1972 Ford Falcon 500 XY 4×4
Developed as a potential light truck for the Australian Army to replace underpowered Land Rovers, the XY 4×4 ute used proven Jeep drivetrain hardware (including a Dana front axle and Spicer two-speed transfer case) grafted onto Ford’s unibody Falcon platform.
When the military contract fell through, Ford produced a civilian run of 432 examples, assembled at the Brisbane plant in a dedicated program separate from the main production line.
Finished in white with a chrome front bumper and black rear bumper, the Falcon 500 XY 4×4 presents a purposeful, workmanlike appearance, sitting noticeably higher than a standard ute thanks to the raised suspension required to accommodate the front axle conversion.
Power comes from the 250 ci (4.1-liter) overhead-valve inline-six producing approximately 155 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque, paired with a Borg-Warner three-speed manual gearbox.
The engine is canted slightly to clear the front differential. With relatively few of the original 432 believed to survive, these seldom come to market.
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