It's Official: Ford Fairlane Is Dead!

[JoeT]

Ford Farewells Fairlane

Richard Blackburn
13 December 2007
www.drive.com.au

Ford has officially ended production of the Ford Fairlane, with the last car coming off the company's Broadmeadows production line.

End of a luxury-car era. The last Ford Fairlane rolled off the Broadmeadows production line on 13 December 2007.

The last Fairlane rolled off Ford’s Broadmeadows production line today (December 13), marking the end of an era in Australia’s automotive history.

The car of choice for countless politicians, brides and captains of industry for more than 40 years, the Fairlane has fallen victim to a shift in buyer tastes away from large six and eight-cylinder cars.

Ford boss Tom Gorman admits it is a sad day for the Blue Oval.

“We’re not making a big song and dance about it but we’ve marked the occasion at the plant,” he says.

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Ford Axes Fairlane

James Stanford
10 May 2007
www.goauto.com.au

No sales, no exports, no hope for Ford's once-dominant Fairlane and LTD.

Ford Australia has announced it will stop building the long-wheelbase Fairlane after almost 40 years of local production.

The company will cease manufacturing the Fairlane and LTD at some point in the next year and the two models will not be replaced as part of the new 'Orion' Falcon range due to arrive in the second quarter of 2008.

Ford Australia president Tom Gorman made the announcement in Melbourne this morning, just as workers at Ford’s Victorian plants were told of the decision.

Mr Gorman said it simply did not make sense to develop an Orion-based long-wheelbase model given the poor sales of the Fairlane/LTD and the lack of an export program for the vehicle.

“It is a difficult decision for us emotionally because of all the history of the vehicle and I am sure, beginning tomorrow, we will get the letters from the customers and so forth, but I also think it represents that we are realistic in facing up to the changes in the marketplace,” Gorman said.

“The market dynamics have shifted so radically in the last three or four years that I think to try and hang onto something for nostalgia, if you will, is dangerous business behaviour.”

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End Of The Road For Ford Fairlane & LTD

Glenn Butler
10 May 2007
www.drive.com.au

After almost five decades, Ford has killed off its luxury flagships due to dwindling sales.

One of Australia's longest-running nameplates is dead.

Ford today bowed to the inevitable by withdrawing its luxury twins, the Fairlane and LTD sedans, from production in response to falling sales.

Ford Australia president Tom Gorman made the announcement this morning in a statement issued ahead of a monthly media briefing

"A significant decline in sales of vehicles in the upper large segment over the past few years has meant that local production of long wheelbase variants, primarily for domestic sale only, is currently no longer sustainable," Gorman said.

The move comes as no surprise to drive.com.au, which revealed that Ford was weighing up the future of the Fairlane and LTD as far back as April 2006 (see related report).

Gorman told drive.com.au at the time: "We have to seriously consider whether replacing the Fairlane and LTD is an appropriate place to invest funds going forward".

Now, it's a done deal - the Fairlane and LTD are dead.

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Fairlane Still Alive

James Stanford
15 May 2007
www.goauto.com.au

Ford’s premium model could rise from the ashes, despite its ‘discontinuation’ in 2008.

The condemned Fairlane could rise from the ashes to carry Ford Australia’s export hopes.

The company announced last week its limping long-wheelbase Fairlane and LTD models would be “discontinued” within the next year and are not to be updated along with the next-generation Falcon – codenamed Orion – due in the second quarter of 2008. However, Ford Australia president Tom Gorman was careful not to rule out the return of the Fairlane as a possible export model.

“That’s why we are saying that we are discontinuing long-wheelbase,” Mr Gorman told GoAuto. “The opportunity for us to come back in that market may exist if we fi nd a way to leverage a lot more volume.”

Mr Gorman said the Fairlane name had a positive brand value and there was a chance it could be used for a car sold in Australia sometime in the future.

“I have learned enough to never say never and never say always, but I do think you could hear that name come back utilised somewhere,” Mr Gorman said.
“Longer term, you can see the direction that Ford is going. If you are watching Ford closely, with the appointment of Derrick Kuzak as the global head of product development and (Ford Motor Company CEO Alan) Mulally’s vision on this is very clear, that we have to utilise our capacity and our capabilities better globally, and I think that bodes well for us.
“We have a lot of capability here, we have capacity here, and from a technical and engineering standpoint we are recognised as being very strong.”

Mr Gorman said there was a chance a longwheelbase model, either made in Australia or with an Australian-engineered platform, could return as part of a future plan.

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Ford Fairlane: Timeline Of A Legend

Toby Hagon
10 May 2007
www.drive.com.au

1955
The Fairlane name is born in America, being inspired by Henry Ford's house and grounds (Fair Lane) near Ford's head office in Dearborn, Michigan.

1959
The Fairlane nameplate makes its Australian debut as a replacement for the Customline. Cars were initially imported from America for partial local assembly. The Fairlane starts life here as the flagship to the Ford family, adding a new level of style and sophistication to the marque.

1964
The last of the 'imported' Fairlanes is produced for Australians. Its brief hiatus is the only break in the use of the name in Australia.

1967
Ford begins producing the Fairlane in Australia, stretching the Falcon platform and adding more equipment and luxury fare. The so-called ZA model relied on the American models for its styling inspiration. Various facelifts followed in the form of the ZB, ZC and ZD.

1972
In 1972 the newly-released ZF Fairlane was wholly designed in Australia, ushering in a new era for the pinnacle of Ford luxury locally. The ZF also saw the arrival of a new, even more luxurious model; the LTD (some early LTDs had an even longer wheelbase than the Fairlanes they were based on). Various updates followed in the form of the ZG and ZH.

