So where did the XR start ?

[MONSOON]

EB1 XR8 was like an EB1 S with a v8, EB2 had machined face wheels etc, like the newly created XR6, I'm sure in 1991 wheels compared a red EB xr8 against a white VN SS, the XR8 won that comparison, the XR6 didn't come out til 1992

[ratman]

Originally Posted by MONSOON

EB1 XR8 was like an EB1 S with a v8, EB2 had machined face wheels etc, like the newly created XR6, I'm sure in 1991 wheels compared a red EB xr8 against a white VN SS, the XR8 won that comparison, the XR6 didn't come out til 1992

The EB1s did get the machined face rims albeit in the same styel as the 'S' of the day. The other subtle differences in EB1-EB2, someone has already mentioned the wiper cowl, door handles on the series 1 were a black plastic with a rough texture whilst the 2s had a smooth glossy finish in dark grey - the same colour material was used in the rear centre plastics on the boot also (except ghias). EB2s have lighter greys used inside and the front speaker mesh was way bigger. ABS was also introduced in the 2s. There was also a very very limited run of 'SS' falcons, these were basically the s pack 6cylinder model that some people raced, had minor tweaks to suspension and depending on who u believe, the engine and were the predesors to the xr6. They did exist, I've sat in 1 that was used in a class of racing that escapes me name - we called it the sales reps class because all the EB/VNs of the day that were raced were generally mildly tricked up povo packs. The owner said something along the lines of 16 produced but not available to the general public. I'm sure I also have a very old wheels or motor mag that featured these - have trawl through the boxes for that 1 now.

ps. the XR tag was used in UK and US models way before it made it here and I alos understand that the south africans had an XR in their locally available ford range but I'm pretty sure this was sierra based.

[[Tonko]]

Originally Posted by Dezza!

I was thinking that as I don't recall any EB1 XR8s (and I know for a fact XR6 started with the EBII)

I had one,

And you forgot to mention in an earlier post, the seats were different too.

[prydey]

not sure on ed's but ef xr6 wagon built was 476. 198 were manual. 278 auto. not sure on colour breakdown.

i had a manual one.

ed numbers were even less i believe.

[Dezza]

Originally Posted by [Tonko]

I had one,

And you forgot to mention in an earlier post, the seats were different too.

Yeah, I admitted I was wrong in post #35. I'm right about the XR6 though.

[ayeyew]

Originally Posted by S3SR

IIRC XR stands for Experimental Research - i have a book on it somewhere

I think it stands for experimental racing?

I'm pretty sure I read that australia also had an XR-1?

Some people have said that it was a marketing ploy from Ford/Tickford to get the interest back into fords and rebirth the "GT" seeing as the first model with a "GT" was the XR.

Tickford have said this is a "coincidence"

[Chrispy]

"Tickford - the joy of driving" I think is the book if you really want information.

The Sprint has different stripe, badging and lips over the front wheel arches (to clear the larger wheels). Anything else attached to the body is either standard ED XR or a factory option on the ED.

The XR6 name was first used on a South African Cortina.

The name, XR, just sounds sporty.

Chrispy

[FTGAutosalvage]

Originally Posted by Chrispy

"Tickford - the joy of driving" I think is the book if you really want information.

The Sprint has different stripe, badging and lips over the front wheel arches (to clear the larger wheels). Anything else attached to the body is either standard ED XR or a factory option on the ED.

The XR6 name was first used on a South African Cortina.

The name, XR, just sounds sporty.

Chrispy

I believe the xr8 name was first used in south africa aswell.

It was used in 1984 on the sierra XR8

[TUF_302]

There was XR6 wagons, never 8s, and only ever in ED's and EF's never an EL XR Wagon, well as far as i no lol!

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by Chrispy

"Tickford - the joy of driving" I think is the book if you really want information.

The Sprint has different stripe, badging and lips over the front wheel arches (to clear the larger wheels). Anything else attached to the body is either standard ED XR or a factory option on the ED.

The XR6 name was first used on a South African Cortina.

