Issue 54 – 1965 Ford Falcon XP Hardtop.
As part of a premier series of 1:43 scale diecast replicas, this issue celebrates the legendary vehicles that defined Australian motoring. Arriving in 1965 to rescue the Falcon's reputation, the XP introduced a new torque-box subframe that transformed the car's toughness — a claim Ford proved by running five XPs around the clock for nine days on a punishing outback track, setting 49 Australian endurance records. The gamble paid off: the XP became the first local car to take out Wheels magazine's Car of the Year, and the sleek, pillarless Hardtop remains the most sought-after body style in the range.
For a collector, this model tells the story of a Falcon that earned its stripes the hard way.
