The EF Ford Falcon was released in 1994. Here is a bit of a snapshot of what things were like and what things costs in Australia at that time. The landscape has changed a lot since the EF was first released and it is interesting to see where things were back then vs how they are today. Where were you when the EF Falcon was first released?
Cost of a new Ford EF Falcon
- Base sedan models started at approximately $27,000–$28,000
- GLi and Futura models ranged from $29,000–$31,000
- Performance XR6 and XR8 variants could exceed $36,000
Price of a Ford NF Fairlane
- Base NF Fairlane sedan started at around $38,000–$40,000
- Higher-spec models could exceed $45,000, offering premium interiors, climate control, leather upholstery, and luxury technology features
Cost of a Ford DF LTD
- Base DF LTD models started at approximately $48,000–$50,000
- The LTD remained Ford Australia’s executive flagship, providing top-of-the-line comfort, luxury appointments, and advanced features for the era
Average wage
- Average weekly wage: about $750–$770 per week
- Average annual wage: about $39,000–$40,000
Average house price
- Around $190,000–$195,000
Price of petrol
- Around $1.15 per litre
Prime Minister
- Paul Keating (Labor Party)
Population of Australia
- About 17.7 million people
Top-grossing movie
- Forrest Gump, The Lion King, and Speed were major hits in Australia and internationally
Top song
- The Sign by Ace of Base topped Australian charts
Significant world event
- The 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer were a global highlight
- Advances in technology and the internet were beginning to transform business, media, and personal life
Popular TV / radio in Australia
- Home and Away, Neighbours, and Hey Hey It’s Saturday dominated Australian television
- FM radio stations continued to drive pop music culture, shaping car marketing and youth trends
Significant Australian news story
- Economic recovery, technological adoption, and consumer confidence shaped domestic headlines
- Vehicle buyers increasingly valued luxury, performance, and safety, which influenced Falcon, Fairlane, and LTD sales
Interesting comparisons
- The EF Falcon cost roughly 0.7 of a year’s average wage, XR6/XR8 variants approached 0.9–1 year’s average wage
- The average house cost about 5 times a yearly wage
- Filling the ~70L tank in a Falcon cost about $80, while Fairlane and LTD tanks could cost $90–$100
- A week’s wages could buy roughly 610–620 litres of petrol