The BA & BA MK II Fairlane.
The final piece of the BA puzzled, the LWB models, arrived in July 2003. To say these models were half arsed is an understatement. Having spent up big on the BA sedan, while also developing the yet to be released Territory, the Fairlane and LTD were the collateral damage. This would not be the first time the LWB models were less than impressive, but it was certainly the last. In Ford’s defense, the market for the LWB was dwindling, over investing made little sense. I think history will prove that Ford made better use of that money by developing the Territory.
Where the previous AU series LWB was sufficiently differentiated from the rest of the range, the BA Fairlane and LTD was not so lucky. As with the Wagon and Ute, the front and rear windscreens carried over from AU, as did the roof panel. Because of that, the Fairlane didn’t get the glass antenna, rather a roof mounted bee sting item instead. The new sheet metal consisted of standard issue Falcon front quarter panels, headlights, hood and even the bumper. The rear had a new boot lid pressing, quarter panels and bumper teamed with Falcon tail lamps with an added chrome trim piece. To differentiate the front end from the Falcon, there was a chrome grill with horizontal bars (Fairlane) or vertical bars (LTD). The front bumper had a thicker chrome pinstripe, a chrome bonnet badge, and a chrome trim added at the base of the headlights. The side skirts and side protection moldings were from the Wagon. Fairlane and LTD had 16-inch wheels, the G220 had 17-inch multi-spoke items. Add it all together and the BA Fairlane and LTD looked like a stretched Falcon with more chrome.
The interior was the same story. Apart from the stitching design on the seats, the interior of both Fairlane and LTD was virtually identical to the Fairmont and Fairmont Ghia. The newly added G220 at least offered the jazzy “Redline” leather trim.
Mechanically, the LWB cars were adapted to the control blade
IRS, the engines offered being were the Barra 182 I6 and Barra 220 V8, all bolted to the 4-speed auto.
Speaking of the G220 in particular, this was Ford’s attempt at drawing a younger buyer to the Fairlane range, offering larger wheels (tyres were the same 225 width though), sports suspension and black bezel head lights. Inside, brushed aluminum replaced the chrome and woodgrain finishes of the Ghia and LTD. The Barra 220 was the only engine offered.
A FPV version never went further than the Galaxy 540 concept/mockup shown at the FPV Open Day. To my eyes, it looked hideous.
