Ford Landau

The Landau was a coupe version of the LTD, based on the Falcon hardtop, and was Ford Australia's first Aussie designed luxury two-door coupe. It retained the frontal treatment of the full size LTD with its disappearing head lamps and the full width tail lamps.

The rear quarter window was altered, being shorter and squarer than that of the normal hardtop, and all came with vinyl roofs. Another unique feature in the interior was the fitting of individual bucket seats in the rear, rather than a bench. Mechanically the Landau was the same as the XB Falcon GT, although it was by design 130kg (286lb) heavier.

The list of standard inclusions was extensive for the time, and included full instrumentation, air conditioning, inertia reel seat belts, power windows, power steering, radial ply tyres, electric rear window demister, fully reclining bucket seats, carpeted interior and boot, four wheel disc brakes and vacuum operated hide-away front headlights.

Although Ford would contine with production of the LTD, unfortunately the Landau ceased production in 1976 after failing to realise the expected sales success. Perhaps the practicality of a two-door car of such large proportions was at odds with the energy crisis that was getting plenty of publicity at the time.

Despite the bad publicity given the percieved "petrol guzzlers", the Landau was a true world class automobile. Motoring journalists of the time praised its quietness all the way to 70 miles per hour, some claiming it to be the quietest car they had ever driven, it even winning a comparison with the S Class Mercedes.

And it is for that reason we rate the car so highly as a classic collectable. Blessed with the sublime powertrain of the XB GT, and built in such few numbers, there are only a hand full of Falcon GT's that will prove a better investment in Aussie muscle cars. Simply put, a case of the ironic becoming the iconic.