- Years of Manufacture: 1976 - 1979
- Number Built: 150,707 (including Cobra)
- Price at Introduction:
- Falcon Sedan: $5456
- Fairmont GXL 4.1: $7822
- GS Hardtop: $6337
- Fairmont Hardtop: $7216
- Bathurst Edition Cobra Hardtop: $10,330
- Models:
- Falcon Sedan
- Falcon 500 Sedan
- Fairmont Sedan
- Fairmont GXL Sedan
- Station Wagon
- 500 Station Wagon
- Fairmont Station Wagon
- GS Hardtop
- Fairmont Hardtop
- Utility
- 500 Utility
- Van
- 500 Van
- Sundowner Van
- Cobra Hardtop
- Cobra Hardtop Bathrust Edition (from August, 1978)
- Date of Introduction:
- July, 1976, upgrade in May 1978
- To Identify:
- Last revision of XA style, with new horizontal style grille
- Circular headlights on cheaper models, GXL and above with new square style lights
- Revised tail lights with horizontal division
- Post May 1978 update models have Ford blue oval badge on centre of front grille, and right side of boot-lid or tailgate
- Body:
- Unitary construction (Monocoque)
- Exterior Dimensions:
- Sedan:
- Total Length: 191.5 inches (4866mm)
- Total width: 74.8 inches (1900mm)
- Height at kerb weight: 53.9 inches
(1369mm)
- Wheelbase: 111.0 inches (2819mm)
- Front Track: 60.6 inches (1539mm)
- Rear Track: 60.1 inches (1527mm)
- Hardtop:
- Total Length: 190.4 inches (4837mm)
- Total width: 77.5 inches (1969mm)
- Height at kerb weight: 51.5 inches
(1308mm)
- Wheelbase: 111.0 inches (2819mm)
- Front Track: 60.6 inches (1539mm)
- Rear Track: 60.1 inches (1527mm)
- Kerb Weight:
- Sedan: 3252lb (1475kg)
- Hardtop: 3303lb (1498kg)
- Fuel Tank:
- 17.5 gallons (79.6 litres)
- Turning Circle:
- Instruments:
- Speedometer
- Odometer
- Tachometer (GXL, GS/Fairmont/Cobra Hardtop)
- Petrol gauge
- Temp gauge
- Oil warning lamp
- Alternator warning lamp
- Transmission:
- Manual
(Six, 3 speed)
- 1st: 2.95:1
- 2nd: 1.69:1
- 3rd: 1.00:1
- Reverse: 3.67:1
- Manual (4.9 litre V8, 3 speed)
- 1st: 2.71:1
- 2nd: 1.69:1
- 3rd: 1.00:1
- Reverse: 3.37:1
- Manual (4.1 Six and 4.9 litre V8, 4 speed)
- 1st: 3.06:1
- 2nd: 1.84:1
- 3rd: 1.32:1
- 4th: 1.00:1
- Reverse: 2.56:1
- Manual (5.8 litre V8, 4 speed)
- 1st: 2.46:1
- 2nd: 1.78:1
- 3rd: 1.27:1
- 4th: 1.00:1
- Reverse: 2.47:1
- Manual (5.8 litre V8, Cobra Bathurst Special)
- 1st: 2.82:1 to top speed
of 53 mph (85 km/h)
- 2nd: 1.84:1 to top speed
of 70 mph (113 km/h)
- 3rd: 1.32:1 to top speed
of 98 mph (158 km/h)
- 4th: 1.00:1 to top speed
of 127 mph (204 km/h)
- Reverse: n/a
- Automatic
(3.3 and 4.1 litre Six)
- 1st: 2.39:1
- 2nd: 1.45:1
- 3rd: 1.00:1
- Reverse: 2.09:1
- Automatic
(4.9 litre V8)
- 1st: 2.46:1 to top speed
of 52 mph (84 km/h)
- 2nd: 1.46:1 to top speed
of 90 mph (145 km/h)
- 3rd: 1.00:1 to top speed
of 109 mph (175 km/h)
- Reverse: 2.20:1
- Automatic
(5.8 litre V8)
- 1st: 2.40:1
- 2nd: 1.47:1
- 3rd: 1.00:1
- Reverse: 2.00:1
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- Clutch:
- 3.3 and 4.1 litre: Single dry plate clutch , hydraulically operated 9.50"
- 4.9 and 5.8 litre: Twin dry plate, hydraulically operated 9.5" face
- Rear Axle Ratio:
- 3.3 litre Six: 3.23:1
- 4.1 litre manual: 3.23:1
- 4.1 litre automatic and 4.9 litre V8: 2.92:1
- 5.8 litre manual: 3.00:1
- 5.8 litre automatic: 2.75:1
- Engine/Transmission Combinations:
- 3.3 litre Six available with 3 speed manual or automatic
- 4.1 litre Six available with 3/4 speed manual orl 3 speed automatic
- 4.9 litre V8 available with manual 3 or 4 speed or automatic
- 5.8 litre V8 available with manual 4 speed or automatic
- 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h):
- 12.8 seconds (250ci 2V Automatic)
- Standing Quarter Mile (400 metres):
- 19.0 seconds (250ci 2V Automatic)
- 3.3 litre Six:
- Capacity: 200 cubic inches
(3.28 litres)
- Type: Conventional, watercooled four
stroke, reciprocating piston type with
6 cylinders
- Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal,
inline
- Head: Pushrod and rocker actuated ohv
with two valves per cylinder
- Fuel System: Single throat
downdraft type carburettor
