Confirmed: Fairlane Dead & Buried

[matt.vzss]

Ford Aus have just confirmed to dealers that the fairlane & ltd will cease production at the beginning of 2008 just prior to the release of the new orion.

Good news for holden as the market just got easier but not good news allround for the Australian Car industry IMO.

Matt

[spank]

the rumor that lwb fords will be only available as imports has been floating around for some time now, and now its finally going to happen. i wonder what well get, lincolns?

[Black_Utester]

Good news for holden as the market just got easier but not good news allround for the Australian Car industry IMO.

Matt

But not really good for future competition in this class of vehicle though. You need competition to push the boundaries of the manufactures.

[Caprice270]

If we get Lincolns that would be fantastic! Would add a nice bit of variety.

The demise of the LWB Ford's is a direct result of Ford making a substandard effort in the BA facelift. In an era where LWB designs are heading in the direction of the 300C, Ford went for the grandpa look and has been punished by the market.

Ford being Ford, they have preferred to drop these models from the line-up rather than provide the market with something exciting and worth buying.

[brentonsav]

it wont make much diff to the market anyway. does anyone buy these things anymore anyway? they have been a long way off the pace for a while now, ever since the WH statesman was released

[Danv8]

I see bugger all BA/BF Fairlanes and I havent even seen 1 BA/BF LTD on the road.
The LTD looks underdone and overpriced compared to the new Caprice.

[matt.vzss]

They have been averaging around 260 cars per month for the LWB models so in comparison th the Holden Versions they are well off the pace.

But if they had built a product that appealled to more people like the statey and caprice now do i think they could have done quite well out it.

[XCLUB]

Not a good outlook for Ford Australia and the people they employ. Just the tip of the iceberg concerning them I'm afraid...

[chops]

I tend to see more stretched LWB Fords than the Holden variants here in SA.
Are they easier/cheaper to do?

Looks like that may change, but it will be interesting to see what they bring in as a replacement.

[seldo]

I tend to see more stretched LWB Fords than the Holden variants here in SA.
Are they easier/cheaper to do?

Looks like that may change, but it will be interesting to see what they bring in as a replacement.
Because of their dismal resale they mean a cheaper capital cost to start with

[volt]

I see bugger all BA/BF Fairlanes and I havent even seen 1 BA/BF LTD on the road.

They look so much like a standard SWB Falcon, would you know if you had seen one?

[csv rulz]

Its a shame the fairlane is dead. Isnt the fairlane nameplate like the longest running in aus?

My opinion is that ford havnt made a nice looking fairlane since EL. The BA/BF fairlane looks way to much like a standard falcon.

[mac06]

If it wasn't for the fact that Holden exports so many Caprice they would have to consider doing the same. The market in Oz is not big enough for such an investment in engineering.

[Danv8]

They look so much like a standard SWB Falcon, would you know if you had seen one?

Slightly different rear end, its slightly longer and the badges.

[Venom XR]

I've seen them, guess it depends what you look for.

[O5BRKY]

Yeah see them now and again, and like a lot have send, Ford should have changed them a bit more from the SWB models.

Ashame that there gone, but that's what happens to named cars after a while.

[Caprice270]

I actually dont mind the LTD and Fairlane, but they are not appealing enough to buy. When I get in BA/BF LWB model I'm always impressed. But in a time where even a Honda Accord Euro can look flash with a few chrome highlights, the LTD needed to be going new places, pushing the boundaries of whats expected of a true luxury car.

Unfortunately it stuck to the same old formula, offering equipment levels no better than a top of the line Camry. This issue contributed to its demise in equal proportion to its grandpa exterior styling.

