Falcon Facts: ZJ Fairlane / FC LTD

Ford ZJ Fairlane / FC LTD

On Sale: May 1979 - March 1982, LTD: June 1979 - March 1982. Update: July 1980.

How do I know it's a ZJ? Lean, square body with C-pillar window. Square twin-headlights, grille with two horizontal bars and Ford badge in centre of bonnet, P6 LTD wheel covers.
How do I know it's an FC? Same body as ZJ Fairlane, with square single headlights, bold vertical bar grille with Ford badge in bottom right hand corner, LTD bonnet ornament, alloy wheels, C-pillar window louvres, "smoked" tail lights, twin exhaust, body-coloured mirrors.

Models available:

Fairlane:
LTD:

sedan
sedan

Option packs/prototypes/limited editions:

Fairlane Sportsman:

LTD Cartier Edition:

(Limited Edition) Wool tweed trim, Volante alloy wheels, bonnet ornament, Ford badge in centre of grille, two-tone paint. August 1980, 500 built.
(Limited Edition) Cartier ladies purse, travel wallet and key case, Cartier decals, metallic champagne in colour with burgundy pin-striping and accents, matching champagne carpet and a choice of leather or crushed velour upholstery. October 1979 - 1980

What’s new? Lots of plastic instead of steel, alloy head

Firsts: Plastic bumpers, plastic fuel tank: a world first, first LTD to feature trademark louvres

Prices at introduction: Fairlane 4.9 - $11919, LTD 4.1 (October 1979) - $17093

Total ZJs built: 20888, FCs: 3979

Transmission: 3 speed automatic

Engines:
4.1L 6 cyl
Bore and stroke: 93 x 99 mm
Power: 94kW at 3600rpm
Torque: 295Nm at 1800rpm
Pushrod overhead valve, 2 valves per cylinder
Fuel system: Bendix single-barrel carburettor
Compression ratio: 9.0:1

4.9 V8
Bore and stroke: 102 x 76 mm
Power: 140kW at 4500rpm
Torque: 344Nm at 3200rpm
Pushrod overhead valve, 2 valves per cylinder
Fuel system: Carter four barrel carburettor
Compression ratio: 9.2:1

5.8 V8
Bore and stroke: 102 x 89 mm
Power: 149kW at 4300rpm
Torque: 415Nm at 3000rpm
Pushrod overhead valve, 2 valves per cylinder
Fuel system: Carter four barrel carburettor
Compression ratio: 8.9:1

4.1L Alloy Head 6 cyl
Bore and stroke: 93 x 99 mm
Power: 94kW at 3600rpm
Torque: 305Nm at 2000rpm
Pushrod overhead valve, 2 valves per cylinder
Fuel system: Bendix single-barrel carburettor
Compression ratio: 9.35:1

Fuel consumption:

Performance:
(Fairlane 5.8L sedan, three speed auto):
Top speeds in gears
1st: 75km/h
2nd: 120km/h
3rd: 180km/h
0-100km/h: 11.9 seconds
Standing 400m: 17.3 seconds

(LTD 4.1L sedan, three speed auto):
Top speeds in gears
1st: 85km/h
2nd: 112km/h
3rd: 160km/h
0-100km/h: 14.8 seconds
Standing 400m: 19.4 seconds

Suspension:
Front
Independent by double wishbones with brake reaction strut in tension. Spring and shock absorber mounted on upper arm. Anti-roll bar. Dual durometer brake reaction strut bush

Rear
Hotchkiss rear suspension with floating axle. Inclined shock absorber units. Anti-roll bar

Brakes:
Front
Ventilated disc 286 x 24mm single piston, self-adjusting floating caliper

Rear
Ventilated disc 286 x 24mm single piston, self-adjusting floating caliper

Steering: Power, recirculating ball, hydraulically assisted, 2.6 turns lock-to-lock

Wheels: Pressed steel wheel with safety rims

Tyres: Steel belted radials: ER70 H14 6 ply. LTD: Michelin 205/70 R14, 6 inch rims

Dimensions:

Length:
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase:
Front track:
Rear track:
Kerb weight:
Turning circle:
Fuel tank:
Boot space:

Fairlane/LTD
5024mm
1868mm
1394mm
2946mm
1559mm
1527mm
1629/1697kg
12.4/12.7m
80 litres
460 litres

Interior dimensions:

Front headroom:
Rear headroom:
Front shoulder room:
Rear shoulder room:
Front hip room:
Rear hip room:
Front legroom:
Rear legroom:

Fairlane/LTD
953/956mm
951mm
1509mm
1509/1086mm
1510mm
1480mm
1047mm
1068mm

Features:

Awards:

Fairlane Rivals: Holden HZ/WB Statesman, CM Chrysler Regal SE
LTD Rivals: Holden HZ/WB Statesman Caprice

ZJ Fairlane/ FC LTD Links (new window)

Falcon Facts: XD Falcon
Falcon Facts: ZH Fairlane / P6 LTD
Falcon Facts: ZK Fairlane / FD LTD

Where to now? Back to Fairlane/LTD main On to ZK Fairlane / FD LTD»

LTD was much changed, sharing the same body as the Fairlane. It now relied on cosmetics and badging to set it apart. The model range was once again simplified, consisting of Fairlane and LTD.
Inside, the all-new interior was just as roomy as before. The simplified dash was now made from plastic. It was a slightly different design from the XD Falcons, but incorporated the new cableless speedometer. The LTD was available with leather trim at no extra cost. It featured more standard equipment and introduced louvres for the C-pillar window, which has become an LTD trademark.
The Fairlane was released with the 4.9 V8 as standard, with the 5.8 V8 optional, standard on the LTD. Due to the significant use of aluminium and plastic wherever possible (including the world’s first plastic fuel tank), both cars were noticably lighter; the engines no longer had to haul around so much metal.
In October 1979, prompted by research indicating the V8s were losing favour, Ford announced that the standard Fairlane and LTD powerplant would be the 4.1L six. The decision was marked with the release of a luxury limited edition of the LTD - the Cartier Edition.
Fairlane and LTD enjoyed an upgrade in July 1980. There was a new alloy cylinder head, making the car much lighter, and electronic ignition. The sound systems were also updated.