A Look Back at the 1978 Ford Falcon XC Cobra
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- Опубликовано: 16 май 2024
- The 1978 Ford Falcon XC Cobra is a celebrated model in the lineage of Australian muscle cars, blending aggressive styling with potent performance. As a limited-edition variant of the Falcon XC Hardtop, only 400 units were produced, each sporting a distinctive white and blue racing stripe paint scheme that paid homage to the American Shelby Mustangs.
Under the hood, the Cobra offered robust engine options, of 4.9L and 5.8L V8’s, which provided a powerful driving experience. Its design featured flared wheel arches, a rear spoiler, and unique badging, all contributing to its bold and sporty appearance.
The Cobra's interiors were equally impressive, with bucket seats, a sports steering wheel, and special Cobra insignias enhancing its exclusivity.
The XC Cobra's release marked a significant moment in Australian automotive history, coming at a time when the local car industry was under pressure from increasing fuel costs and emissions regulations.
Despite these challenges, the Cobra stood out for its performance and flair, earning a revered status among car enthusiasts and collectors. Its racing pedigree was cemented by its involvement in touring car championships, where it showcased its speed and agility on the track.
Today, the 1978 Ford Falcon XC Cobra is not only a symbol of Australian muscle car heritage but also a highly sought-after classic, prized for its rarity, historical significance, and the raw driving pleasure it delivers.
#fordfalcon #cobra #fordcobra
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I'm very lucky to be the caretaker of Cobra number 355 that's all original and unrestored which is in Immaculate condition here in Pennsylvania USA from what I found out so far there's only two in the United States and the other one is not roadworthy so it is definitely a very very rare car to begin with but here in the United States it's definitely a unicorn and people just go crazy over it when I take it the shows I do have to say one thing these cars handle and drive incredible far out classing anything built in America in this era
Hello and Thanks for your Comment and telling me about your Cobra.
I was born in 1969. The Ford Cobra was my absolute dream car as a 10 year old
I had a Cobra about 30 years ago…. I wish I never sold it.
Hello and Thanks for your Comment.
Great video,thanks very much.
Hello and Thanks for your Comment, it is much appreciated.
I worked at a Ford dealer back then. I remember when the new XD Falcon came out. I was disappointed that there was no more 2 doors!
Stephen, hello and thanks for your comment. I agree, you can't beat a two door hard top.
Grew up with xt ute,my own xy ute 2v 4 speed. My grandfathers xw sedan bench column shift and only had to let go of an xw wagon 2 years ago 😢. But the xb, xc coupe was and always will be the dream car❤
Darren, hello and totally agree, the XA, XB and XC 2-door Coupes were definitely the cars to have.
XD was also available as a utility, panel van and long wheel base Fairlane and LTD models.
this is far better looking than anything ford north america made in 78 by a landslide
Hello and Thanks for your Comment, I agree, all that was available and similar at that time was the LTD II.
What a load of cobras
Paul hello and thanks, indeed a lot of Cobra's 4.9 and 5.8's
Unfortunately that didnt save all of the hartop shells...about 90 ended up stacked on a vacant lot behind a farmhouse near ford HQ waiting to go to the crusher...i remember them stacked on top of each other and they could be seen from the highway !
Hello and thanks for your comment. That's interesting, because when I looked at this, the numbers didn't add up, so now I know what happened to all the body shells. Thanks for telling me that and appreciated.
Economics. They might have made you a mint forty years later, but they weren't going to make Ford any money.
Yup those 351s sure used to sound good idling at the lights with the air sucking through those 4 barrel carbs.
Steve, Hello and Thanks for your Comment. Those V8's do Sound Good.
My uncle bought number 124 brand new. Wish he still had it. Not all cobras were 351 either. Half of them were the 302
Steve, Hello and Thanks for your Comment. That would have been a Car to have now. Cheers.
Less than 40 were 351's actually, so over 300 where 302 Cleveland powered. Only the 351 had the extra scoop on the bonnet.
5.4 liters is 331 cubic inches, not 302.
Hello and Thanks for your Comment. You're Right about the Litres to Cubic Inches, but regarding the 2007 Falcon, this applies to its Power and not its capacity. It was 302kw or 405hp. They wanted to keep the 302 Moniker as a connection to the Original Falcon. Hope this clears things up.
Hello and Thanks for your Comment. If you are talking about the Option 97 Cars, which were 351 (5.8) with Bonnet Scoops, that's right, but from my references, they produced 30 cars (No's 2-31). Hope this helps.