The name, XR, just sounds sporty.

Chrispy

The book isn't bad.

From what I know XR comes from Tickord as they did many models for FoE before FoA.

EB1 s XR6 was the first, but didn't actually have any tickford logos.

[Mr Brooksy]

Hey dont forget there was a Lowndes XR8 in the latter BF cycle. Dont know how well it actually sold though!

[MONSOON]

Originally Posted by Mr Brooksy

Hey dont forget there was a Lowndes XR8 in the latter BF cycle. Dont know how well it actually sold though!

sold out pretty quickly, got a mate who bought one after struggling to find one, they weren't just the 8 either, 6 & 6t were also available

[Peuty]

The XR name came from the Euro XR models, XR4 etc. Tickford, being a British company, decided to contine the XR theme with their Aussie models.

[Falcon_Crazy]

Years agao, I was lucky enough to tour the design studios of Ford.

Back then we had the laser TX3 and telstra TX5.

When they were looking for a few badges off clay odels to give me as a souviner, low and be hold - there was TX7.

Glad it all changed to XR though

[myxr6]

Don't forget the South African Cortina XR6.
http://www.cortina80.co.uk/ford_cortina_xr6.htm

[The Yeti]

my first XR came after the XP and before the XT

[ST]

Add to that list:
2002 - AU Series III XR6 ST (125)

So does Ford actually have a definite answer as to what 'XR' stands for? Experimental research doesn't seem to suit, I thought it would be something to do with performance?

[ratman]

this was lifted from an overseas data base :

The XR series of cars from the Ford Motor Company has carried the torch for everything from out and out, no holds barred musclecars, through to sophisticated boulevard cruisers or cute barchettas.


Most U.K. folk will be familiar with the XR2, the XR3 and the XR4, even the XR4x4, and Australians will know the XR6 and the XR8, but there were others, and I want to show some photos of the other XR8.


XR2 - in the U.K. we know the XR2 as the Fiesta, in both MkI and MkII versions. In Australia, the XR2 is a small, two seat, barchetta convertible, based on a Mazda 323, and it was sold in America as the Mercury Capri XR2.


XR3 - in the U.K. the XR3, and the XR3i were based on the MkIII fwd Escort. But in the U.S. Mercury sold a version of the first U.S. Ford Escort, which was the U.K’s MkIII, and called it the Lynx, and sold it’s sport derivative as the Mercury Lynx XR3.


XR4 - in the U.K. we know the XR4i as the original three door derivative of the Ford Sierra, powered by the 2.8 litre fuel injected Cologne V6 engine. This was followed by the XR4x4 Sierra, similarily powered by the 2.8 litre V6 engine, but based on the five door bodyshell with four wheel drive. In the U.S. they had the Merkur XR4Ti, which was a German built three door, powered by a fuel injected and turbocharged version of the 2.3litre four cylinder Pinto engine.


XR5 - yes, there was an XR5 ! The Mercury Topaz XR5 based on Mercury’s version of the Ford Tempo and powered by either a 2.3 litre injected four cylinder, or a 3.0 litre injected V6.


XR6 - this is where things get interesting. The Tickford tuned falcon XR6, powered by Ford Australia’s long lived straight six engine has been around for many years now, but, it wasn’t the first XR6 The Cortina XR6 was based on the MkV Cortina fitted with the 3.0 litre Essex V6 engine and built and sold in South Africa. It was superseded by the Sierra XR6 also fitted with the 3.0 litre Essex V6, originally carburettored, but later fuel injected.


XR7 - Mercury has used the XR7 badge for its top of the range Cougar since 1967 up until the last Cougar - sold in the U.K. as the Ford Cougar. In its muscle hey day, powered by a vast assortment of monumental V8s, through the dark years in the late seventies to re-emerge in the 80s with either turbo four cylinder sophistication - the 2.3 litre - or V8 grunt - the ubiquitous 302ci or 5.0 - it failed to make the transition to the fwd model of 1998.


