Falcon 500

[jyg]

Hi this is my first thread, Can anyone tell me how the 500 number from Falcon 500 came about ? Something to do with Bathurst ? Also which model did it first appear on,

[JG66ME]

Originally Posted by jyg

Hi this is my first thread, Can anyone tell me how the 500 number from Falcon 500 came about ? Something to do with Bathurst ? Also which model did it first appear on,

Americans had the Galaxie 300 and 500 in the 1950s.

Nothing to do with Bathurst.

[The Yeti]

probably how many miles they could go with out breaking down

[aquahead2001]

I seem to remember it was that bastion of American culture, NASCAR. The 500 mile races were the pinnacle of “stock car” racing so the Galaxies were crowned “500’s” due to them winning these long races. The 300 hundred are the shorter races and of course not as prestigious to win as the 500 mile races…

Needless to say, Ford Australia would have been told what to use and so the 500 nomenclature came to be in Oztralia. FYI, I have a 1964 Fairlane 500 so it was being applied here well before it was added to Falcons. (XW or XY I’m guessing)

[smciner1]

Originally Posted by JG66ME

Americans had the Galaxie 300 and 500 in the 1950s.

Nothing to do with Bathurst.

Yep, 300 was the Low Series and 500 the High Series.

[GK]

Originally Posted by The Yeti

probably how many miles they could go with out breaking down

My dad had an XY Falcon 500. It just wouldn't die. Awesome car in many respects.

GK

[xy500]

Originally Posted by The Yeti

probably how many miles they could go with out breaking down

jeez was that supposed to be funny?

[The Yeti]

apprently not

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by The Yeti

apprently not

Dont worry about it. A number of people on AFF have had a humour lobotomy.

[Auslandau]

I would guess that they were just numbers that used because it sounded right at the time ...... GT350 & GT500 was named because Shelby said at the time ... "It sounds fast"



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[jyg]

So when did australian cars have their own unqiue name / numbers and not amercian ?

[XR Martin]

AU Forte?

[LOCO XP]

Originally Posted by The Yeti

apprently not

Made me laugh definately struck a nerve

[last fairlane]

1959 was the year the first Fairlane to come to OZ it was called the Fairlane 500 (top specs) and cost 2400 pounds about $5k
and the lower spec one was called the Fairlane 300 it replaced the BJX Customline known here as the star model
both came with as far as I can recall a 352 Y block V8 a carry on from the 292 and 272 V8s from the Customline series the 5A 6A and 7A then BJX then when we got in 1962 a 260 then a 289 in 1964 I though what the ?
they have gone backwards little did we know about small blocks 260/289/302/and the mighty 351
so the Fairlane nameplate is older than the Falcon name by one year Ive read some where that Henry Fords ranch was called "Fairlane" and thats where the name came from
hope this clears up some things but remember this is not fact just my recolections from the time
so theres your 500 nameplate
thanks John

[xy500]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Dont worry about it. A number of people on AFF have had a humour lobotomy.

yeah you'd have to to think "500 miles till it breaks down" is witty repartee.

[ehast13]

Henry's ranch was on Fair Lane.

Also My 59 Tank Fairlane 300 (also called custom by the uninformed) had a 332 Y Block (later made much bigger). The 500 had a 352, I believe

[XR2DOOR]

Originally Posted by last fairlane

1959 was the year the first Fairlane to come to OZ it was called the Fairlane 500 (top specs) and cost 2400 pounds about $5k
and the lower spec one was called the Fairlane 300 it replaced the BJX Customline known here as the star model
both came with as far as I can recall a 352 Y block V8 a carry on from the 292 and 272 V8s from the Customline series the 5A 6A and 7A then BJX then when we got in 1962 a 260 then a 289 in 1964 I though what the ?
they have gone backwards little did we know about small blocks 260/289/302/and the mighty 351
so the Fairlane nameplate is older than the Falcon name by one year Ive read some where that Henry Fords ranch was called "Fairlane" and thats where the name came from
hope this clears up some things but remember this is not fact just my recolections from the time
so theres your 500 nameplate
thanks John

dont forget the mighty little 221 windsor ,i had one in my first car a 62 compact fairlane 2 speed auto

[chevypower]

XR, Futura, LTD, GT, Cobra, intech, boss
Also US names used on Oz cars
not sure about Fairmont and HO?

[blueline]

the fairmont was an american model as well, i haven't seen the HO model name on any car from another country.

along the same lines, was the Cortine GT500 named because of the spec? or was it named after the Gallagher 500 (the Philip island then Bathurst endurance race)?

[Nikked]

Ho was used on 80's mustangs...

[blueline]

oh yeah, but was there an american car that ford used to get the name for the GTHO's?

[ehast13]

The efi windsor 302 (from mid 80's til 1998) had the model designation gtho. They then became the gt40p as they got better heads.

60's fords had names like cobra, super cobra jet, cobra jet, boss, tunnel ram etc

[Cabbage]

Originally Posted by auslandau

I would guess that they were just numbers that used because it sounded right at the time ...... GT350 & GT500 was named because Shelby said at the time ... "It sounds fast"

Was watching one of car shows on foxtel, can't remember which one and they were talking about how cars got their names and in relation to Shelby GT 350's and they said Shelby came up with the number 350 because that was the length of the production line for the GT 350 (350 feet). Sounds a bit kooky!