Ford Problems

Doing 100km of general running about for less than five bucks in fuel makes motoring pretty affordable. As manufacturers bring out more models with increasingly-amazing frugality, motorists are laughing all the way from the pumps. A generation ago, the 30 miles per gallon mark (9.4 litres/100km in metric speak) was a

With Ford celebrating 50 years of Falcon it seems appropriate to look back at one of the more memorable models that dot the rich Falcon history, the stylish XM/XP Falcon Hardtop.Other models are more highly prized than the XM/XP Hardtop, the XY GT and its Phase III HO spin-off for instance, but there are few more admired models than the lovely coupe.Back in the mid-'60s, the Australian car market was undergoing a transformation of seismic proportions. Where Australians had been served a diet of utilitarian models in the 1950s, carmakers were beginning to offer cars with more style and pizzazz as the '60s rolled out.Engines grew in size and performance, rumbling V8s were more widely available, go-fast stripes and GT badges started to appear, and stylish two-door coupes were added to the model list of choices that were previously limited to family-friendly sedans and wagons. Ford led the way with the first coupe when it launched the two-door Hardtop in 1964.MODEL WATCHHolden had a stranglehold on the market as the 50's came to a close, so Ford had to play catch-up when it launched the Falcon in 1960.With its Detroit styling, the Falcon was way ahead of Holden at the time. With little competition, Holden styling had lagged behind the American styling of the time and looked old and stodgy compared to the sleek, airy newcomer with the blue oval badge.Ford would have made more progress in hunting down the Holden, but the first Falcon quickly developed a reputation for being unsuited to Australian conditions when its front-end began to collapse.Those problems were quickly fixed, but Australians had become wary of the new Ford and sales stagnated.Trying hard to make up for the early setback, Ford grabbed the attention of local buyers by releasing the Hardtop. In conjuring up the coupe Ford raided the corporate parts bin in Detroit where it found the slimline turret, pillarless doors and rear quarter panels that had been used in the American Falcon Sprint.The Hardtop first appeared in the XM range in 1964 as the base model Deluxe and upmarket Futura.Apart from the looks, the Hardtop varied little from the regular Falcon sedan. It used the same engines, gearboxes, suspension, steering and brakes as the family four-doors. The Deluxe had an 83 kW 2.8-litre 'Pursuit' six and a three-speed manual gearbox, while the Futura was only available with a two-speed automatic transmission and most were built with a more powerful 90 kW 3.3-litre 'Super Pursuit' six.In 1965 Ford released the XP with its squarer front, but other than that there were few changes to the Hardtop. The Deluxe and Futura models continued. The engine offerings were the same, but a better three-speed unit replaced the two-speed auto. Ford dropped the hardtop when it went to the XR in 1966. By then it is believed some 3000 XM Hardtops and up to 7000 XP models had been produced.IN THE SHOPThe great thing about old Falcons is that you can get pretty much everything you need to repair or restore your car. There are a number of local outlets specialising in older Falcons and they can supply most parts you might need. If not it's more than likely you can get whatever you need, NOS or repro, from the US. The Falcon mechanicals are robust, and while tired engines might need rebuilding, the parts and know-how are readily available to do it.When shopping for a car it's best to search for one with a good, solid body with minimal rust and body cracking. That way you're not likely to have to big body repair bills to bring your car back to showroom condition. It's also worth noting the condition of the bright work on the body, as that can be hard and costly to replace. Stainless steel trim, wheel covers, bumpers, grilles and badges in good condition can be a real bonus as they can soak up big dollars when it comes to repairing or replacing them.ON THE ROADWhile it looked sporty the XM/XP Hardtop wasn't a performance car, it was conceived as a stylish cruiser that turned heads as it rolled down the road. The steering was over-geared and vague, the drum brakes faded fast if put under real pressure, and the chassis understeered if pushed through corners with any vigour.While the Hardtop accelerated quite well for its time - it needed 15 seconds or so to reach 100 km/h - it could only be described as lethargic by today's standards. But as a weekend cruiser when performance and handling don't matter too much there are few nicer classics than the XM/XP Falcon Hardtop.Fitting modern tyres, lowering the suspension, fitting better shock absorbers and larger sway bars, and fitting disc brakes can make an enormous improvement and transform the Hardtop into a much more enjoyable car to drive today.IN A CRASHForget airbags, anti-skid brakes, traction or stability control, the XM/XP Hardtop was made well before these modern safety systems were even thought of. Check the seat belts and make sure they are in good condition, as the belts and the body structure are the only crash protection the Hardtop has.AT THE PUMPThe XM/XP Hardtop was no fuel miser; contemporary road testers reported fuel consumption of up to 17 L/100 km. But that's not likely to concern anyone wanting to use it as a weekend classic. The XM/XP Hardtop was built when fuel contained lead, so it's best to use PULP to get a decent octane rating and use a valve protection additive. An alternative is to fit the engine with hardened valves and valve seats, and then use unleaded without the additive.LOOK FORClassic pillarless coupe stylingCruising comfortModest performanceBuy rust-free carCheck condition of body trimLikely to maintain, perhaps increase, value over time.OTHER CLASSIC FALCONS TO CONSIDERXR FALCON GT 1967: The first Falcon GT with its gold paint, black stripes, sports steering wheel and gearshifter is a most desirable classic Falcon. Gaining in value as GT fans realise its real place in Falcon history. Pay up to $80,000.XC FALCON COBRA COUPE 1978: Ford created one of the all-time great Falcon classics when it released the XC Cobra Coupe. It was a smart marketing idea to get rid of the last 400 coupe bodies. Striking in white with bold blue stripes the Cobra was the last blast in the classic early Ford performance line. Pay up to $75,000.BA/BF FALCON XR6 TURBO 02-08: Of the more recent Falcons the BA/BF Falcon XR6 Turbo models are likely to become great Falcon classics in years to come. With their tyre-shredding performance, road-hugging handling and downright good looks the hotshot turbos have the special ingredients needed to acquire true classic status. Pay $14,000-$30,000.THE BOTTOM LINE: An affordable and good-looking cruiser that ticks most classic boxes.CLASSIC RATING: 85/100