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Ford Falcon Facts
With the XE Falcon, Ford was the only remaining company with an Australian designed and built car. Holden had the Opel designed Commodore and Chrysler’s Valiant was discontinued. Other big news was that Ford Falcon finally became Australia’s top selling car.
XE Falcon(1982 - 1984)
Before then, the Falcon could only manage to take the lead from Holden for a few months at a time.
Part of the reason Falcon made number one was a sudden glut in the middle of the oil crisis, and the prices started to fall. Holden experienced sudden demand for V8 models, but its plans were all centred around the small Camira!
However, despite the oil glut, Ford had already made the decision to discontinue the mighty V8. The last V8 Falcon rolled out in November 1982, ending 50 years of V8 Fords in Australia. It would be almost 10 years before there was another V8 Falcon.
To fill the gap left by the V8s, electronic fuel injection became available in February 1983. It was optional on the 4.1 and power and torque was boosted by 13kW and 20Nm.
The sixes also enjoyed more power and torque due to the new Weber carburettor. Power of the 3.3 was up to 90kW at 4100rpm, the 4.1 was up to 105kW at 3800rpm. The new carburettor also added better fuel economy, and a five speed manual was now available with the 3.3.
The XE was the first with all round coil springs and a Watts link rear suspension, replacing the leaf springs that had been on the Falcon since 1960. As a result the car handled much better, although the wagon and ute missed out.
This Falcon was quieter, smoother and more relaxing than ever before because the engineers paid a lot of attention to noise, vibration and harshness. Power steering was still optional on most models, so drivers were stuck with 5.2 turns lock-to-lock.
Falcon’s bonnet now wrapped over to meet the smaller grille, and the tail lights got more flutes.
XE Falcon Photos (photos are cropped, click to enlarge)
   
Ford XE Falcon
On Sale: March 1982 - October 1984
How do I know it's an XE? Bonnet wraps over to meet small two-bar grille. Headlights are rectangular, tail lights have more flutes. Fairmont Ghia has wider headlights and snowflake alloys. All XEs have black door handles.
Models available:
Falcon:
Falcon GL:
Fairmont:
Fairmont Ghia:
F'mont Ghia ESP:		 ute, van
sedan, wagon, ute, van
sedan, wagon
sedan
sedan
Option packs/prototypes/limited editions:
‘S’ Pack:

Eclipse:

‘X’ Pak:

