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2019 Shannons Melbourne Summer Classic Auction
Lot
45

1965 Ford Falcon XP Deluxe Sedan

$25,000

Sold

Specifications

Engine 170ci six-cylinder
Gearbox Three-speed Automatic
Body Work Sedan
Colour Springtime yellow/ white roof
Interior Red
Trim Vinyl
Wheels Steel with hubcaps
Brakes Drums/drums

Description

This lot is no longer available

In 1964, Ford announced a revised Falcon, the XM, with facelifted front sheetmetal featuring more chrome, repositioned taillights plus a simulated air scoop on the bonnet. Also making headlines was the introduction of the two-door hardtop coupe that helped give the Falcon an edge over Holden, who took a further four years to introduce a two-door model of their own. Three separate trim levels were available, starting with the base Falcon, the mid-range Deluxe and the luxury Futura. The suspension came in for some much-needed revision, with new front upper wishbones, coil-over shock absorbers, stronger ball joints and axle shafts, along with improved engine mounts, making the Falcon better able to withstand Australia's rough roads. Another big improvement was the addition of the 200ci Super Pursuit motor (joining the existing 144ci and 170ci Pursuit motors in the line-up) while two-speed electric wipers replaced the old-fashioned vacuum-operated system of earlier Falcons. Inside, Ford made the seats more robust, using better quality vinyl upholstery and - it was claimed - there were altogether around 1500 improvements made on the XM. Heavily promoted at the time as "The Golden Quality Falcon", the XM had undergone extensive testing on the Eyre Peninsula (SA) in some of the toughest driving conditions imaginable and answered many of the quality control issues of earlier models. In total, some 47,132 XM Falcons were made in two years of production and few survive today in decent condition.