E-Series becoming classics...

[AaronEF8]

So Sundeeps thread got me thinking about cars from when I was a kid, which got me thinking...

Do you think E-Series will become classics? Serious question.

Some facts:

When I was looking for my first car, I always liked XA-XC Falcons, especially hardtops. Thing was, they were all rusted out boxes of shit, XD-XE Falcons were the same price, in better condition, and looks aside, much better cars. I bought an XE GL and wanted an EA. I used to go to wreckers hunting down Fairmont, S-Pack and Fairlane interior parts for them, and they were full of XA-XC parts. XY GTHO's were like 80k for a mint example.

Later on, after a couple $50 parts cars and an XF, I bought the EF, watched XA-XCs turn into classic cars and have parts for them become unavailable/drug money prices. XD-XF's dropped in price to $8.55 for a mint one, with wreckers full of parts.

Few years later, I bought another XE to drive while the EF was worked on, 1 owner S-Pack 250 4spd on gas (my dream car as a 16 year old lol) and got multiple comments about how it's a classic. I lol'd, then when I called wreckers looking for parts, no-one had anything, and what they did have was drug money prices. Wreckers were full of E-Series with full Fairlane interiors available for around $300-$400.

Move on to now, apparently XFs are classic cars lol, it's getting harder to find good E-Series parts, many of them are asking drug money for the rare shit, AUs and BA's are filling up wreckers, you see less and less E-Series on the road because it's cheaper to buy an AU, and the kids seemed to have moved on to AUs and BAs mostly.

It is a hell of a lot easier to find an EF or EL in good condition now than what it was to find a good condition XF Falcon 10 years ago, which I think is a bit of a testament to how well they were designed/built. I remember hearing/saying as a kid "these plastic cars will never last 10 years" lol.

If you still had to maintain an E-Series like you did an XD-XF, no-one would own one. Replacing dead lifters and destroyed cams, rebuilding carbies, tightening transmission bands, fixing single-rail gearsticks, bleeding the cooling system, constant FUCKING SQUEAKING FRONT-ENDS FUCKEN, fucked seats, fucked clusters, FUCKEN FUCKED DOOR HANDLES, door hinges, door latches etc etc etc.

Compare that to E-Series, most lemons that blew headgaskets and killed trans are either fixed or off the road now, and the most common problem seems to be dry solders in the BEM, and dodgy repairs to the cars in the past. Although this could be a downfall as E-Series can still be used as reliable dailys for longer.

After about 20-25 years every Falcon/Holden goes from a nice car, to the laughing stock, to being priced off the road, into a classic. Even XD/VB's are classics now, which were so bad Wheels magazine refused to give out their Car Of The Year award in 1979 because they were such pieces of shit new.

Final note: We (2nd hand Falcon buyers) are gonna be fairly fucked within 10 years, considering they made like half the number of BF's compared to EF's, and nearly a 10th the number of FG's. There's going to be nothing around to buy.


With the EA 161 days away from being able to get Classic rego in Vic, what do you think?

Personally, I think the EA will get laughed at, purely on the fact of the letters EA. EB-ED less so, having 3 hero cars (EB S-XR6, EB GT, ED Sprint) helps, as well as people focusing on the EA. The fact that there are less and less shitbox EA-EDs on the road now points to this already happening.

EF-EL's I think will fare similarly, maybe slightly better, but not as quickly, due to the styling aging very well. Although that could be it's downfall too, with it becoming more of a '25 year old car' instead of a classic, due to the similarities it shares with newer cars, and cars a few years younger being much faster.

Don't get classic confused with cult status, XR6T = cult car. VL Turbo = cult car, old Falcon = classic car, E-Series = ???

[braad]

Some sort of Classic, everyone loves a nice e-series (of different models, colour, spec, etc). The classic tag is also what people grow up with, how many people want an EVO3, original WRX, VN-VS SS/HSV, etc now? Like the last generation, we want what appealed to us when younger, hero cars, race cars we remember, stuff thats simpler than current models

The shit ones disappear after being flogged and people start appreciating mint examples



...or we're wrong and they'll be forgotten in 3 years...

[mad_keen]

I think they will. Think about how many new eseries you find at the wrecker each week. Eventually there will be only mint ones left and prices will go up. Especially if the falcon name stops.. all models will go up.

