So where did the XR start ?

DOC · 02-09-2008, 03:23 AM

We have all read and seen the great stories behind the GT and the T series, but laying in bed last night i asked, where did the XR start, what's it story, what models are there, color ranges, engine specks, do the letters XR stand for anything.

This ford has always been there but not really focused on.

I remember the first e series XR8 i seen when (in relative terms ) i was knee high to not knowing the fords to well and fell in love with it, those little bottle top eyes in duplicate looked mean.

So what was the first Aussie model ? e series some where and does the XR stand for anything ? why those letters.

I also know if correct there were some e series wagons xr6 ? but may be wrong.

would be nice to get some documented time order history, build No's etc, I know au2 had the rebel limited edition before s3 with a limited run, but like many never really sat down and put all of the puzzle pieces together.

Sure the GT's and T's are great but are there any XR fans out there ?

68XTFairmont · 02-09-2008, 03:52 AM

I can't tell you anything significant about what the letters stand for or anything but I can confirm that there were at least EF and EL XR wagons as an old boss owned 1 of each when they were new

Hopefully someone out there can fill in some more gaps for ya

MNM96 · 02-09-2008, 03:56 AM

EB SER II was the start, with only the XR8 Sprint wearing the Quad Light Front. It was adopted accross the range of XR's with the advent of the ED.

DOC · 02-09-2008, 04:12 AM

ok copy and add to the list where you can.

EB S2 - XR8 SPRINT
ED ?
EF S? -XR? WAGON
EL S? -XR? WAGON
AU S1 - XR6/8 SEDAN
AU S2 - XR6/8 SEDAN
AU S2 - XR8 SEDAN REBEL 1/200 ?
AU S3 - XR6/8 SEDAN
blueprint
BA S1 - XR6/8 SEDAN
BA S2 - XR6/8 SEDAN
envi
shockwave
BA S2 - XR8 SEDAN DEVILR / ENFORCER (1/125)
envi - enforcer
shockwave - devilr
FG S1 - XR6/8 ?

v8boss · 02-09-2008, 05:24 AM

I beleive it was a tickford designation from the UK. They had the XR4i escort, (which was the performance model) so they thought an XR6 and 8 would tie in well with that model designation.

Isnt amazing the trivia you can hide in the human brain.

sunbury23 · 02-09-2008, 06:02 AM

i know there is EF XR6 wagons, as there is one that is driving around sunbury and i have seen one around melton (Vic)

UKXR8 · 02-09-2008, 06:36 AM

The first XR cars over here in the UK were the Fiesta XR2, followed by the escort XR3 then the Sierra XR4i.
The XR series cars started in the early 80's and went through to the mid 90's.
They weren't Tickford cars, although Tickford did do some of the higher end stuff like Sierra Cosworth RS500's.
I think the yanks may have used the XR label even earlier with their XR7...

XR Martin · 02-09-2008, 07:01 AM

07/91 - EBI S XR8 was the first (in Australia)
05/92 - EBII S XR6 and S XR8
08/93 - ED XR6, XR8 and XR8 Sprint got the quadlights, and lost the 'S' designation. Also XR6 Wagon.
08/94 - EF XR6 sedan and wagon, and XR8

The first car to use the XR* designation was the Mercury Cougar XR7 in 1967

**Mont5.0** · 02-09-2008, 07:06 AM

Dont forget the utes
XG-XR6-(not sure on XR8 in this model)
XH-XR6/8<--or this one?
XHII-XR6/8

**Charliewool** · 02-09-2008, 08:46 AM

1967 or 68 XR7 Mercury Cougar was when XR was 1st used.
XR is "Experimental Racer"

Zed7fiddy · 02-09-2008, 09:13 AM

Wasnt it the ED XR6 that was actually quicker then the XR8? go the mighty I6

Nostalgia · 02-09-2008, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 84RGE

Wasnt it the ED XR6 that was actually quicker then the XR8? go the mighty I6

Was it ED or EB ? Either way i agree 84RGE, GO THE MIGHTY I6.

:

GreenMachine · 02-09-2008, 09:17 AM

Lame XR Trivia... the EB XR6/8 was actually the Falcon S-XR6/8...