XR8 - The Australian Falcon XR8 was another Tickford engine tuned and suspension tweaked version of its Falcon through the AU model, but is now built in-house by Ford themselves with the current BA range. However, like with the XR6’s, Ford in South Africa were there first with their Sierra XR8.

[Raptor]

Unless I've missed it I am surprised no one has mentioned the EB SS from 1992.

Some information on this very limited edition here; http://www.whiteline.com.au/articles..._V2-3_EB_1.htm








.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by Raptor

Unless I've missed it I am surprised no one has mentioned the EB SS from 1992.

Some information on this very limited edition here; http://www.whiteline.com.au/articles..._V2-3_EB_1.htm.

But it's not a XR...

[ratman]

Originally Posted by Raptor

Unless I've missed it I am surprised no one has mentioned the EB SS from 1992.

Some information on this very limited edition here; http://www.whiteline.com.au/articles..._V2-3_EB_1.htm








.

Yeh, I did mention it but I'm glad u found a later article on 1 - I looked at the stack(s) of magazines at my parents house earlier tonight and CBF hit me. lol.

[DOC]

A lot more info than thought, I am guessing that there is no official collection of all of this info on a site anywhere, with pics, info build dates, history ?

would be nice to gather all of this info etc before its lost to history and old mans stories, will re do the list based on the info so far a bit later tonight if i find some time.

can of worms but seems possible to put it all together.

[RG]

Originally Posted by DOC

A lot more info than thought, I am guessing that there is no official collection of all of this info on a site anywhere, with pics, info build dates, history ?

would be nice to gather all of this info etc before its lost to history and old mans stories, will re do the list based on the info so far a bit later tonight if i find some time.

can of worms but seems possible to put it all together.

There's a book called "Tickford - The joy of driving" that is pretty comprehensive up to the AUII.

[DOC]

ok, re book, also i see the good thing is we have the sedan, ute, wagon the xr5 and 4 are also there, a big cross section, anyway work time for me, later

[Zed7fiddy]

If you are including the DEVIL R and ENFORCER dont forget the Lowndes, RIP CURL and MAGNET utes all used in the B series

[DOC]

Originally Posted by 84RGE

If you are including the DEVIL R and ENFORCER dont forget the Lowndes, RIP CURL and MAGNET utes all used in the B series

For sure and agreed it's about everything xr, also i missed a part of my lie, never knew a loundes xr was made so something new for me and some intersting early versions appearing along with a few versions of the xr meaning, all good so far

[Ives]

I believe the very first XRs are the Fiesta XR2 and the Escort XR3i (both released around 1980-1981).

[XR Martin]

Im surprised no one has mentioned it yet, but Tickford's first vehicle here was actually the XR2 Capri, followed by the EBII S XR6 and GT
EBI XR8s wernt Tickfords, they were just S-Pacs with a V8.

[ratman]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

EBI XR8s wernt Tickfords, they were just S-Pacs with a V8.

True in a literal sense and from a 'performance' view but I bought my EB1 brand new and was offered various treatments by Fords new 'mods wing' - a company called tickford they told me. Only options at the time were Mullins wheels, tow bars, soon-to-come body kits and sunrooves. I scored a free tickford installed towbar, it gave the XR8 a huge performance edge - never been overtaken by a boat, trailer or caravan since I've owned her.

[Lumpen Proletariat]

Originally Posted by ratman

True in a literal sense and from a 'performance' view but I bought my EB1 brand new and was offered various treatments by Fords new 'mods wing' - a company called tickford they told me. Only options at the time were Mullins wheels, tow bars, soon-to-come body kits and sunrooves. I scored a free tickford installed towbar, it gave the XR8 a huge performance edge - never been overtaken by a boat, trailer or caravan since I've owned her.

The original build sheet that came with mine has the teletyped 'special instructions' of: "Fit Spoiler" and "V8" Engine (their quotes not mine).

December 1991 EBI XR8 which is pretty early as I am lead to believe it was officially released Bathurst weekend 1991?



Lumpy