Ford Fairmont
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Ford Fairmont is a name that has been used for two unrelated models of automobile; one in Australia and one in North America.
Australia
In Australia, the Ford Fairmont is a large car built by Ford Australia as a more luxurious version of the Falcon. It was first built in 1966 and has been through many incarnations. As of 2004, it remains in production.
North America
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In the United States, the Ford Fairmont was an all-new, rear wheel drive compact car introduced in the North American market for 1978 and sold through 1983.
The Fairmont was the first vehicle built off the Ford Fox platform, which would be the basis for numerous other models later, such as the second-generation downsized Thunderbird, the '79-2004 Mustang, and in 1982 the downsized Lincoln Continental. The Fairmont generally replaced the Ford Granada and at introduction was twinned up with the equivalent Mercury Zephyr. (However, for 1980 and 1981, a Fox-based second-generation Granada was briefly produced.)
Standard coupe, sedan, and wagon bodies appeared at introduction, joined slightly later by a specialty coupe known as the Futura, a name which had first appeared in the Ford Falcon line 15 years before. The Fairmont Futura offered an unusual two-piece vinyl roof with an upswept central roof band, which was somewhat like that offered on the late-’70s Thunderbirds.
The Fairmont's front end differed from the Zephyr's own at the time of their introduction. While the Zephyr always had four headlights, the Fairmont got by with only two. However, in later years, the Fairmont received the four-headlight treatment as well.
A wide variety of engines were available, including four, six, and V-8 configurations. The Futura briefly offered a turbocharged four.
The Fairmont earned good reviews and was successful, but as average vehicle sizes continued to shrink, Ford's marketers evidently decided the vehicle needed a more "upmarket" image to remain competitive. For 1984, coupes were discontinued and the sedan and wagon were reskinned and rebadged as the Ford LTD, previously the name of Ford's full-size car. For that vehicle, the LTD Crown Victoria name was introduced. In place of the now defunct "downmarket" Fairmont, Ford introduced the Tempo in the 1984 model year.
External links
- Fairmont enthusiast page (http://stuartscustoms.freeyellow.com/Fairmont.html)
- Fox platform specifications (http://www.yonderway.com/sleepers/foxspecs.shtml)