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Old 20-02-2019, 04:29 PM   #1
Syndrome
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Thumbs up ABC Torque: Road testing 1976 XC Fairmont GXL

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Old 20-02-2019, 04:42 PM   #2
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Default Re: ABC Torque: Road testing 1976 XC Fairmont GXL

Again?
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Old 20-02-2019, 06:01 PM   #3
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Default Re: ABC Torque: Road testing 1976 XC Fairmont GXL

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Again?
Yes, but good to watch again, whats not to love about the GXL 5.8?
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Old 21-02-2019, 05:10 PM   #4
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Default Re: ABC Torque: Road testing 1976 XC Fairmont GXL

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Yes, but good to watch again, whats not to love about the GXL 5.8?
Amen to that ....

Here's another Torque edition all about turbo , non turbo , petrol and how an expert of the day saw ethanol /blend into the future . Oh yes and a Porsche 924 look too...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5Qt7GbS-cQ ..
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Old 21-02-2019, 08:59 PM   #5
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Default Re: ABC Torque: Road testing 1976 XC Fairmont GXL

yep had a new one in '78, a 5.8 GXL auto- good car traded it on an '82 5.8 ESP manual - better car. Fords ruled in those days with a great product

I think the bloody accountants got involved a bit later and stuffed them completely
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Old 23-02-2019, 08:32 PM   #6
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Default Re: ABC Torque: Road testing 1976 XC Fairmont GXL

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yep had a new one in '78, a 5.8 GXL auto- good car traded it on an '82 5.8 ESP manual - better car. Fords ruled in those days with a great product

I think the bloody accountants got involved a bit later and stuffed them completely
Mr Wherrett's take on the XD....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbRDC87Oizw

He said though 15-17 mpg ...What !!!!!.....The 3.3 was better than that wasn't it ? and anybody remember the extra luggage options too..Roof racks are okay but the other thing ...Oohh...

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Old 23-02-2019, 10:18 PM   #7
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Default Re: ABC Torque: Road testing 1976 XC Fairmont GXL

He had a constant gripe about power steering and didn't like cars that had too much power. If he was alive, what would he say about the F6 Typhoon?
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Old 24-02-2019, 04:06 AM   #8
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Default Re: ABC Torque: Road testing 1976 XC Fairmont GXL

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Originally Posted by roddy1960 View Post
Mr Wherrett's take on the XD....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbRDC87Oizw

He said though 15-17 mpg ...What !!!!!.....The 3.3 was better than that wasn't it ? and anybody remember the extra luggage options too..Roof racks are okay but the other thing ...Oohh...
Had no idea there was a 4sp auto option on the XD! At the 3.10min mark.
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Old 24-02-2019, 08:29 AM   #9
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Default Re: ABC Torque: Road testing 1976 XC Fairmont GXL

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Had no idea there was a 4sp auto option on the XD! At the 3.10min mark.
Not sure what you mean joolz, he mentions using the 'optional' 4spd manual instead of the 3 on the tree, but your right there was no 4spd auto just a 3spd...
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Old 24-02-2019, 08:51 AM   #10
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Default Re: ABC Torque: Road testing 1976 XC Fairmont GXL

I never owned a XD but I did have an XE . It had the 4 speed manual and to be honest I loved that gear shift . Then I bought a 5 speed Telstar TX5 Ghia and the gear shift was notchy and stiff , not terrible but not as good as the 4 speed in the XE GL...Then the EF Futura (gunmetal grey) with the 5 speed . That was a beauty..sweet manual box . My AU was the first auto I ever owned . The BA Fairmont Ghia I had was the sports shift 4 speed that I hardly ever used that way but the FG XR6 ZF is a different beast in that way ..The sports shift is fun .

I do love a good manual though ..and if I could have got the XR6 with the six cogger that way it would have been epic..

I guess the X Falcons were the last ones where the manual was the standard and the auto was optioned .. Ended up totally the other way round .

Now my fix with a manual comes from my little Honda Accord (circa 1985) with a really nice 5 speed . So AU (standard 4 auto) Accord (5 manual) and XR6 (6 sports/auto) .

Yep , on Peter Wherrett's dislike of power steering and higher power was bewildering for a motor journo . The F6 would have literally blown his mind . Another common thread was his rear drum brakes without pressure limiting valves.. He was a bit different Ol' Pete.