[planetdavo]

But not really good for future competition in this class of vehicle though. You need competition to push the boundaries of the manufactures.
WM Statesman/Caprice wouldn't be so good if they didn't have massive exports. Overseas, there are about five variants from memory. That is what is pushing the boundaries...
As for the lack of progress, Ford had several problems.
Firstly, no exports to boost the sales. That translates to a fairly small number of sales for the outlay.
Secondly, Ford spent a massive amount of money updating AU to BA. They had virtually nothing left, so no surprise it has about the same number of differences that the VQ Statesman had to the VN Commodore (also a car that had little money left to develop it).
Thirdly, to most people, it has the image of a grandpa car, whereas this segment has moved more toward a sports/luxury style buyer. To many people, the Fairlane/LTD look like a stretched taxi or a hire car.
True, it would be better for the industry to have the model, but it contributes so few sales these days that it's helping almost no one anymore.
Unless Ford US ditch their ancient models from the export markets, we wont have another local Fairlane.

[Stevotski]

i am not too worried about lack of compettion as the 300C will keep Holden honest and keep them developing the vehicles (not to mention features demanded in export models that should filter through to the au models)

[Caprice270]

All these comments about the WM being viable only because of exports make no sense. How did the WH-WL series survive on lower domestic sales volumes if this is the case? They were equally differentiated from the SWB cars and still proved successful.

Ford got the styling wrong, thats all there is to it (IMO).

[mustanger]

I think that Ford simply ran out of buyers. All those grandpas have passed away.:doh:

[Jac001]

All these comments about the WM being viable only because of exports make no sense. How did the WH-WL series survive on lower domestic sales volumes if this is the case? They were equally differentiated from the SWB cars and still proved successful.

Ford got the styling wrong, thats all there is to it (IMO).



Holden started exporting the WH to the middle east back when it was released 1999, and have been selling 20k+ each year which has allowed holden to survive with low domestic sales during this time.

[Danv8]

I think that Ford simply ran out of buyers. All those grandpas have passed away.:doh:

Nah Toyota lured them in with a trail of chocolate coated laxative's and liquid Mylanta for the Camry's and Aurions. :)

[planetdavo]

All these comments about the WM being viable only because of exports make no sense. How did the WH-WL series survive on lower domestic sales volumes if this is the case? They were equally differentiated from the SWB cars and still proved successful.

Ford got the styling wrong, thats all there is to it (IMO).
You seem to have forotten that you are comparing WM to WH-WL, the very successful models developed for export from the outset, but, due to their success, WM is far better again.
There is zero chance WM would have had longer rear door shells than VE without successful exports.

[Road Warrior]

All these comments about the WM being viable only because of exports make no sense. How did the WH-WL series survive on lower domestic sales volumes if this is the case? They were equally differentiated from the SWB cars and still proved successful.

Ford got the styling wrong, thats all there is to it (IMO).

Ummm because the WH was exported from very early on? Its one of the Middle East's favourite cars because of its size.

The issue with the Fairlane isnt the styling. Well, only partly. It has EVERYTHING to do with a shitty business decision by Ford. A decision not to invest in the segment. They have done this once before remember? 1983? Dropping the V8 from the lineup? A stupid business decision that took nearly 15 years to rectify in many ways.

[Jac001]

There is zero chance WM would have had longer rear door shells than VE without successful exports.

There was a zero chance of WM being developed if their wasn't such a successful export program. You aren't going to spend $150mil just to sell a couple of hundred cars a month..

[planetdavo]

There was a zero chance of WM being developed if their wasn't such a successful export program. You aren't going to spend $150mil just to sell a couple of hundred cars a month..
Correct, but by "successful", I meant the 40,000 export sales per year projection of WM, rather than say "just" 10,000 or so per year of WH to begin with.
Apologies if it looked like I meant "no exports".

[Jac001]

Correct, but by "successful", I meant the 40,000 export sales per year projection of WM, rather than say "just" 10,000 or so per year of WH to begin with.
Apologies if it looked like I meant "no exports".

No Apologises needed. :)

Hanenburger had the right idea of making holden into a "Global Niche Manufacture".

