Who designed the xa /xb series ??? - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

02-21-2005, 23:45

hello out there.

I am interested in the history of these models and how they came to be,if they were based on american models and adapted for Australia? does anyone know names of people that designed them in Australia?,

Thanks.

xagt_coupe · 02-22-2005, 00:03

I suggest investing in a couple of books. The Spotlight series should be a good start, and also True Blue, 75 years of Ford in Australia by Bill Tuckey, A History of the Ford Motor Company by Geoff Easdown and the Falcon Story by the same Author. These books will give you all the info you need.

xcgxl · 02-22-2005, 01:09

Dont trust the TRUE BLUE book, its FULL of mistakes. (eg: they show a picture of a sidevalve six and call it the "NEW Falcon engine") And the Falcon book calls the GXL a GLX (if its the one Im thinking of)
Otherwise I would have bought them myself when they came out.

02-22-2005, 03:15

Okay thanks for the help.

JG33PY · 02-22-2005, 14:30

Jack Telnack, Brian Rossi & Allan Jackson are probably the names you're looking for.
quote from Rossi :
"i do know they (head office Dearborn) suggested we might cut costs by producing a short wheel based version of the American Torino. we did a quick model and showed that it wouldn't work. the Torino had longer flowing fenders. when the front overhang was shortened, it just looked compromised."
the first clays were done over there because at the time Aus didn't have a studio.

you'll find more of this, in the book "a history of the Ford motor company in Australia"

Road runner · 02-22-2005, 17:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by nak302

Jack Telnack, Brian Rossi & Allan Jackson are probably the names you're looking for.
quote from Rossi :
"i do know they (head office Dearborn) suggested we might cut costs by producing a short wheel based version of the American Torino. we did a quick model and showed that it wouldn't work. the Torino had longer flowing fenders. when the front overhang was shortened, it just looked compromised."
the first clays were done over there because at the time Aus didn't have a studio.

you'll find more of this, in the book "a history of the Ford motor company in Australia"

Brian Rossi was the guy who apparently sketched the XA Coupe on a restaurant bill or napkin while discussing ideas during a meal in South Yarra, and the design never really changed that much afterwards

JG33PY · 02-22-2005, 20:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road runner

Brian Rossi was the guy who apparently sketched the XA Coupe on a restaurant bill or napkin while discussing ideas during a meal in South Yarra, and the design never really changed that much afterwards

sounds similar to how it happened with the first mustangs.

Dmax · 02-22-2005, 23:56

I've always thought they were a derivitive of the 70-73 Mustangs as from they front they look very much the same, bonnet and grills etc.

xcgxl · 02-22-2005, 23:57

Torino

CoupeCruiser09 · 02-23-2005, 13:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmax

I've always thought they were a derivitive of the 70-73 Mustangs as from they front they look very much the same, bonnet and grills etc.

XB used front end styling Qs from the Mustang....XA had Qs from US Failane circa 69. Rest of the body takes Qs from Torino (i.e. window line, rear end). The XA/XBs remain to be quite a different overally package in terms of dimensions. Didn't we have this subject recently on another thread...!

See here: http://www.aus-ford-uk.co.uk/html/details8.html

Here's a good shot of a Torino from the rear...