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Old 24-02-2019, 08:42 PM   #11
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Default Re: ABC Torque: Road testing 1976 XC Fairmont GXL

Yep, ahead of his time as many have said. Does anyone have the article or a youtube of the VC Commodore that had the 2.6 Mitsubishi transplant? Have tried googling but nothing coming up
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Old 25-02-2019, 12:32 PM   #12
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Default Re: ABC Torque: Road testing 1976 XC Fairmont GXL

Great review.

Performance 351 ✔️
4 speed ✔️
Driving position and comfort ✔️
Instrumentation ✔️
Brakes ✔️
Style ✔️

And if memory serves me correctly it was the XC that first knocked GMH off number one sales spot.
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Old 25-02-2019, 02:04 PM   #13
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Default Re: ABC Torque: Road testing 1976 XC Fairmont GXL

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Originally Posted by cheap View Post
Great review.

Performance 351 ✔️
4 speed ✔️
Driving position and comfort ✔️
Instrumentation ✔️
Brakes ✔️
Style ✔️

And if memory serves me correctly it was the XC that first knocked GMH off number one sales spot.
It was the XE that finally got Ford market leadership in 83.
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Old 25-02-2019, 03:43 PM   #14
Syndrome
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Default Re: ABC Torque: Road testing 1976 XC Fairmont GXL

Quote:
Originally Posted by cheap View Post
Great review.

Performance 351 ✔️
4 speed ✔️
Driving position and comfort ✔️
Instrumentation ✔️
Brakes ✔️
Style ✔️

And if memory serves me correctly it was the XC that first knocked GMH off number one sales spot.

No. The XB won a few sales months against the Kingswood.
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Previous rides
2009 FG XR6 - 6 speed auto
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1997 EL Fairmont - 4 speed auto
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Old 25-02-2019, 07:20 PM   #15
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Default Re: ABC Torque: Road testing 1976 XC Fairmont GXL

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Originally Posted by marty351 View Post
Again?
43 years is too soon for re-runs
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Old 25-02-2019, 10:24 PM   #16
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Default Re: ABC Torque: Road testing 1976 XC Fairmont GXL

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No. The XB won a few sales months against the Kingswood.
XC was the first to win yearly sales over Kingswood in 1977.
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Old 26-02-2019, 04:20 PM   #17
Syndrome
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Default Re: ABC Torque: Road testing 1976 XC Fairmont GXL

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XC was the first to win yearly sales over Kingswood in 1977.
image
What part of 'months' clearly written in my post was not clear to you?
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Old 26-02-2019, 05:23 PM   #18
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Default Re: ABC Torque: Road testing 1976 XC Fairmont GXL

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It was the XE that finally got Ford market leadership in 83.
Laser and Telstar sold well.
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Old 26-02-2019, 05:36 PM   #19
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Default Re: ABC Torque: Road testing 1976 XC Fairmont GXL

Ahhhh the memories.
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Old 26-02-2019, 06:38 PM   #20
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Default Re: ABC Torque: Road testing 1976 XC Fairmont GXL

Love the one where he drove the Torana (LH from memory) and stated that it was negligent on GM's part to put a V8 in "such a small car".

Pretty sure it was a 253... I wonder what he would say about the light-weight, powerful turbo cars that became so popular in the 90s.
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Old 26-02-2019, 07:15 PM   #21
Syndrome
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Default Re: ABC Torque: Road testing 1976 XC Fairmont GXL

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Love the one where he drove the Torana (LH from memory) and stated that it was negligent on GM's part to put a V8 in "such a small car".

Pretty sure it was a 253... I wonder what he would say about the light-weight, powerful turbo cars that became so popular in the 90s.




What Peter didn't understand is what people want and what people need are not the same. If people want something and companies can make a profit from selling it then so let it be.
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My cars

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2016 FG X XR6 - 6 speed manual

Previous rides
2009 FG XR6 - 6 speed auto
2006 BF MkII XT ESP - 6 speed auto
2003 BA XT V8 - 5 speed manual
1999 AU Forte - 5 speed manual
1997 EL Fairmont - 4 speed auto
1990 EAII Fairmont Ghia - 4 speed auto
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