1979
Gone was the curvy shape of previous Fairlanes (and LTDs) and in was a more modern, boxy look with the arrival of the ZJ. After a long run of V8 models, Ford responded to concerns of fuel shortages by introducing a six-cylinder variant of the Fairlane/LTD. By 1983, with minimal competition from Holden, Ford controversially dropped the V8 engine from its local line-up, leaving the Fairlane and LTD as six-cylinder only offerings. The updated ZK arrived in 1982 while the ZL appeared in 1984.

1988
Not long after the arrival of the troubled EA Falcon came the NA Fairlane, the first major redesign of the model in almost a decade. Debate still rages about whether an NB model ever existed (it was officially called the NA Series II). So it was the NC that offered the biggest update to the long, then-comparitively-sleek Fairlane, which also saw the reintroduction of the V8 engine.

1995
The NF bought with it a new body but major mechanical components were carried through with minor changes.

1999
A year after the arrival of the controversial AU Falcon came its long wheelbase sibling. For the first time the Fairlane/LTD duo shared their model code - AU - with the Falcon they were based on. Despite the new model, the Fairlane couldn't revive its large luxury domination of years gone by, succumbing to increased competition from Holden. A Series II model and various limited edition packs didn't improve sales substantially.

2003
The BA Fairlane came shortly after the arrival of the heavily-revised BA Falcon. Criticised for not offering enough differentiation from the Falcon it was based on, the Fairlane continued to struggle in an increasingly competitive market. A new V8 also arrived with the BA giving the Fairlane more power than ever before.

2005
Ford hints at a North American revival of the Fairlane nameplate. At January’s Detroit motor show the company unveiled the Fairlane concept car, a crossover between a four-wheel-drive-style wagon and a family car. So far the Fairlane concept has not proceeded to production.

2007
Battling flagging sales, Ford is forced to revaluate one of its oldest and longest-running nameplates. On Thursday, May 10, Ford Australia president Tom Gorman ends the speculation, announcing the Fairlane and LTD will be discontinued.

Related Thread: Ford Fairlane's Future Hangs In The Balance

[give_it_all_]

Other than a large history to the car, doesn't seem like a big loss. It doesn't look very modern.

[JoeT]

That's is one of the main reasons it's sales were so low compared to the Holden Statesman/Caprice range over the last decade.
That, and a lack of the export opportunities Holden was given by GM. Holden is powering on while Ford Aust slowly dies.

Ford Australia has been suffering from the mistakes of the best forgotten AU Falcon/Fairlane project for nine years now.
Ford has no one to blame but themselves for the death of one of Australia's iconic vehicles. It's a sad day in our nations proud motoring history.

[VB3.3]

Originally Posted by give_it_all_

Other than a large history to the car, doesn't seem like a big loss. It doesn't look very modern.

You maybe right but I had a look on the Ford US website and I think the Fairlane compared to the Crown victoria looks light years more advanced.

Did I read right or does the Crownvic have a watts linkage rear suspension?

http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/crownvictoria/

It's a shame this car is being axed, but I guess it's a casualty of the AU debacle. Ford had to spend so much money on the BA to fix the AU they didn't have enough left over to differentiate the Fairlane from the Falcon. Then of course the Territory was the last nail in the coffin.

[Ed753]

WOW, can someone say "1992 Taurus" Look at the doors.

[VB3.3]

Ford has no one to blame but themselves for the death of one of Australia's iconic vehicles. It's a sad day in our nations proud motoring history. [/quote]

You are dead right, the Au was a shocking design and so are its derivatives bar the Territory. The Falcon wagon is suffering because it's ugly. I thought Ford would have learned after the last Laser they designed, they had the best selling small car ruined the design and they had to kill it and switch to importing.

It's amazing to look how far Holden has come with Statesman when you look at the VQ and the lead Fairlane/LTD had over Holden.

[camaro_freak]

Originally Posted by Ed753

WOW, can someone say "1992 Taurus" Look at the doors.

exactly what I was thinking! Extrapolate Taurus design cues into a full size rear drive vehicle and voila!

[Cabana Boy]

Should we really be sad. That thing is not good looking at all.

[RedVee8]

Shame it got to this point but really, would you want to but one? It seems no-one did except the premium taxis and hire car people.
It was an icon, now just a relic.

[JoeT]

Originally Posted by Ed753

WOW, can someone say "1992 Taurus" Look at the doors.

Funny you say that, as that's what the disastrous AU Falcon was modeled on.
It was to give Ford a 'global design' theme.... of death!!!

1996 Ford Taurus


1998 Ford Falcon

[smk4565]

I don't think anyone will miss that, it looks dated, possibly worse than the Crown Vic. This is like the Chrysler New Yorker or Buick Roadmaster dying, no one will miss it.

Maybe they will use the Fairlane name for the Flex SUV/van/CUV thing.

[AZian]

This is certainly a good thing. Now ford can focus on engineering products that are more space-efficient, fuel-efficient, and practical in today's market.

[DuSpinnst]

Originally Posted by AZian

This is certainly a good thing. Now ford can focus on engineering products that are more space-efficient, fuel-efficient, and practical in today's market.

Why does everyone think "Fuel-Efficient" means modern Engineering? As a young engineer I take offense to such inferences.

[superstreet]

Originally Posted by JoeT

Funny you say that, as that's what the disastrous AU Falcon was modeled on.
It was to give Ford a 'global design' theme.... of death!!!

1996 Ford Taurus


1998 Ford Falcon

i dont think so

[redimpss5]

We have not seen a Fairlane in 30 years or so.