[Michael (HYPOEB)]

I hope so! Thats why i bought an SVO

[Sunboost]

FUCKEN FUCKED DOOR HANDLES

Fucken lol. If you haven't walked in to a parts shop and gone straight to the counter and said "XD-XF door handle repair kit please", you're not a true Ford fan.

Dad's cabs used to have one sitting the glove box full time.

[Chargd]

FUCKEN FUCKED DOOR HANDLES

Fucken lol. If you haven't walked in to a parts shop and gone straight to the counter and said "XD-XF door handle repair kit please", then you're not a true Ford fan.

Dad's cabs used to have one sitting the glove box full time.

lol i remember my parents XD, the door handle and some clip that goes on the clutch cable kept breaking i think, cant remember exactly but the door handle happened about 4 times in the time they owned it

[SnipeZ]

My dads xd broke 7 handles total in its life

[Sunboost]

PS, with those older cars anything goes because they came out with carby motors and massively lax ADR's and emissions rules. With the EA onwards, it's harder to get away with fitting non-EFI motors like in the XF (and backwards), let alone an EFI V8 that actually pulls half decently. That's why the XF's etc. became classics pretty quickly because they were easier to make in to "Street Machine" style cars. I wrote that pretty quickly but I hope it comes across like I meant it.

No one's ever loved EA's. They were freaking amazing looking cars when new. I remember when we got our first one we all used to comment how quiet it was. I loved the shape of the steering wheel and the yellow lights on the dash, but they had heaps of common problems which let them down massively. They got really cheap really quick.

EF-AU just go and go and go and never die. The AU's are still a great car for reliability, besides paint problems become more apparent with age on the early AU. BA's are great, I've never had a B-Series let me down but I've seen what age and wear does to the early BA's, they aren't going to last as good as EF and EL did. You're lucky to find a BA without a broken bonnet release these days. And is it just me or do early BA's kind of start to smell bad in the interior?

[-fairmont-]

nothing wrong with EA's. mine cant be killed.

[Rollin]

It's always been my dream to have an enormous garage chock full of any half decent E-series I can get my hands on, and then a big yard out the back of stacked ones that I can wreck for parts, so I can preserve the lovlies

I'd love to believe that E-series will become a 'classic', but I can't believe it would happen, at least amongst 'normal' car people rather than mainly the people from this forum.

I'd love to be proved wrong though!

[EFFalcon]

i think it'll still be a while, atleast for the majority.

XR's are an exception, as are the specials like sprints/gt's.

but even the typical XD-XF is yet to be considered a classic to a majority.

one day, clean examples will be, but it'll be a longer wait for gli's & fairmonts to get that kind of rep.

[Commando]

Yeah, pretty much agree on EF-ELs ageing better than EA-EDs. i don't see them becoming "classics", but I agree on "rare" happening within 10 years. Sunny's got it in one withhow X-Series are easier to turn into street machines.

+1 on an Xe spac 250 4sp on gas as a 16yo's dream car lol

[nstg8a]

it will happen and i reckon more than the xd/e/f models. (even though im a xf fan)

e series has far more 'hero' models and cars like the el gt's are fast getting an almost surreal vibe...


all xd/e/f had was the xd and xe esp's and other than some decent shocks and awesome interiors they were really rather insipid performance wise.

xf had zero performance options from the factory even though it was the highest selling falcon ever.

[AaronEF8]

I'd love to believe that E-series will become a 'classic', but I can't believe it would happen, at least amongst 'normal' car people rather than mainly the people from this forum.

lol yeah. We already get excited over factory manuals and Ghia sidemoulds like no-one else. Fans of older cars get excited over XA Fairmont grilles, HQ Premier fronts and the like.

It's always been my dream to have an enormous garage chock full of any half decent E-series I can get my hands on, and then a big yard out the back of stacked ones that I can wreck for parts, so I can preserve the lovlies

I know a bloke in Maryborough that has done the same with cars that were around when he was a kid. Except they're XK-XP Falcons lol, he's in his 50s, his 'newer cars' are an XY ute and an EF XR6. He has about 20 cars, including 4 Squire woody wagons.