Nostalgia · 02-09-2008, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenMachine

Lame XR Trivia... the EB XR6/8 was actually the Falcon S-XR6/8...

Right you are.

GreenMachine · 02-09-2008, 09:23 AM

And, little known fact, the EL XR6 was designed by a 5 year old child, high on red cordial:

"I wanna car! Big spoiler! Big wheels! LITTLE LIGHTS!!! Skirts skirts skirts! A bonnet scoop! Another one! Like a BEAR scratched it!!! RED STRIPE!!!"

geckoGT · 02-09-2008, 09:24 AM

I sometimes wonder if the use of XR as the model in the EB was tied into the XR GT. IN the EBI line up they introduced the Falcon S XR8 and then in the next series they build the EB GT 25th anniversary. I am not sure that links to euro and US fords is the reason. I would not be surprised if the new EB GT that was coming was the inspiration behind the XR name.

rag top · 02-09-2008, 10:00 AM

EB 1 S-XR8 - I thought that was Ford, the EB 2 S-XR8 was tickford??

rag top · 02-09-2008, 10:07 AM

Following from DOC's list:

EB S1 - S-XR8
EB S2 - S-XR6/ S-XR8 Sedan
XG - XR6
ED XR6 Sedan/Wagon
ED XR8 Sedan
ED XR8 Sprint Sedan
EF XR6 Sedan/Wagon
EF XR8 Sedan
EL XR6/8 Sedan
XH XR6/8
AU XR6/8 Sedan/Ute (Series 1-3)
AU S2 - XR8 SEDAN REBEL 1/200 ?
BA S1 - XR6/8/6T SEDAN/ute
BA S2 - XR6/8/6T SEDAN/Ute
BA S2 - XR8 SEDAN DEVILR / ENFORCER (1/125)
BF S1/2 XR6/8/6T Sedan/ Ute
FG S1 - XR6/8/6T ?

XR4?
XR5?

Dezza · 02-09-2008, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNM96

EB SER II was the start, with only the XR8 Sprint wearing the Quad Light Front. It was adopted accross the range of XR's with the advent of the ED.

There was no EBII XR8 Sprint. EBII had the S-XR6 and S-XR8. EBII XRs looked pretty much like the S-pack but the S-pack wheels were polished and it was fitted with a lip spoiler. All ED XRs got the quad headlight front, with the Sprint coming out with the ED. It looked like an XR8 except for different wheels (very similar to the ROH/SVO wheels) and the red stripe in the moulds was replaced with a black one, as well as the obvious Sprint badges.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mont5.0

Dont forget the utes
XG-XR6-(not sure on XR8 in this model)
XH-XR6/8<--or this one?
XHII-XR6/8

XR8 didn't arrive till XHII (which got the EL XR style front) so you have the right idea.

mikestp · 02-09-2008, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenMachine

And, little known fact, the EL XR6 was designed by a 5 year old child, high on red cordial:

"I wanna car! Big spoiler! Big wheels! LITTLE LIGHTS!!! Skirts skirts skirts! A bonnet scoop! Another one! Like a BEAR scratched it!!! RED STRIPE!!!"

but it looks soo bloody nice!

orsm8 · 02-09-2008, 11:13 AM

The sprint also had a unique front bib spoiler that was pop riveted to the lower part of the front bar. How do i know you ask? Answer I use to own one up until 2 years ago.As for the use of the XR it was fords 66XR falcon that started the XR here in AUstralia.

S3SR · 02-09-2008, 11:14 AM

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

and it started with EBII i have a list of every single model made falcon, each series, rare 1 of models type thing ie AIT AWD XD falcon IIRC there was a few of these, whether it was just a facelift of the previous model or complete new car and i think the list even had standard equipment when you click on the model.... i used it in my multimedia assignment

Chrispy · 02-09-2008, 11:35 AM

"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

Mr Brooksy · 02-09-2008, 11:46 AM

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

FTGAutosalvage · 02-09-2008, 11:51 AM

Quote:

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

**Polyal** · 02-09-2008, 11:53 AM

Quote:

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.

**Peuty** · 02-09-2008, 12:08 PM

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 · 02-09-2008, 12:09 PM

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

MONSOON · 02-09-2008, 12:17 PM

Quote:

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

myxr6 · 02-09-2008, 12:38 PM

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