Why I love my Ford XD Falcon!

I didn’t grow up in the 80’s. Yes, at one stage I did have a mullet but full disclosure I’m a 90’s kid!

When I was growing up, it was common place to see VL, VR, VS Commodores, AU Falcons and as years went on HSV Commodores and BA XR6 turbos. Probably the most common P Plater car was the VT Commodore – all those backseat fumblings on chopped springs – of course running stockies. Noise was usually brought by some aftermarket exhaust system that sounded more like farts in a public cubicle but beauty was in the ear of the beholder, or something like that. Oh and don’t forget the fully sick sound system courtesy of those twin kicker subwoofers that made your ears bleed and your chest shake. Either you got some shop to install it or you had mucked around for a couple weekends with your mates butchering your interior to get everything to fit, most likely the latter.

I’m here to tell you why I bought the big D. First of all, XD, XE and later models offer an excellent price point to enter the ‘classic car market’. This means this old bird was cheap. Secondly, the XD has a fabulous rear end that most people can agree can look super tough with fat tyres filling the guards. If you didn’t know – the guards of an XD are super deep and can easily swallow a 255 tyre without mini tubbing it. Thirdly, I saw videos of some blokes in Dandenong stuff a turbo Barra into it and run 7’s .  ‘What a piece of piss, I’ll just buy a engine for $2k, swap it in and it’ll cost $10k max to be running in the 9’s with a stock turbo barra’ I thought as I looked at bank account which had $85 in it.

After I laid down 4 bands of my hard earned for a beaut country car (the bloke even delivered it for me, what a legend) I gave it to my mechanic for a look over for what needed to be done for a roady. Jesus! The list was endless as my mechanic handed over a full sheet of what needed to be done with a wry smile on his face. The consolation was that apparently the suspension was in good nick and no bushes needed to be done. ‘I made my money fixing XD Falcons back in the day ’, he remarked as my face winced. So the journey began...

As I lost count of how many trips I took to Repco to buy parts for the 250 crossy engine, I wrenched on the XD hard and fast. It was fun because I could knock over multiple jobs in a day easy. Thermostat – check. New EGR pipe – Ok fine I’ll bend some pipe. Bulbs – easy as. Replacement seatbelts? Hmmm, Ok a little bit of money but whatever.  One of the reasons why I love the XD is because I could work on everything myself and have fun doing it!

As I get further down the list I see some tricky bits – hmmm seat is sagging, alright time to take the bench seat out of my povo pack XD and put some new foam in. A trip to Clarke Rubber and $8 later I have some new foam in the seat and I had welded up some springs that had come apart. While I was at it I order some new carpet from Knox Auto Carpets – ahhh might as well the brain thought. When it was all said and down I had spent another $2,000 on getting it to roadworthy spec. My mechanic gave it the stamp of approval and with the roady slip in my hot little hand I cruised down to Oakleigh VicRoads with a knot in stomach. Why you ask? Well maybe I just had run out of time to connect the EGR pipe properly, still had yet to source a decent headlight bucket (mine was rusty) and the underside of my bonnet was rusty as shit.

As I finally made my way to the counter, I’m staring at an aussie bloke with a full ZZ top beard. ‘Ahhh an XD, haven’t had one of those in ages’ he says without even looking up. Turns out, he could tell it was an XD just from the chassis number! ‘Yep, she’s just outside’, I reply in my charming voice. I bring the ol XD around and yeah well guess what? The bloke barely looks at the car because he is busy reminiscing about his shenanigans in his XD and other cars. Stamp of approval from this bloke and I’m gone! How many thumbs up have I received since then? Yep lost count. How many old dudes have told me they used to have an XD? Waaaay to many! Yep, I also love the XD because it makes other people happy seeing the car. Bringing back memories is a powerful thing and I’ve made plenty in my XD. From having my fiancé right next to me utilising the povo bench seat and having my arm tucked over her shoulder while I’m driving, she (the XD) brings a smile to my face.

Last but not least, I love daily driving this thing to work. Drives like a bag of shit when icy cold (full choke out and still wants to die in the ass) but part of me enjoys the idea of it breaking down – don’t ask me why. But deep down I know this old girl will keep going and if she doesn’t, I can always pop the boot and retrieve my tools to get her going again – Jon

Yeah and if you don’t bloody believe that I love my XD watch my review of the big girl right here, right now.