Turbo:		 (Option Pack) Fog lamps, styled wheels and trim rings, front spoiler, pinstripes, letter 'S' on side
(Limited Edition) Falcon GL with styled sport wheels, ER78 steel-belted radial ply tyres and two-tone paint job. Released March 1984
(Limited Edition) Falcon GL with fog lamps, styled sport wheels, new seat pattern, 'X' Pak decals.
(Aftermarket) After the V8 was dropped, a popular aftermarket conversion was a bolt-on turbocharger. Lots of conversions were offered and some were produced in large numbers.
What’s new? Falcon became top seller, Weber carburettor, five speed manual
Falcon Firsts: Electronic fuel injection, all round coil springs and Watts link suspension, first car to win Australian Design Award
Prices at introduction: Falcon GL sedan - $9758, Fairmont Ghia sedan - $15587
Total XEs built: 193890
Transmission: 3 speed manual, 4 speed manual, 5 speed manual, 3 speed automatic
Engines:
3.3L Alloy Head 6 cyl
Bore and stroke: 93 x 80 mm
Power: 90kW at 4100rpm
Torque: 240Nm at 2500rpm
Pushrod overhead valve, 2 valves per cylinder
Fuel system: Weber carburettor
Compression ratio: 9.15:1		 4.1L Alloy Head 6 cyl
Bore and stroke: 93 x 99 mm
Power: 105kW at 3800rpm
Torque: 310Nm at 2300rpm
Pushrod overhead valve, 2 valves per cylinder
Fuel system: Weber carburettor
Compression ratio: 9.3:1
4.1L Alloy Head EFI 6 cyl
Bore and stroke: 93 x 99 mm
Power: 111kW at 4000rpm
Torque: 325Nm at 2800rpm
Pushrod overhead valve, 2 valves per cylinder
Fuel system: Bosch LE II Jetronic fuel injection
Compression ratio: 8.8:1		 4.9L V8
Bore and stroke: 102 x 76 mm
Power: 140kW at 4500rpm
Torque: 344Nm at 3200rpm
Pushrod overhead valve, 2 valves per cylinder
Fuel system: Carter four barrel carburettor
Compression ratio: 9.2:1
5.8L V8
Bore and stroke: 102 x 89 mm
Power: 149kW at 4300rpm
Torque: 415Nm at 3000rpm
Pushrod overhead valve, 2 valves per cylinder
Fuel system: Carter four barrel carburettor
Compression ratio: 8.9:1
Fuel consumption: AS2077 City/Highway per 100km: 14L/9.5L (Falcon GL 4.1 EFI, 4 speed)
Performance:
(Falcon 4.1L sedan, four speed manual):
Top speeds in gears
1st: 63km/h
2nd: 105km/h
3rd: 146km/h
4th: 171km/h
0-100km/h: 9.49 seconds
Standing 400m: 16.8 seconds
(Falcon 5.8L V8 sedan, four speed manual):
Top speeds in gears
1st: 79km/h
2nd: 109km/h
3rd: 152km/h
4th: 195km/h
0-100km/h: 8.9 seconds
Standing 400m: 16.3 seconds
Suspension:
Front
Independent short/long arm. Progressive rate coil springing mounted on upper arm. Twin tube telescopic shock absorber mounted coaxially with the coil spring, stabiliser bar
Rear
(Sedan only) Four trailing arms with Watts linkage. Coil-type springing (with multiple rate) mounted on rear axle. Twin tube telescopic shock absorber mounted coaxially with the rear coil spring, stabiliser bar. Conventional semi-elliptic leaf for wagons, utes and vans.
Brakes:
Front
Ventilated disc 286 x 24mm single piston, self-adjusting floating caliper
Rear
GL and Fairmont - 254 x 44mm self-adjusting duo servo drums, Fairmont Ghia - ventilated disc 286 x 24mm single piston, self-adjusting floating caliper
Steering: Manual: recirculating ball, 5.2 turns lock-to-lock, Power: recirculating ball, hydraulically assisted, 2.6 turns lock-to-lock
Wheels: 5.50 x 14 steel, 6.00 x 14 steel, 6.00 x 14 alloy, 7.00 x 15 alloy
Tyres: Radials: Falcon, Falcon GL, Fairmont sedan - CR78 H14; van/ute, GL wagon, Fairmont wagon - ER78 S14; Fairmont Ghia - Michelin 205/70 HR 15 XVS or VR15 XDX
Dimensions:

Length:
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase:
Front track:
Rear track:
Kerb weight:
Turning circle:
Fuel tank:
Boot space:		 Sedan
4716mm
1860mm
1367mm
2818mm
1552mm
1527mm
1320kg
11.5m
66 litres
430 litres		 Wagon
4980mm
1860mm
1397mm
2947mm
1552mm
1527mm
1445kg
11.8m
73 litres
  		Interior dimensions:

Front headroom:
Rear headroom:
Front shoulder room:
Rear shoulder room:
Front hip room:
Rear hip room:
Front legroom:
Rear legroom:		 Sedan
955mm
949mm
1519mm
1520mm
1519mm
1518mm
1063mm
949mm		  
Features:
Awards: 1983 Australian Design Award
Rivals: Holden VH/VK Commodore
 
XE Falcon Links (new window)  Related pages
Dick Johnson's Green TUF XE Falcon
Donnie's XD/XE Fairmont Ghia web page
Mick’s XE Falcon
XE Fairmont Turbo
Montaroo’s Awesome XE Falcon
XE Fairmont Ghia ESP
FPV: 1982-84 XE Fairmont Ghia ESP 5.8
Carsurvey: Falcon reviews
Carsurvey: Fairmont reviews 		Falcon Facts: ZK Fairlane / FD LTD
Falcon Facts: XD Falcon
Falcon Facts: XF Falcon
 

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Pic courtesy Aust.
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