1975 Ford XB Falcon 500 GS sedan
Words: Aaron Lofts
Photos: Ross Vasse
Courtesy of Survivor Car Australia magazine
In order to make progress, you need to take risks. Whether they are calculated risks with strategy, or crazy risks with huge reward, taking a gamble on an idea or an investment can lead to great success – or grand failure.
The launch of the milestone XA model Falcon in 1972 marked a turning point for Ford’s Australian operations. It proved to the rest of the world that Ford Australia could stand on its own two feet and produce a vehicle independently, without major input or influence from head office in the USA.
Following the XA model with something bigger and better was going to be an enormous task, but certainly not impossible. Enter the XB – the great Australian road car.
Risky Business
Ford Australia decided to take a risk, spending nearly $4 million on developing the new XB Falcon; a big investment and massive risk, at a time when Prime Minister Gough Whitlam was being criticized for the management of the Australian economy. Inflation rates were surging to record highs around the world, as were interest rates for loans. Things were not stable in the financial world – far from it.
Despite all of the doom and gloom, Ford Australia pushed through, adding new function and design style to the incoming XB Falcon, leading to better fuel economy and reliability, as well as a much more aggressive and appealing look. Ford called it ‘The Great Australian Road Car’, and it must have been, because a total of more than 220,000 XB Falcons, Futuras and Fairmonts - in sedan, hardtop, wagon, van and ute form - were built between September, 1973 and July, 1976.
Be a Grand Sport
The story of this One Owner Survivor begins back in August of 1975, when mother of four Mavis Vidler was looking for a new family car. She’d been driving her white XP Falcon sedan for a while and was looking to buy something a little more exciting. Her son Nijel was interested in cars, and was keeping an eye out for the right car for his mother. Nijel had recently become the proud owner of a Tango Orange XB GS with a 302ci V8, and his mother had taken a bit of a liking to it.
Driving past the local dealership, Bryan Byrt Ford in Upper Mount Gravatt, Queensland, Nijel spotted an orange Ford Falcon on the lot. With black stripes and bonnet flutes, it really stood out to Nijel and looked way better than his mum’s old car. After telling his mother about the car, she headed down to Bryan Byrt Ford with her XP Falcon – seeking to make a deal on a new car and trade in her old one.
Taking a closer look, the orange Falcon turned out to be an XB Falcon 500 with the optional “Grand Sport” Rally Pack option. The GS option added NASA scoops on the bonnet, a GS motif and stripe on the flanks, full GT instrumentation and a sports steering wheel. It also added the 6-inch road wheels with chromed hub centres, giving the regular Falcon 500 a much more appealing look. A deal was done and the Vidlers had their new family car.
Coincidentally, this Falcon 500 GS was not built at the Ford Broadmeadows plant, but rather the Brisbane assembly plant in Eagle Farm. As such, it carries the VIN number prefix of ‘JH23’ rather than ‘JG23,’ with the JH standing for a Brisbane-built Ford. You might also notice that Mavis’ Falcon has a single pair of headlights, instead of the quad lamps, including driving lights, usually seen on GS packs. Contrary to popular belief, not all Grand Sport packages came with driving lights – in fact, they were an option (Code 56); an option that Mavis’ demo model Falcon was never ordered with.
The full list of factory-fitted options on this car when purchased included: Mandatory front seatbelts (03), Reclining bucket seats (19), Sport console (32), carpets (39), Rally pack (GS option - 48), Superfringe radio (71), Rear window demister (95), Rear venetian and Bumper over-riders.
Mavis loved her new car, constantly polishing it and keeping it clean, never leaving it outside in the elements overnight. The car was always parked under the carport, too: no negotiations! She would potter around town with the seat all the way forward – right up to the steering wheel!
Mavis worked part time in the canteen at Kingaroy’s drive-in theatre. Many people around the town still remember the orange Falcon parked right up next to the canteen door where it was always within Mavis’ sight.
Captain Risky
Mavis’ husband, Lyle was in the earthmoving business and would often come home from work filthy dirty, covered in mud - she’d never let him near her Falcon! However, on occasion Lyle would sneak his way into the drivers’ seat.
“Dad was involved in lots of sporting clubs and committees, and would come home late at night in his ute a little under the weather – leaving it in gear with the keys in it – and then head inside the house. That was how it was back then!” says son Nijel
“Dad was heavily involved in the Kingaroy Red Ants football club, helping construct and design the ovals and parking banks surrounding them. The ground was named after him, honoring the work that he did for the club and the community over many years,” explains Nijel proudly.
Nijel recalls that, on those nights when the work ute was left in gear, sometimes it would roll down the driveway, cross the road, and park itself up on the nature strip on the opposite side of the street!
“One night he had mum’s XB GS and parked it in the driveway the same way. He must’ve forgotten to put it in Park - and when gravity took over and gave the car a life of its own, it led to Mum’s car rolling down the driveway and bumping into Dad’s ute parked across the road!”
Luckily for this Survivor, only very minor damage was sustained – proving once again that they sure don’t make them like they used to!
Mavis and her XB GS would be seen around town often, running errands and doing the shopping through the week, then stretching the legs of this Survivor on the weekends to play tennis in a neighbouring town.
“The car has barely left the Kingaroy area for the whole time Mum has had it,” tells son Nijel, “she has kept it meticulously maintained and serviced, never once missing a scheduled service for the car.”
This outstanding XB GS Survivor has been parked for the majority of the last 10 years (up to 2017) in the garage. “We’ve spoken to Mum a few times about updating to another car, but she wouldn’t do it – she loves her XB GS way too much!” says Nijel. “The car has been her companion through life, a reminder of earlier days”.
At 85 years old, Mavis isn’t driving anymore, but still has lots of love for her XB Falcon 500 GS - a fantastic one-owner Survivor that has stood the test of time over many decades of family use.
Survivor!
This article originally appeared in Survivor Car Australia magazine, as part of the Collectors’ Special Edition – Vol. 3.
Along with the XB GS, other cars in this special edition included a VJ E55 Charger, HX GTS Monaro, XW Falcon GT, P5 LTD and a Chevy Impala. What united these diverse makes and models is that they were all unrestored, one-owner cars when featured (mid-2017).
Prior to its appearance in that issue, the XB Falcon 500 GS was sold, relocated to Victoria and reregistered there.
Advertised for sale in JUST CARS this past May, the car sold just before this issue went to press.
Look for Survivor Car Australia at newsagents. Find back issues, special offers, subscription information and more details at: survivorcaraustralia.com.au