[Ridin-High]

I think it's pretty sad that they have dropped them, Fairlanes & LTD's have been around for yonks..... cool cool cars... bring them back -_-;;

[V-Car]

As many have already said...Holden was handed the WH export market on a platter with the demise of the US Caprice, a luxury Ford Australia was never given by Detroit.
And thats the main reason we still have a Statesman/Caprice, and Ford is losing the Fairlane/LTD.
If Falcon sales dont pick up, they might go the same way also unfortunately.
There just wont be a business case to outlay enough money to develop what would be needed to compete with Holden, and that will be a very sad day for the whole Australian motor industry.
Ford OZ certainly have the engineering expertise to design and build whats needed, but unless they get a big handout from headquarters, which doesnt look likely given their financial situation, and the Mondeo will be the same price as the Vectra was, so that cant really be a volume seller.
Mitsubishi arent selling many 380's either.
The 300C might keep Holden honest to a small extent, but unless they offer something that competes at the fleet or lower medium end of the market, Holden and Toyota will have the market to themselves, and they, especially Toyota, are exporting far more cars than are sold here.
Its a shame that Tonsley Park cant revert back to Chrysler and do what it did with the Valiant in 1962, and start building cars that gave Holden and Falcon a huge kick along.
The Valiant entered the market back then with a 145hp 225ci 6 when the best that Holden could muster was a 75hp 138ci donk.
Surely the RHD 300C and some Jeep models would be just as cheap to build in Adelaide as they are currently at Graz in Austria.


I think it's pretty sad that they have dropped them, Fairlanes & LTD's have been around for yonks..... cool cool cars... bring them back -_-;;

Certainly, it was the Fairlane in 1967 that started the LWB market here.
It wasnt till 1971 that Holden could compete with it with the HQ Statesman.
The Brougham from 1968 was just a standard wheelbase Premier with a tarted up interior and longer boot.
Also, Chrysler had the first V8 here with the 273 in 1966, closely followed by the 289 XR Falcon and ZA Fairlane.

[Danv8]

I think it's pretty sad that they have dropped them, Fairlanes & LTD's have been around for yonks..... cool cool cars... bring them back -_-;;

Sadly wont happen.
They are pretty overpriced for what you get especially the LTD I cant see where that extra $15,000-$20,000 over the fairlane or even the shorter wheelbase Fairmont Ghia.

$75,000+ for the LTD is a joke really compared to the new Caprice V8 in terms in what you get for the $.

[Mikhael]

The writing was on the wall for the Australian car industry years ago as soon as the import tariffs starting coming down..........:cussing:

In the good 'ole days when import tariff's were over 50% majority of Australians bought Australian built cars when Holden, Ford + Chrysler dominated the market...........Ahhhh they were great times, I really miss those days.........

How can Australians build cost competitve cars now with our labour rates, when we are competing with Asian countries who are paying their workers $2 an hour, or some pathetic third world pittance, it sucks.
We are now starting to pay the price for this.............job losses, component supplies going under, etc etc etc :mad:

The Australian automotive landscape has changed forever.

John Howard and his Government have got get their heads out of the sand and preserve what Australian car industry we have left, before it's too late.

We have all lost an icon car of the Australian market today, very sad.
Which one is next .................?

God forbid, but how does white, bland, generic Camry's sound ? appealing?
It's about all that will be left............

How f..king BORING :mad:

[tim_k]

Without getting political, the reason the VE is such a fantastic car is because of the tariff reduced competition. If Holden didn't build a world class car (as we know it has done), then the Commodore may have done the way of the Fairlaine/LTD.

The Camry isn't the only other car on the market and speaking for myself, I'd never buy one anyway. I had to drive one for work and I thought it was rubbish.

[Caprice270]

Ok I was wrong in relation to the WH-WL series being viable without an export program...I forgot the Middle East exports. BUT what about the WB Statesman then? No panel was the same as the Kingswood apart from the front door. How come Holden was able to deliver that car to the market for 4 years?

[V-Car]

How come Holden was able to deliver that car to the market for 4 years?

Because in 1980, there was a decent size market for that type of vehicle, and Ford also was selling a $hitload of Fairlanes at the same time.
The Statesmans (and Kingswood/Premier) were exported as Chevrolets over 30 years before the WH.
Holdens export market was almost as big back then as it is now, and even in 1966, they were exporting to 59 different countries.
From 1954 till 2004, they had exported over 600,000 vehicles.

http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/jsp/corporateinfo/exports/exports.jsp