Fairlaine variants

Fairlaine variants

Fairlaine variants

Random family images

A rare bird indeed - Fairliane body, but with GT running gear. Nice.

Fairlane Story

While much of the text and all of the photographs are similar to the Australian brochure, what is interesting is that in South Africa, the six cylinder engine was not offered at all, the 302ci engine ‘lost’ 10hp and the big 351 was not, as in the Australian ZC, the four barrel, 290hp GT version, but the tow barrel 250hp version.

Jason also sent us this scan of the South African XW Fairmont brochure. It is worth comparison with the Australian brochure because there only ever was a Fairmont model in South Africa, but they use dressed up photos of the standard models in the Australian brochure to represent Fairmonts. The art of the airbrush.

Fairlane Story

The South African ZC

Ford South Africa sold the Australian ZC Fairlane in their own country, and had their own catalogue.

Fairlane Story

As the XC model Falcon was another facelift of the preceeding XB, Ford decided to do something more radical with the corresponding ZH Fairlane, and in doing so, somewhat returned it to its ‘big car’ American roots by giving a restyle that seemed to bulk it out to something unrecognisable as a Falcon. It remains a handsome and rugged looking car to this day.

Fairlane Story

The ZH

Fairlane Story

Notice the redesign of the tail-lights with a noticable cross hatch pattern to echo the new front grille.

Fairlane Story

Continuing the two series cycle trend, Ford tweaked the front and rear of the ZG Fairlane. They were also well aware of the negative comments that they were receiving regarding the lack of distinction of the Fairlane from the Falcon, and solved this by subtely giving the front of the ZG more presence with the use of the new grille, but also as a benefit of the handsome and different restyle they gave the front of the XB Falcon. The XB and the ZG now looked quite dis-similar.

Fairlane Story

The ZG Fairlane brochure cover

Fairlane Story

You can see in the above that Ford continued with the policy of stretching the ZF by adding length to the wheelbase between the rear door and the wheelwell.

Fairlane Story

The four series of earlier Fairlanes - ZA to -ZD - were Australian styling off-shoots of their respective Falcons, which were in turn all off-shoots of the 1966 U.S. Ford Falcon. The ZF Fairlane on the other hand was an off-shoot of the wholly Australian designed XA Falcon, and as such is quite significant. Unfortunately, buyers did not think it was sufficiently removed in looks from the Falcon on which it was based, and sales suffered accordingly.

Fairlane Story

The ZF Fairlane brochure

Fairlane Story

And, while the six cylinder and 302ci V8 engines were also unchanged, the big 351ci V8 was now of the more modern Cleveland type, but fitted with a two barrel carb and rated at 250hp.

Fairlane Story

Inside the rather spartan dash was unchanged.

Fairlane Story

The tail-lights have now become two sections - red over amber - with a chrome divider.

Fairlane Story

The ZD Fairlane featured a new grille which was plastic, and therefore was quite radical for cars of that time. The style is noticably different from that of the ZC.

Fairlane Story

The ZD arrives.



The ZD Fairlane brochure cover.

Fairlane Story

An intriguing decision considering that the ZC Fairlane could be fitted with a four-barrel carb equipped, 290hp version of the 351ci Windsor V8, similar to that fitted to the XW GT Falcon.