The XR Ford Falcon was released in 1966. It was the first Ford Falcon to offer Australian buyers a V8. 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 XR was first released and it is interesting to see where things were back then vs how they are today. Where were you when the XR Falcon was first released?
Cost of a new Ford XR Falcon
- Starting price: approximately $2,900–$3,200
- Regal models were around $3,500–$4,000 depending on options
- The XR introduced the Falcon GT, Australia’s first mass-produced muscle car, starting at about $3,800–$4,200.
The XR was a major redesign, featuring new, more aggressive styling, improved suspension, and the first Australian-built V8 Falcon. It became a milestone in Australian automotive history.
Average wage
- Average weekly wage: about $50–$55 per week
- Average annual wage: about $2,600–$2,900
Average house price
- Around $10,000–$11,000
Price of petrol
- Around 8–9 cents per litre
Prime Minister
- Harold Holt (Liberal Party)
Population of Australia
- About 11.8 million people
Top-grossing movie
- The Sound of Music remained hugely popular in Australia, along with Alfie and A Man for All Seasons.
Top song
- Paperback Writer by The Beatles was one of the biggest hits in Australia.
Significant world event
- Australia increased troop commitment to Vietnam, and the war was a growing social issue domestically.
- Space exploration continued, with early satellite missions capturing public imagination.
Popular TV / radio in Australia
- Homicide and Division 4 remained popular.
- Bandstand continued to influence youth culture.
- Variety shows and imported dramas dominated evening schedules.
Significant Australian news story
- Vietnam War and national service debates were major news stories.
- Post-war suburban growth and rising car ownership continued to define Australian life.
Interesting comparisons
These comparisons help place the XR Falcon into everyday Australian life:
- The XR base model cost roughly one year’s average wage, while the GT represented a high-performance option costing around 1.5 times the yearly wage
- The average house cost about 4 times annual income
- Filling the ~55L tank cost about $5
- A week’s wages could buy roughly 550–600 litres of petrol
- The XR GT kickstarted Australia’s muscle car era, competing directly with Holden Monaro and Chrysler Valiant Charger