XC standard dash

The standard XC also featured a much simplified gauge set up.

XA/B model standard dash

A closer view of the shift display.



And here is the standard dash in an XA, with the floor shift automatic.

More standard dashes

It may be worthwhile comparing the standard dash with three speed column manual shift with the standard dash with the three speed column automatic shifter.



XB manual



XB automatic

Dash model changeovers continued

The great Falcon ignition switch.

Standard dashes

The warning lights and heater controls.

The standard dash 3

The standard instruments.
Without the row of auxilliary guages across the top.

The standard dash

Up until now I have detailed the GT or ‘sports’ dash. What of the standard dash ? This is an XB.

XB-XC changes

Sure enough, as some late XBs got the XC rear wings, so some also ended up fitted with XC dashes and door trims.

XB-XC changeover

The‘sports’ instrumentation option.

More changeovers

But, of course, this is not the end of the story, because after the XB came the XC, and as well as changing much mechanically and giving the Falcon a facelift, the XC also had a completely new dash.

Dash it

Well, the dash changeovers lesson was relatively straight forward.

Except.



This a dash from an XA GT RPO83 car.

The RPO83 was a special model produced by Ford as a means of homologating parts so that they could be used in the ATCC race cars. Originally, there was supposed to have been a Phase4 version of the XA model that Ford would have sold to the public and used as the basis for its race cars, but the Phase4 was cancelled, and the RPO - Regular Production Option - 83 was offered instead, almost as quiet method of slipping some of the ‘race’ car parts out of the factory door.

What interests us is that the RPOs were all produced at the end of the XA model run. Production was started in May but was then delayed by ten weeks of strikes so the vast majority of RPO83’s were built in August, 1973, the month before XB production was due to start. As a result, while the early - May - cars had the standard \ / \ / XA auxilliary gauge dash, quite a few of the later - August - ones came with the strange combination shown above, \ / / / with the fuel and temperature gauges from the XB model.

Model changeovers continued

Here is a further view of the XB.

Dash changeovers

This is the XB. Notice that the gauges have been changed so the at rest position of the needles in the auxillary gauges is more logical, and exhibits a pattern that resembles, / / / /

From yesterday - dash changeovers

There are some, but they don’t show up too well, so here are some close ups.



This is the ‘sports’ instrumentation on an XA. Notice that the gauges are at rest, and as such, the needles in the auxillary gauges assume a pattern that resembles \ / \ /



And another close up of an XA GT dash from another car.

Dashes and ‘GT’ Instrumentation

This is the dash from an XA GT.



And this is a dash from an XB GT. Any differences ?

XY GS

Once again the GS Rally Pack was available on the XY model. In addition to being available on the Falcon 500, Futura and Fairmont sedans, it was also now an option on the Falcon 500 and Fairmont wagon also.

The actual GS options remained the same including the GT dash featuring speedometer, tachometer, odometer, oil pressure, water temperature and fuel gauges, but some other items crept onto the general option list, most notably a sunroof and a stereo radio/tape player. For performance enthusiasts, the most important option was now a 250hp two barrel carburettor equipped Cleveland version of the 351ci V8. It may not have rivalled the 290hp GT, but it really wasn’t too far off now.



This is a lovely XY GS in Onyx Black showing the GS stripe terminating in the GS badge and the chromed XR/XT GT lookalike wheel covers





Here are close ups of the stylised GS badge and of the wheel cover.