I remember when the white and blue Falcon two door Cobras were created in the late 1970s. At the time, it was reported in the media that Ford had a glut of two door falcons and didn't know how to sell them. A Ford Exec came out from USA and examined the problem, he immediately instigated creating the Falcon Cobra to sell the remaining hardtop two doors. Never see them on the road these days. Have not seen one these Aussie cobras for many years
That’s depressing to read.😭😭😭
true. it is said edsel ford came up with the idea to help shift product. they had already tried the cobra striping theme on the mustang in the usa in 1976. you see them rarely on weekends and car shows nowadays.
Hello, thanks for your comment, it's a shame that you don't get to see such a Classic more.
Keith, Hello and thanks for your comment. It's a terrible Shame that not more are around.
Steven, hello and thanks for your comment. I agree, very depressing.
XD Falcons were also available as a ute and panel van
Chris, Hello and Thanks for your Comment. That's interesting, I didn't know that.
@@WheeleyInteresting You in Australia? If you were you would likely know this.
@@WheeleyInteresting All Australian Falcons had an option as a ute or panel van from XK-XF then XG looked like a XF but had EB and ED running gear. The the XH which had EF running gear, And look like a EF from the firewall forward.
Well done, well covered although the choice of photo's were a bit sketchy, there are plenty of better examples out there online. Sometimes you were showing XB Falcons rather than XC's (Black & White XB production line photo)
You must forgive him...hes a pom...but he did a pretty good job. oy guvna !
Hello and thanks for your comment. Well spotted in regard to the XB Falcon Production Line at Broadmeadows. I searched high and low trying to find something similar, but with the XC, and after a lot of searching, I unfortunately couldn't, so decided to use this one to show the interior of Broadmeadows.
Hello and thanks for your comment, much appreciated me Old China.
Holden had to do a similar thing to flog off 600 their unloved two door body shells. Theirs was called the Holden LE coupe and it was pretty much a fully loaded two door limo. Chrysler where the only ones to have any real success in this market with their Charger.
I remember a shearer owning one of these ... i felt truly sorry for that LE coupe, from the flogging he gave to it to the gravel roads that it travelled
Hello and thanks for your comment. That's Interesting, I never knew that and appreciate you telling that.
@@WheeleyInterestinghey up mate you forgot the landou not sure years it was made through
John, Hello and thanks for your Comment. I thought the hardtop Landau’s were more luxury oriented. Cheers,
@@WheeleyInteresting hey mate yes they were, sort of like LTDs but they did make them as a two door, same shell with a different front
No Mad Max themed versions of these cars? Wouldn't they have flown right off the dealers lots?
Hello and Thanks for your Comment. I agree, Ford missed a trick there, because if that had brought out Mad Max Versions, I am sure that these would have sold like hot cakes.
Probably too worried after Ford got reamed when the "supercar scare" hit the headlines. That was their biggest issue as you can see HP figures are well down from the XY GTHO days
Did he just say Holden Torano?
Hello and I know it's spelt "Torana", but this is my London accent getting the best of me. Thanks,
And yet you didn't mention the gxl, which was essentially a GT in disguise 😉
not quite. more of a tourer, really.
Hello and Thanks for your Comment and point made.
Hello and Thanks for your Comment and Point.
We Owned cobra number 347 never should have sold the old girl...😭😭😭
V8, eh? Last of the interceptors?
Hello and Thanks for your Comment, it really was.
Never heard of a Holden Tarno
Hello and Thanks for your Comment. I know the Spelling is "Torana", but I am afraid that this is my London accent kicking in.
@@WheeleyInteresting
You sound like a bot voice...why not at least try to find an Australian in a London pub to narrate this Aussie focused vid?
John, Hello and Thanks for your Comment. That's the sound of Concentration, but I will try to do better next time.
Ferd XD
The XD's were Okay, but I myself much preferred the 2-Door Coupes of the XA, XA & XC series.
Pity the HP was so poor, typical of American engines
Hello and thanks for your comment. Unfortunately, this was the time when Ford began choking the life out of there V8's.
Yes the emmision controls at the time killed the horsepower, most of us soon sorted that out with Holleys, cams and headers. 🤣
Nah it was the supercar scare that hit the papers right before the XA came along. The big three were forced to tone down performance by the government. That's why only 4 XA GTHO Phase 4's were ever made then the pin was pulled. You're talking from 400HP to 200HP basically overnight.
@@WheeleyInterestingWas the same for Holden as well.
The 351 Cleveland V8 was built in Australia by November , 1971 .
None of the above spec engines were imported from then .
XC was the last decent Aussie Falcon. Plastic garbage and bland styling ruled from the XD on, to the end in 2016.
Hello and Thanks for your Comment. I agree the XC Hardtop was definitely a car to have.
We Owned cobra number 347 never should have sold the old girl...😭😭😭
Hello and Thanks for your Comment. The really would have been a Car to Keep.