Classic Ford TV Commercials

[DFB FGXR6]

I had a look but couldn't see an existing thread for this topic. For some reason, at the moment I'm feeling very nostalgic for the AU Falcon era.

The following TV commercial popped up in my Instagram feed today, funny how they know exactly what I'm thinking. Circa 1998/1999, the commercial was based around the XR6 VCT sedan, arguably the most sophisticated version of the AU Falcon as it got the 172-kW version of the new VCT engine (Fairmont Ghia and Fairlane used a 168-kW version with a quieter exhaust), the Adaptive Shift 4-speed auto and the brilliant sport-tuned double wishbone IRS. This particular car was heavily optioned with 17-inch Tickford wheels, Tickford body kit with the Bi-Plane spoiler and a Momo steering wheel.

Performance technology that's ahead of itself..................



Quiz Time - Can anyone explain the link between the tag line and the visual?

When the TV commercial was made, Ford didn't offer the AU XR6/XR8 in silver, which would have been Alaskan Frost. Story was, Ford kept getting requests for silver XR's as depicted in the commercial. Eventually, AU series one XR sedans and utes were later offered in the new Liquid Silver, which replaced Alaskan Frost. For the AU II, Ford went on to use Liquid Silver for a lot of the marketing images for the XR8.

[None-ya]

Jet engine sound effect is used yet it shows the mighty AU doing 100k/h. Lol

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by None-ya

Jet engine sound effect is used yet it shows the mighty AU doing 100k/h. Lol

No, next guess..............

[DFB FGXR6]

This was the original AU Falcon launch commercial.



This commercial is quite strange to me. Usually, a car company will pick a flagship model to fully showcase the vehicle, but for some reason, they used the base model Forte sedan for this commercial. Even weirder, they depict the Forte having IRS, which was actually a factory option, but how many people or fleet managers paid the extra $1400 for IRS on a Forte, which also required the $990 ABS option?

The above would be the equivalent of Ford using the XL single cab chassis Ranger with an alloy tray to advertise the Ranger today..................yeah, because they would rather sell low profit povo models over the overpriced show ponies. Different times, or just another example of Ford's lack of awareness when it came to the AU Falcon and how the public perceived it?

I was only just getting into cars when the AU Falcon launched and have very little recognition of this commercial at the time. However, I do remember it being used as an into to the documentary they funded for the 75th Anniversary of Ford Australia. Same for the XR6 commercial in the opening post. Watched that DVD many, many times.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/33502069...oZwEOMF1d-qEHy

[DFB FGXR6]

Continuing on the AU theme, the AU Fairlane was launched in March 1999, followed by the LTD in June 1999. A total of 5129 AU Fairlanes and 438 LTD's were made between Mar-1999 and May-2000.



Rounding out the AU launch was the new AU Falcon Ute in June 1999. Where the sedans failed to gain traction, the Ute was incredibly successful for Ford. At the time, Ford were making some great TV commercials for the Ute................





The following were made later, no way these would fly in todays PC culture.

Always loved this one. "Falcon Ute! It's Unbelievable!"



"Must be stuck in third..................
"




And while we are on Falcon Ute, the following is my favorite, only because of the last couple of seconds when that Boss 260 started to roar..................



Quiz Time - Can anyone pick what's incorrect about the Phantom Purple XR8 used in this commercial?

[uranium_death]

Ford Laser from the 90s. In my family, I was effectively the .3 (I'm the younger twin), and I looked like this kid as well. My older brother constantly reminded me that I was a twerp.


youtu.be/jNNIJBiSyAs?si=sEwufj2qVz1nRuh



Edit: How do I get these videos to work? What's the secret?

[Adamz Ghia]

From AU onwards they really knew how to advertise the ute. They were always the best commercials.

I thought the We Have Ignition campaign always copped an undeserved hammering. It was a theme right across the range and you always knew who the commercials belonged to before the Ford badge popped up. And the commercials for it were pretty good too.

https://youtu.be/csG21kJBNjA?si=rsbShYmywpxvWlW_

[Adamz Ghia]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Continuing on the AU theme, the AU Fairlane was launched in March 1999, followed by the LTD in June 1999. A total of 5129 AU Fairlanes and 438 LTD's were made between Mar-1999 and May-2000.



Rounding out the AU launch was the new AU Falcon Ute in June 1999. Where the sedans failed to gain traction, the Ute was incredibly successful for Ford. At the time, Ford were making some great TV commercials for the Ute................





The following were made later, no way these would fly in todays PC culture.

Always loved this one. "Falcon Ute! It's Unbelievable!"



"Must be stuck in third..................
"




And while we are on Falcon Ute, the following is my favorite, only because of the last couple of seconds when that Boss 260 started to roar..................



Quiz Time - Can anyone pick what's incorrect about the Phantom Purple XR8 used in this commercial?

The bonnet has the original bulge.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Adamz Ghia

The bonnet has the original bulge.

We have a winner!


I always loved that original bulge, made the car look even more aggressive. I think they had to smooth it out because it created more drag for the race cars. A number of pre-production press images used those hoods.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Adamz Ghia

From AU onwards they really knew how to advertise the ute. They were always the best commercials.

I thought the We Have Ignition campaign always copped an undeserved hammering. It was a theme right across the range and you always knew who the commercials belonged to before the Ford badge popped up. And the commercials for it were pretty good too.

https://youtu.be/csG21kJBNjA?si=rsbShYmywpxvWlW_

Wow! I've never seen that one, thanks for posting it.

I always loved that "We Have Ignition" graphic with the explosion sound at the end.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by uranium_death

Ford Laser from the 90s. In my family, I was effectively the .3 (I'm the younger twin), and I looked like this kid as well. My older brother constantly reminded me that I was a twerp.


youtu.be/jNNIJBiSyAs?si=sEwufj2qVz1nRuh



Edit: How do I get these videos to work? What's the secret?

When you post links into the Youtube tab, you only use the final number/letter sequence after the = sign. So for the following link, you would only use jNNIJBiSyAs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNNIJBiSyAs



Sometimes there will be another set of numbers after a & sign, ignore those.

[Adamz Ghia]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

We have a winner!


I always loved that original bulge, made the car look even more aggressive. I think they had to smooth it out because it created more drag for the race cars. A number of pre-production press images used those hoods

A few made it out into the wild, there used to be a few getting around Geelong.

[Adamz Ghia]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Wow! I've never seen that one, thanks for posting it.

I always loved that "We Have Ignition" graphic with the explosion sound at the end.

image

It’s my favourite era, the last time they tried to be different and not just blend in with everyone else.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Performance technology that's ahead of itself..................



Quiz Time - Can anyone explain the link between the tag line and the visual?

Ok, so no one had the answer to the quiz, the visual link to the tag line was subtle. In the last 10-seconds of the commercial, as the Falcon accelerates off into the sunset, it starts to move ahead of its shadow......................."Performance technology that's ahead of itself".