Maybe we'll have to be those old guys that drive old E-Series in 20 years lol. Then we can hoarde all the parts and charge megabucks for them because you can't find them anywhere else, like an XY owner.

PS, with those older cars anything goes because they came out with carby motors and massively lax ADR's and emissions rules. With the EA onwards, it's harder to get away with fitting non-EFI motors like in the XF (and backwards), let alone an EFI V8 that actually pulls half decently. That's why the XF's etc. became classics pretty quickly because they were easier to make in to "Street Machine" style cars. I wrote that pretty quickly but I hope it comes across like I meant it.

This is a very good point actually.
Also probably the reason we'll never see another E-Series on the cover of Street Machine.

[nothin suss]

Some interesting points..

Anything real neat and original will always be appreciated. Hell if I see an immaculate Sigma or 200b Datto I respect it and comment to the owner if they are about.

I don't really see anything apart from the EB-EL Tickfords or SVO's being 'valuable' in the future but the ED & EL Ghias may join the Tickfords as being a classic.

[superhuS!]

İ believe an EL Ghia with every box ticked (Kit/FTR's/Ticky suspension) could make the cut.

[krisisdog]

XFs are only mooching of the XD/XEs, theres no real reason as to why they are goin up in price - and the only reason the D & E are worth money is the fact a 351+ci Clevo can be slotted in between the rails.
I've been trying to put away enough money to buy an XD or E before they skyrocket in price, but I'm quickly running out of time. Even considered selling my turbo EF for one...

I cant see EAs being worth much at all (factory cars, not aftermarket jobbies), same with the majority of the other models with the exceptions as mentioned by others, sprint, GT and possibly the very best of the XR models.

[AaronEF8]

İ believe an EL Ghia with every box ticked (Kit/FTR's/Ticky suspension/sunroof/5.0/velour-leather interior/roof racks/roof pod/2300Kg towpack/bike carrier/mudflaps/wind deflectors) could make the cut.

Fixed

You could option an EL GLi up to around 55k new.

XFs are only mooching of the XD/XEs, theres no real reason as to why they are goin up in price - and the only reason the D & E are worth money is the fact a 351+ci Clevo can be slotted in between the rails.

Yeah that's what I believe too. But everything went spastic pre-GFC when people were asking (but not getting) a million bucks for a Phase 3. Cunce trying to sell XY GS's for 100k and shit. It pulled any Clevo engined cars price up, which pulled XD-XE prices up, which pulled XF prices up.

I got my XE for $350 lol. Won't be selling that any time soon.

[Bipolar]

the thing I've noticed with eseries owners the last five or so years is: people started buying them simply because they
were cheap... Now they've sort of moved past that stage; people are hanging onto them cos they legitimately want
to... Most owners could easily upgrade in relation to the finance side of things now that AU and B-series are getting
cheaper and cheaper but are choosing not to...

Personally I love seeing a clean E-series and probably always will... I plan on adding to my E-series collection not
getting rid of them

[superhuS!]

İ believe an EL Ghia with every box ticked (Kit/FTR's/Ticky suspension/sunroof/5.0/velour-leather interior/roof racks/roof pod/2300Kg towpack/bike carrier/mudflaps/wind deflectors) could make the cut.

Fixed

You forgot electric drivers seat

[Rollin]

the thing I've noticed with eseries owners the last five or so years is: people started buying them simply because they
were cheap... Now they've sort of moved past that stage; people are hanging onto them cos they legitimately want
to... Most owners could easily upgrade in relation to the finance side of things now that AU and B-series are getting
cheaper and cheaper but are choosing not to...

Personally I love seeing a clean E-series and probably always will... I plan on adding to my E-series collection not
getting rid of them

Yeah, I've always loved them, struggle to find anything I want that's in a normal persons price range (I'd prob swap Gloria for a 993 911 Turbo, but not much else ).

Alot of the guys on here have owned or been into E-series for a good decade now (including myself). We pretty much all started out doing little cheap hobo mods for a few extra kw here and there, but now we're getting older and aftermarket goodies are getting cheaper, the builds are getting a lot more serious - how many cars from this forum have managed a 12, 11 or 10 second pass? How many of us would have said a decade ago that 10z or 11z were going to be so 'common'?

[dylby1]

And is it just me or do early BA's kind of start to smell bad in the interior?

