The XK Ford Falcon was released in 1960. 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 XK was first released and it is interesting to see where things were back then vs how they are today. Where were you when the XK Falcon was first released?
Cost of a new Ford XK Falcon
- Starting price: approximately £1,015–£1,120 (around $2,030–$2,240 after 1966 decimal conversion)
- This was very competitive for a brand-new full-size family sedan, positioned as Ford Australia’s first locally produced Falcon.
Average wage
- Average weekly wage: about $36–$40 per week
- Average annual wage: about $1,900–$2,100
Average house price
- Around $8,000–$9,000
Price of petrol
- Around 7–8 cents per litre
Prime Minister
- Robert Menzies (Liberal Party)
Population of Australia
- About 10.3 million people
Top-grossing movie
- Spartacus was one of the biggest films of 1960 internationally.
- Other popular films included Psycho (Hitchcock) and Exodus.
Top song
- Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini by Brian Hyland was a major international hit and popular on Australian radio.
Significant world event
- The U-2 incident (1960) heightened Cold War tensions between the United States and USSR.
- The “space race” was gaining public attention with early satellite and rocket launches.
Popular TV / radio in Australia
- Television was still very new (introduced 1956). Popular programs included variety shows and imported dramas.
- Radio Top‑40 stations remained a major source of music.
Significant Australian news story
- Australia was experiencing strong post-war economic growth and suburban expansion.
- Infrastructure projects and increasing car ownership were shaping everyday life.
Interesting comparisons
These comparisons help place the XK Falcon into everyday Australian life:
- The XK Falcon cost roughly 1–1.2 times the average yearly wage
- The average house cost about 4–5 times the yearly wage
- Filling the ~50L tank cost about $4
- A week’s wages could buy roughly 500 litres of petrol