Several years ago, we Yanks enthusiastically appropriated the Australian slang term “hoon”. Just look at our eponymously named blog, for example. Well, this Falcon XB, on terra americanus, is the embodiment of hoon. [Editor’s Note: Click Here]
Brendan, the owner of this Ford, invited me over to check out this rare car. Other than the Mercury Capri (Ford Capri) convertible and the Pontiac G8 (Holden VE Commodore), I had never seen an Australian car here before. And this is a right-hand drive car intended solely for the antipodean market.
Brendan’s XB took a long, circuitous route from Victoria to California. I am surprised to learn that dozens of Falcons ended up here.
As a sidenote, Brendan’s other cars are just as fascinating. He has an old Monaro and just sold a Holden ute to his friend. He still has the 1967 Chevy Camaro SS 396 he bought for $500 (and subsequently restored himself) when he turned 16. And when he surrendered his Porsche Cayenne Turbo, he decided the logical next step was to buy an old Porsche 928 S4!
The Australian Falcon, internally, is remarkably similar to its American counterparts. The 351 Cleveland is just one example. The electrical system, ahem, is Lucas.
Can you tell the car was originally yellow? The body is in remarkably great shape. Brendan readily admits that corrosion in Falcons is not due to climate or road salt (Does it snow anywhere Down Under?), but rather to cheap steel.
The Beast’s automatic was swapped for a 4 forward speed manual unit.
Riding shotgun in the Falcon was a treat. And it wasn’t even because of the novelty of riding in the “driver’s seat”. Rather, it’s the loud baritone of the V8. It’s resting my left arm on the long doorsill and inhaling the California sun. It’s about being alive.
And for more Falcon goodness, check out Eric Bana’s autopic Love the Beast:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmkpsQmsRpI[/youtube]
Images source: Copyright 2012 Hooniverse/Jim Yu
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