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1965 saw the first production of Ford XP's. In April 1965, two months after the XP Falcon was released, Ford marketing staged a very risky stunt. The plan was to run a durability trial using five standard XPs, traveling day and night for 8 days and clocking up 70 000 miles along the new You Yang's proving ground.
The dangerous and scary circuit was all curves and the drivers needed to average 70mph a lap. Tyres kept wearing out, and the drivers often lost control, slamming into boulders and brick walls; several of the cars rolled. The public was hooked and the event was featured every night on the news.
The cars successfully racked up the 70 000 miles in 8 3/4 days. They were bruised and battered but the mechanics still went like clockwork. The public was impressed, and the Falcon began to sell in large numbers. Suddenly, fleet buyers became interested again, and XP won Wheels Car of the Year.
Improvements included more changes to the front and rear suspension, steering and ride & handling. The body was strengthened and a new Borg Warner 3 speed automatic was introduced.
Visual changes consisted of a flatter bonnet, raised front fenders, a wrap around bumper and horizontal bar-type grille.
Inside, legroom was increased, the seats were widened and in the boot, the spare tyre was relocated, addressing complaints from earlier models.
In September 1965, the Fairmont name was born. Replacing the Futura sedan and the Squire, it was available as a sedan or wagon, to compete with Holden’s new Premier. Fairmont came with reclining bucket seats, the Super Pursuit engine with 3 speed auto, and front disc brakes, a first for an Australian built car.

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