Ford Fairline, a car which was most aspired to own, a shining symbol of success a name plate which defined local prestige in motoring is still a revered one with many local prestige buyer.
Ford first introduced the Fairline luxury sedan in 1959 and it became a hit in the luxury segment. The Fairline has now gone down the memory lane and has lost the glory the car which one’s owned to its competition but still has a special status and prestige in the heart many people.
The Ford Fairlane that were manufactured in a series of models by Ford Australia between 1959 and 2007. Initially that is from 1959 to 1964 the Fairlane was the locally assembled version of the American Fairline, a name which was derived from Henry Ford’s estate.
How the Fairline was born in Australia?
The Fairline may be a simple idea was a brilliant piece of marketing by ford. The company used the same Flacon platform to spun the Fairline. Most mechanical package remained the same including the front sheet metal. However the company gave the Fiarline a larger wheelbase and bigger boot to give the Fairline a big car feel.
The Ford Fairlane was equipped with a 3.3 litre six-cylinder engine as standard and a 4.74 litre V8 was offered as an option. The Fairlane 500 featured the mammoth 4.74 litre V8 as standard. The six-cylinder engine was available with manual or automatic transmission and the V8 only with an automatic.
This strategy helped the car maker attract customer who wanted to upgrade from the current Falcon.
In total 5 generations of the Fairline served the Australian market
First Generation
- ZA (1967–1968)
- ZB (1968–1969)
- ZC (1969–1970)
- ZD (1970–1972)
Second Generation
- ZF (1972–1973)
- ZG / P5 (1973–1976)
- ZH / P6 (1976–1979)
Third Generation
- ZJ / FC (1979–1982)
- ZK / FD (1982–1984)
- ZL / FE (1984–1988)
Fourth generation
- NA / DA (1988–1991)
- NC / DC (1991–1995)
- NF / DF (1995–1996)
- NL / DL (1996–1998)
Fifth Generation
- AU (1999–2003)
- BA (2003–2005)
- BF (2005–2007)
The Fifth generation debuted in 1999 and in 2007 Ford discontinued this Fairline and continued to sell only the Falcon. In 2001 the company offered the 75th Anniversary Ghia limited edition.
In May 2007 ford announced that discontinuation of the Ford Fairline and 13 Decemeber 2007 was the company finally said bid adieu.
Image Source: Wiki
