1969 Ford XT Fairmont wagon - Toybox

By: Guy Allen, Photography by: Muscle Car Warehouse

Date: 29.09.2019

Old family cruiser brings back simpler times

Get out of a modern Ford and into this and you could be forgiven for feeling you’ve been transported to another planet. Until you come face-to-face with one of these things, it’s easy to forget just how basic and simple they really are. And that’s the basis of much of their appeal.

The American styling influence is strong

This cruiser, a 1969 XT Ford Fairmont, was a step up from the basic pack of the day with bucket seats and a radio. In the snout you have the 3.6lt straight six matched to a three-speed auto.

Essentially a facelift model from the ‘Mustang-bred’ XR, it ran with a cleaner grille, horizontal rear indicators and distinct badging.

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Drum brakes were standard both ends, though you could opt for a disc front and power steering. At the time a standard Falcon sedan would have set you back around $2600, plus $100 for a radio, while a Fairmont wagon would have been substantially more.

The big competition claim to fame for the XT series was a team win in the London to Sydney marathon of 1968, with three GTs taking third, fifth and eighth.

Cream interior looks inviting

Mechanical parts for these cars are plentiful and they are pretty easy to keep going. Some body and trim items can be tricky, though there is of course a burgeoning industry covering reproduction parts.

This car caught our eye for a few reasons. First and perhaps most importantly, it looks complete, very close to stock and in good condition. The burgundy and cream colour scheme suits the period and we love the period accessory front sunvisor.

Big comfy buckets and simple dash layout

We’re told it had a doors-shut respray at some stage in its life, in the original colours, while the rest of the car seems untouched.

You can find it at Muscle Car Warehouse in Sydney. We reckon there’s a bit of appeal to loading it up and driving it back home, the long way…

Musclecarwarehouse.com.au

1969 XT Ford fairmont specs

ENGINE 3618cc Inline-six-cylinder.
POWER 101kW @4400rpm
TORQUE 282Nm @ 2400rpm
GEARBOX 3-speed automatic
BRAKES drums (front & rear)
SUSPENSION Independent, MacPherson struts, Anti-roll bar (f), Live axle, semi-elliptic
leaf springs, tube shocks (r)

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