Australian Cars Issue 52

COLLECT ALL THE LEGENDARY AUSTRALIAN CLASSIC CARS

Meet the Ford Falcon XD, the car Ford Australia bet $102 million on to define an entirely new era of local motoring. Released in March 1979 as a clean-sheet replacement for the XC, the XD arrived just months after the Holden Commodore had already claimed the industry spotlight — yet in many ways it was the more significant achievement, conceived and engineered entirely in Australia rather than adapted from an overseas program.

Developed under the codename "Blackwood" and styled by Ford Australia's own design department, the XD's crisp, squared-off lines drew inevitable comparisons to the European Ford Granada, sharing little more than its Bosch headlights with its European cousin. The result was a car that looked nothing like the model it replaced, yet retained the familiar 3.3 and 4.1-litre inline sixes and 4.9 and 5.8-litre V8 engines beneath the new skin, paired with three-speed or four-speed manual gearboxes and a three-speed automatic. Ford's engineers focused heavily on space efficiency and visibility, and the improvements showed: with 20 percent more glass area than its predecessor, the XD gave drivers a genuinely wider, more confident view of the road, with Ford's own figures claiming 332 degrees of visibility compared to the XC's 309. Wheels magazine hailed the XD's arrival in its January 1979 issue as a genuine leap forward for Australia's local car industry — and the model went on to anchor Ford's Falcon range through to 1982, when it made way for the XE.

This precise 1:43 scale replica captures the crisp, modern lines of the Ford Falcon XD — its squared-off nose, wide glasshouse, and confident presence that marked a clean break from the Falcons that came before it.

The Ford Falcon XD is meticulously reproduced in high-quality die-cast metal, with details faithful to the original that capture its distinctive nose treatment, expansive glass area, and period-correct trim. Rubber tires and swiveling wheels add a touch of realism to this beloved model.

Each piece comes accompanied by a captivating magazine filled with articles from that era, offering a fascinating glimpse into the history of Australian automotive, sourced from the archives of the renowned publication Wheels.

Features:

• Faithfully reproduced model at 1:43 scale
• High-quality die-cast metal for exceptional durability
• Precise detailing for maximum authenticity — including the XD's signature nose treatment, wide glasshouse, and period-correct badging
• Rubber tires and swiveling wheels for heightened realism

Relive the dawn of a golden decade in Australian motoring with this iconic model. Add the Ford Falcon XD to your Australian Cars collection today!