- Bore and Stroke: 3.68 x 3.13 inches
(93 x 80mm)
- Power: 107bhp (80kw) at 4600rpm
- Torque: 162lb-ft (220Nm) at 2000rpm
- Compression Ratio: 8.8:1
- 4.1 litre Low Compression Six:
- Capacity: 250 cubic inches
(4.10 litres)
- Type: Conventional, watercooled four
stroke, reciprocating piston type with
6 cylinders
- Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal,
inline
- Head: Pushrod and rocker actuated ohv
with two valves per cylinder
- Fuel System: Single throat
downdraft type carburettor
- Bore and Stroke: 3.68 x 3.91 inches
(93 x 99mm)
- Power: 114bhp (85kw) at 3900rpm
- Torque: 201lb-ft (272Nm) at 1900rpm
- Compression Ratio: 7.9:1
- 4.1 litre High Compression Six:
- Capacity: 250 cubic inches
(4.10 litres)
- Type: Conventional, watercooled four
stroke, reciprocating piston type with
6 cylinders
- Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal,
inline
- Head: Pushrod and rocker actuated ohv
with two valves per cylinder
- Fuel System: Single throat
downdraft type carburettor
- Bore and Stroke: 3.68 x 3.91 inches
(93 x 99mm)
- Power: 123bhp (92kw) at 3900rpm
- Torque: 213lb-ft (289Nm) at 1900rpm
- Compression Ratio: 8.9:1
- 4.9 litre V8:
- Capacity: 302 cubic inches
(4.95 litres)
- Type: Conventional, watercooled four
stroke, reciprocating piston type with
8 cylinders in vee
- Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal,
inline
- Head: Pushrod and rocker actuated ohv
with two valves per cylinder
- Fuel System: Four barrel carburettor
- Bore and Stroke: 4.00 x 3.00 inches
(102 x 76mm)
- Power: 202bhp (151kw) at 4600rpm
- Torque: 268lb-ft (364Nm) at 3000rpm
- Compression Ratio: 9.2:1
- 5.8 litre V8:
- Capacity: 351 cubic inches
(5.75 litres)
- Type: Conventional, watercooled four
stroke, reciprocating piston type with
8 cylinders in vee
- Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal,
inline
- Head: Pushrod and rocker actuated ohv
with two valves per cylinder
- Fuel System: Two barrel carburettor
- Bore and Stroke: 4.00 x 3.50 inches
(102 x 89mm)
- Power: 217bhp (162kw) at 4600rpm
- Torque: 317lb-ft (429Nm) at 2600rpm
- Compression Ratio: 8.9:1
- Ignition and Electrical:
- 12 volt
- Coil and alternator
- Exhaust:
- Six Cylinder: Single tail-pipe
- V8: Twin pipes
- Suspension:
- Front: Independent
type with coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers, stabiliser bar. From May 1978 onwards spring rates increased and revised mountings
- Rear: Live axle, semi-elliptic springs with hydraulic shock absorbers. From May 1978 additional 18mm stabiliser bar fitted
- Steering:
- Recirculating ball, ratio 20:1
- Optional power steering, ratio 11:5 - 17.5:1
- Brakes:
- Front: Hydraulic 11.25 inch (285.75mm) ventilated power assisted disc brakes standard across entire range
- Rear: Hydraulic 10 inch (254mm) drums, power assisted discs on Fairmont GXL, discs on Cobra
- Wheels:
- Pressed steel disc wheels 6JJ with safety rims
- Globe alloy wheels fitted to Cobra
- Tyres:
- 7.75 L14 cross-ply tyres (standard on base model Falcon Sedan, Wagon and Commercials until May 1978)
- ER78 S14 radial tyres (standard on Fairmont and Falcon 500 from May 1978)
- ER70 H14 radials (standard on Sundowner Van)
- 185 SR 14 Radials
- Optional FR78 S14
- Optional FR70 H14
Between them, these six professional racing drivers
have won just about everything worth winning in Australian
motor sport. They came to the Ford high speed test
track today to prove a point. This is a production
model ’78 Falcon 500 – now Falcon suspension
is matched to high quality steel-belt radial tyres,
and is engineered for smooth ride, as well as for handling.
The Falcon is now travelling at over 90 kilometres
per hour. Once again, and the point were making is
that no matter how a car looks when its driven around
witches hats, its how a car performs when your life’s
at stake that counts. We never felt better about Falcon,
and Falcon never felt better.
Also see:
Falcon Identification
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