Falcon Facts: Fairlane/LTD

Fairlanes and LTDs are luxury, long wheelbase cars that are based on the Ford Falcon. The Fairlane is aimed at the buyer who wants an affordable luxury car with value for money, lots of room and strong performance.

The LTD (Lincoln Type Design, not Limited) offers all this and more: it is often converted into a hearse, used as a limousine, and can be frequently seen ferrying politicians around.

To cut costs, the Fairlane/LTD shares the same wheelbase of its equivalent Falcon wagon, as well as the rear doors. This explains why there is a slight gap between the rear door and the rear wheel arch of all Fairlane/LTDs.

Despite this, no expense is spared on luxurious appointments, with each Fairlane/LTD being lavishly equipped for its day.
The Fairlane/LTD competes with European luxury cars, none of which can match its size, power and equipment for the price.

ZA was the first model Fairlane. It was released in 1967 and was based on the XR Falcon. This is the big, Australian luxury car that started it all. The value-added Sportsman is a limited edition that has been offered on most Fairlane models since 1978. It usually has two-tone paint

The P5 LTD was the first LTD. Released in 1973, it became Ford's flagship model and featured headlights concealed behind a vacuum operated grille. It was followed by the P6 model in 1976, which was the first LTD to wear the trademark vertical bar grille. Then the FC model (1979) introduced two other LTD trademarks - the six-window profile and window louvres.

In its current form - the AU Series II - Fairlane/LTD has seen better days, but all this should change with the release of the BA Falcon-based cars, due in mid 2003.