What’s an XR8? Read on…

Ford’s Global empire is not exactly one of uniformity. Whilst there is a parent company, many ‘independent’ Ford branches exist and one of the strongest is Ford Australia.

True, the Aussies have shared a few cars with the English market over the years, but there have also been more than a few `Australian-only’ Fords. The XR8 for example, is all-Australian and the most sports oriented Ford you can buy for the road Down Under.

Although powered by a single camshaft, 16-valve pushrod V8 engine, the XR8 is brimming with modern electronics and produces 200kW of power.

Most importantly, the XR8 is a Falcon - and that’s a tag which Ford first used in Australia way back in 1960.

That very first Falcon, the XK, used a 144.3ci in-line six-cylinder engine that was designed in Canada but assembled in Australia.

However, the GT Cortinas were the sporting Fords in those days, winning the prestigious Bathurst endurance race on several occasions. But the release in 1966 of the XR model Falcon with a 289ci V8 Windsor motor signalled the start of a new era.

The up-specced Falcon GT , still using the 289 Windsor, was released in ‘67 and then Ford’s arch rival in Australia, General Motors Holden, unveiled the 307ci Chevy equipped V8 Monaro in 1969, followed by 327 and 350 versions.

The V8 battle had begun Down Under and it still dominates the upper echelon of the Aussie motor sport and modified street scene today.

Undoubtedly, the 1970s were the halcyon days for this V8 rivalry, with Ford unleashing some ballistic versions of the Falcon - including the famous GT HO `Shaker’, so dubbed for the air scoop protruding through the bonnet from the 4bbl carby mounted on its 351 Cleveland V8.

Towards the end of the 70s, one Ford Falcon in particular made a name for itself on the big screen. Many  fans of the Mad Max series of movies (especially in the USA) still believe to this day that Max’s black car was a modified US model Ford Torino.

It was actually an all Australian designed XB Ford Falcon and the original car from Mad Max 2, shot in 1981, now resides at the Cars Of The Stars museum in Keswick, England. True story.

It was in 1982 though, that Ford stunned its Aussie devotees by dropping the V8 engine from its model line up. The Falcon continued with an in-line six only, but Ford eventually had to cave in to the demands of the buying public and the V8 Falcon made a much welcome return in 1990.

In 1991, well known English performance specialists Tickford Vehicle Enhancements began operations Down Under in a virtually exclusive role as Ford’s official ‘enhancement specialist'.

The XR8 was born and first released into the EB Falcon line up in 1991, and has come a long way since then, with power rising up through the 170kW mark to the 180s and now, today, the XR8 punches out 200kW.

The engine may be a 16-valve, pushrod, single camshaft unit, but with GT40P heads, roller rockers, sports camshaft and a decent exhaust system, she’s quite a beast.