I agree, I can't comment on mine because it's been destroyed by a 2 year old and the mess that comes with that, but even the other ones I've been in had a bit of a smell to them. Hard to put a finger on what it is or anything, there's just something odd

[AaronEF8]

Alot of the guys on here have owned or been into E-series for a good decade now (including myself). We pretty much all started out doing little cheap hobo mods for a few extra kw here and there, but now we're getting older and aftermarket goodies are getting cheaper, the builds are getting a lot more serious - how many cars from this forum have managed a 12, 11 or 10 second pass? How many of us would have said a decade ago that 10z or 11z were going to be so 'common'?

rofl. The first 2 dyno days we had in SA, I won both with the EF, with a staggering 119rwkw each time.

Thanatos I think, run a mid 14 with his manual boxcar and everyone (including myself) was blown away by that shit lol.
I can't remember who did the first turbo conversion, I'm thinking either Sunny or FLYRYD. Probably wrong though. People bought turbos and intercoolers, then realised there's so much other shit to do.

Regarding interior smell - has anyone noticed EF-EL's have a decent smell to them? I remember when I bought my EL, driving home with it just reminded me of the EF. Every time I clean the empty beer bottles and shit out the smell comes back.

I can open the door of my EF which hasn't moved in 4 years and smell the same smell.

[EF ECTIV]

the thing I've noticed with eseries owners the last five or so years is: people started buying them simply because they
were cheap... Now they've sort of moved past that stage; people are hanging onto them cos they legitimately want
to... Most owners could easily upgrade in relation to the finance side of things now that AU and B-series are getting
cheaper and cheaper but are choosing not to...

Personally I love seeing a clean E-series and probably always will... I plan on adding to my E-series collection not
getting rid of them

Yeah, I've always loved them, struggle to find anything I want that's in a normal persons price range (I'd prob swap Gloria for a 993 911 Turbo, but not much else ).

Alot of the guys on here have owned or been into E-series for a good decade now (including myself). We pretty much all started out doing little cheap hobo mods for a few extra kw here and there, but now we're getting older and aftermarket goodies are getting cheaper, the builds are getting a lot more serious - how many cars from this forum have managed a 12, 11 or 10 second pass? How many of us would have said a decade ago that 10z or 11z were going to be so 'common'?

<3 e-series.. haters gonna hate..

[Bipolar]

Regarding interior smell - has anyone noticed EF-EL's have a decent smell to them? I remember when I bought my EL, driving home with it just reminded me of the EF. Every time I clean the empty beer bottles and shit out the smell comes back.

I can open the door of my EF which hasn't moved in 4 years and smell the same smell.

Hell yeah! I love that smell, and the first time I smelt a low-K GT something in my brain changed. Like cracking the perfect shiraz or rum, but 100 times better. Never forget it.

I've had mine since it was 6 years old and the smell is always something I forget about, but enjoy the shit out of every time I jump in.

Spot on with the OP I reckon.

[Bob Lablaw]

I think they'll be a classic, unfortunatelly there are a few cars that same era that maybe more collectable, i'd like to keep my EF ghia and gli V8 wagon for ever and think i will. Others may opt for (and wouldn't mind these as well) an RS legacy, pulsar GTIR, Laser or mazda GTX/GTR, WRX, evo 1,2 or 3, porsche 944, RX7 s3, all these are getting hard to find a half decent example and most people can afford one project at a time.
There will always be falcon classics because someones grandfather/father/uncle had one that brings back some cool memories as well, my 2c

[braad]

İ believe an EL Ghia with every box ticked (Kit/FTR's/Ticky suspension/sunroof/5.0/velour-leather interior/roof racks/roof pod/2300Kg towpack/bike carrier/mudflaps/wind deflectors) could make the cut.

Fixed

You forgot electric drivers seat

Onto a winner!

[suspect]

I agree. Look at every Aussie made car.

Starts new and expencive.
Goes down and down until its a booga mobile Frankston special.
Then they go up. No matter what it is.

Seriously, who would have thourght EH Holden would be a cool rare car?

Hell I seen an immaculate EA fairmont with all the ''options'' few weeks back. God it was awesome.



With Falcon look for the worse (2016 rumors) I can see all Falcons turning Valient style.