47:1
Manual (5.8 liter V8, 4 speed)
1st: 2.46:1
2nd: 1.78:1
3rd: 1.27:1
4th: 1.00:1
Reverse: 2.47:1
Automatic
(3.3 and 4.1 liter Six; Borg Warner 35-3)
1st: 2.39:1
2nd: 1.45:1
3rd: 1.00:1
Reverse: 2.09:1
Automatic
(3.3 and 4.1 liter Six, 4.9 liter V8; C4-3)
1st: 2.46:1
2nd: 1.46:1
3rd: 1.00:1
Reverse: 2.20:1
Automatic
(5.8 liter V8; Ford FMX-3)
1st: 2.40:1
2nd: 1.47:1
3rd: 1.00:1
Reverse: 2.00:1
Clutch:
3.3 and 4.1 liter: Single dry plate clutch, spring, cable operated
4.9 and 5.8 liter: Twin dry plate, hydraulically operated
Rear Axle Ratio:
3.3 liter Six manual and auto: 2.92:1
4.1 liter Six manual and auto: 2.92:1
4.9 liter V8 manual and auto: 2.92:1
5.8 liter V8 manual: 2.92:1
5.8 liter automatic: 2.77:1
Note: Available from 3.3 liter Alloy Head from June 1980 2.77:1
Engine/Transmission Combinations:
3.3 liter Six available with 3 speed manual or automatic
4.1 liter Six available with 3/4 speed manual or 3 speed automatic
4.9 liter V8 available with manual 3 or 4 speed manual or 3 speed automatic
5.8 liter V8 available with manual 4 speed manual or 3 speed automatic
0-60 mph (0-97 km/h):
12.8 seconds (250ci 2V Automatic)
Standing Quarter Mile (400 metres):
19.0 seconds (250ci 2V Automatic)
3.3 liter Six (to June 1980):
Capacity: 200 cubic inches
(3.273 liters)
Type: Cast iron cross-flow with hydraulic tappets, chain driven camshaft, watercooled four
stroke, reciprocating piston type with
6 cylinders
Bottom end: Seven bearing crankshaft
Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal,
inline
Head: Pushrod and rocker actuated ohv
with two valves per cylinder
Fuel System: Bendix Stromberg single barrel downdraft type carburetor
Bore and Stroke: 93 x 80mm
Power: 82kw at 4000rpm
Torque: 228Nm at 2400rpm
Compression Ratio: 8.8:1
3.3 liter "Alloy Head" Six (from June 1980):
Capacity: 200 cubic inches
(3.273 liters)
Type: Alluminium Alloy cross-flow pushrod valve actuation, chain driven camshaft, watercooled four
stroke, reciprocating piston type with
6 cylinders
Bottom end: Seven bearing crankshaft
Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal,
inline
Head: Pushrod and rocker actuated ohv
with two valves per cylinder
Fuel System: Bendix Stromberg single barrel downdraft type carburetor
Bore and Stroke: 93 x 80mm
Power: 84kw at 4000rpm
Torque: 230Nm at 2400rpm
Compression Ratio: 9.15:1
4.1 liter Six (to June 1980):
Capacity: 250 cubic inches
(4.10 liters)
Type: Cast iron cross-flow with hydraulic tappets, chain driven camshaft, watercooled four
stroke, reciprocating piston type with
6 cylinders
Bottom end: Seven bearing crankshaft
Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal,
inline
Head: Pushrod and rocker actuated ohv
with two valves per cylinder
Fuel System: Bendix Stromberg single barrel downdraft type carburetor
Bore and Stroke: 93 x 99mm
Power: 94kw at 3900rpm
Torque: 295Nm at 1900rpm
Compression Ratio: 9.0:1
4.1 liter "Alloy Head" Six (from June 1980):
Capacity: 250 cubic inches
(4.10 liters)
Type: Alluminium Alloy cross-flow pushrod valve actuation, chain driven camshaft, watercooled four
stroke, reciprocating piston type with
6 cylinders
Bottom end: Seven bearing crankshaft
Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal,
inline
Head: Pushrod and rocker actuated ohv
with two valves per cylinder
Fuel System: Bendix Stromberg single barrel downdraft type carburetor
Bore and Stroke: 93 x 99mm
Power: 94kw at 4000rpm
Torque: 305Nm at 2000rpm
Compression Ratio: 9.35:1
4.9 liter V8:
Capacity: 302 cubic inches
