Here is a message to all of you who are scouring the import shop websites and Craigslist and Bring A Trailer in search of Skylines and Autozams and rare Audis: you’re doing it wrong. You should be importing Ford Falcons instead.
We are closing in on the best era of Japanese imports here in America, and Europe always has a ton of awesome metal to bring over. But answer me this: why is no one actively importing cars from America’s cool cousin, our neighbor to the south (very, very south)—Australia?
There, the local Ford subsidiary made Falcon sedans, wagons, coupes and, yes, ute trucks for decades, and many of them embraced the same values we Americans hold dear. V8 power. Burnouts. At the very least, an appreciation for the inline-six engine.
There is no reason these cars shouldn’t be living new lives here in America.
It is 2018. That means that, depending on the month, you can legally import to the U.S. any Australian car built in 1993 or before. Here are some good Ford Falcons I found.
The XA/XB/XC Falcons of the 1970s. Mad Max style.
Look at this excellent XC Cobra and tell me you wouldn’t drive that!
This XG Falcon Ute from the early 1990s, which is almost a Fox Body Mustang in two-seat truck form.
The EA Falcon, which looks like a Taurus but has a straight six and power going to the right wheels—the rear ones. Though it didn’t have a V8 like its predecessors, and the Falcon would not again until the 1990s, it is still interesting!
Noted racing legend and crystal enthusiast Peter Brock even did a few of those up, and I bet they’re pretty rad.
Anyway, the Falcon is dead now, as of 2016 as local manufacturing in Australia—and with it, Australia-specific cars—comes to a sad end.
I’ll be upfront and admit I don’t know as much about these Falcons as I do the Japanese, American and German cars I grew up with and now follow as an editor. The Aussie Fords are truly unique and special products of their home market. Australia’s Performance Drive has a good list of the best ones, including a couple you can import now—and more you can get later.
If you would like to read 17,000 words on the Falcon in its glory years, please head over to Ate Up With Motor to see Part 1 and Part 2 of his troublingly thorough history.
I’d love for our state of imported Falconry to change. I’d love to learn more. I’d love for the love of the Aussie Falcon to spread from shining American coast to shining American coast, like a beacon of freedom.
What are you doing, you people out there! Why are you trying to import Suzuki Cappuccinos and more Toyota MR2s and absurd Porsches, when you can have this? What the fuck is wrong with you?
It is crazy to think Ford Falcon demand hasn’t really hit the U.S. yet. I’m not even sure how many shops even specialize in this. I found one Aussie import shop, but it mostly does old Land Cruisers. Lame.
The Ford Falcons should be here, and soon. That’s what I think!