(4.95 liters)
Type: Conventional, watercooled four
stroke, reciprocating piston type with
8 cylinders in vee
Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal,
inline
Head: Cast iron cross-flow with hydraulic valve actuation
Fuel System: Carter thermoquad four barrel progressive automatic choke carburetor
Bore and Stroke: 102 x 76mm
Power: 140kw at 4500rpm
Torque: 344Nm at 3200rpm
Compression Ratio: 9.2:1
5.8 liter V8:
Capacity: 351 cubic inches
(5.75 liters)
Type: Conventional, watercooled four
stroke, reciprocating piston type with
8 cylinders in vee
Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal,
inline
Head: Cast iron cross-flow with hydraulic valve actuation
Fuel System: Two barrel carburetor
Bore and Stroke: 102 x 89mm
Power: 149kw at 4300rpm
Torque: 415Nm at 3000rpm
Compression Ratio: 8.9:1
Ignition and Electrical:
12 volt
Six cylinder: contact breaker ignition system with centrifugal and vacuum spark advance mechanism
V8 and Alloy Head Six: High output breakerless electronic ignition distributor system with integral control module. Centrifugal and vacuum spark advance mechanism
Exhaust:
Six Cylinder: Single tail-pipe
V8: Twin pipes
Suspension:
Front: Fully independent
type, double wishbone with brake reaction strut in tension. Spring and shock absorber mounted on upper arm. Anti roll bar. Dual durometer brake reaction strut bush (Note: EPS also fitted with Bilstein gas shock absorbers)
Rear: Floating axle, Hotchkiss rear suspension. Inclined shock absorber units, sedan also fitted with anti-roll bar (Note: EPS also fitted with Bilstein gas shock absorbers). Rear axle is rigid Salisbury type, with tubular steel pressed into cast-iron centre differential section. Axle shafts have rolled splines and taper roller bearings. Limited slip differential fitted to 4.9 liter V8 manual models and all 5.8 liter V8 models. Limited slip differential also available as an option on 4.1 liter and 4.9 liter automatic models. Single piece tubular drive shaft
Steering:
Recirculating ball, ratio 20:1 (5 turns lock-to-lock)
Optional power steering, recirculating ball, hydrauclically assisted with variable ratio from 17:1 straight ahead to 11:1 at full lock, 2.6 turns lock-to-lock
Brakes:
Split circuit hydraulic system
Mechanically operated booster
Alloy master cylinder with integral pressure proportioning valve and pressure differential switch
Front: Ventilated disc 286 x 24mm single piston, self adjusting floating caliper
Rear:
GL and Fairmont: 259 x 44 self-adjusting dual servo drums
Fairmont Ghia: Ventilated disc 286 x 24mm single piston, self adjusting floating caliper
Swept area: 720 square cm
Wheels:
5.50 x 14 steel
6.00 x 14 alloy
7.00 x 15 alloy
Tyres (steel belted radial):
Falcon GL 3.3 and 4.1 Sedan: CR78 S14 4 ply on 5.5 inch rims, optional ER78 S14 4 ply, optional ER70 H14 6 ply on 6 inch rims
Falcon GL 3.3 and 4.1 Wagon, Fairmont 4.1 Sedan: ER78 S14 4 ply 6 inch rims, optional ER70 H14 on 6 inch rims
V8 GL Sedan/Wagon, V8 Fairmont Sedan/Wagon, Ghia Sedan: ER70 H14 6 ply on 6 inch rims
“Your family looks nice and cosy in that new
4 cylinder car Dave!” “Yeah – oh
here were are passing a truck, well it’s a
pretty long truck! Here we are leaving the camp site,
the tent will be coming back by rail.” “You
know mate, you really didn’t have to squeeze
your family into that little car. Falcon Alloy Head
Six, ton of room, beautiful performance, economy
that makes some of your small cars – well”.
Don’t settle for less, Falcon is the answer.