October 7 2016 for the last Australian made Ford

[Franco Cozzo]

BayFM can reveal employees are being summoned to meetings today to be told manufacturing will cease on that date. Despite knowing for two years the company would walk away from Australian manufacturing in 2016, workers who contacted our newsroom this morning said they were still in disbelief. Some were in tears after this morning's meeting. It's understood employees who find other jobs and leave prior to October 7 2015 will still be entitled to their full redundancy packages. A Ford spokesman this morning told BayFM News that while the majority of workers will cease on that date, others will remain until the end of October to prepare completed vehicles for delivery. He said staff were being told of the closure date today during normal annual planning meetings. The company will retain up to 1500 employees in Australia in areas such as design.

http://www.bayfm.com.au/news/local-n...n-closure-date

[Chopped]

Gee that's going to be a sad sight watching the last Falcon go down the line

[turbodewd]

massive bummer.

we were lucky for it to run this long considering how competitive global auto making is.

[PHATAL]

Damn you ford america for not selling the falcon over there in left hand drive.

[Iggle Piggle]

It's understood employees who find other jobs and leave prior to October 7 2015 will still be entitled to their full redundancy packages

[new2ford]

Ironically I was reading this morning that Skoda Auto, which makes over a million cars a year, is having trouble meeting the huge demand for the Octavia due to labour shortage. Czech industry is short of about 200,000 skilled industrial workers and they're looking at attracting skilled immigration.

When I was young, Australia was the land of opportunity to which people came from the old world for a better life and good jobs. How the worm has turned, tragic really.

[simon varley]

in addition, even though the Geelong guys will build their last engine and stamp their last panel before the 7th they will be kept on until that date if they so wish.

far from being in tears, everyone I've spoken to here is actually a bit relieved to now know a firm date.

[FairmontGS]

Originally Posted by simon varley

in addition, even though the Geelong guys will build their last engine and stamp their last panel before the 7th they will be kept on until that date if they so wish.

far from being in tears, everyone I've spoken to here is actually a bit relieved to now know a firm date.

Good for you and all the best.

Any idea what the last Ford down the line will be? Hope it's an XR6 Turbo fully optioned with special plaque.

[xr8territory]

I hope the last car is a base model Falcon, nothing fancy, just a basic family car in a salute to all the families who have owned and loved this Australian Icon.

[Franco Cozzo]

Any plans for a forum event like the AFF Nationals at Heathcote? Maybe to Broady and Geelong?

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by xr8territory

I hope the last car is a base model Falcon, nothing fancy, just a basic family car in a salute to all the families who have owned and loved this Australian Icon.

Knowing Ford it will probably be a charity car of some description. My guess is a fully loaded XR8... Base models mean nothing to most.

[HO 3]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Any plans for a forum event like the AFF Nationals at Heathcote? Maybe to Broady and Geelong?

.................Unless it's a Ford Au sanctioned or organised thing I hope not.

Cheers Mick

[Carrion]

So sad

The end is near!!

[Joe5619]

Ford have no ****en idea... Of all the weeks to close the plant, Bathurst weekend??? WTF!!

[Bossxr8]

I'm so lucky to have moved out to the proving ground so I don't have to go though the whole closure. It would have been really tough. I feel for my mates still working there.

[arronm]

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

Knowing Ford it will probably be a charity car of some description. My guess is a fully loaded XR8... Base models mean nothing to most.

Unfortunately its FORD that means nothing to most. Fully reflected in the sales......

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by HO 3

.................Unless it's a Ford Au sanctioned or organised thing I hope not.

Cheers Mick

I hope there is, massive car cruise around that week or something.

[turbo4]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I hope there is, massive car cruise around that week or something.

It's called the Bathurst 1000.
Hopefully one of the Fords win Bathurst that weekend.

[snopony]

make the last one a Bathurst special and bring it to the race. Very sad.

[1970XW351]

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

Knowing Ford it will probably be a charity car of some description. My guess is a fully loaded XR8... Base models mean nothing to most.

Knowing Ford, they will probably balls it up ala the final Fairlane that was auctioned for charity... It was a 6 cylinder with a few options and sold for less than retail price. But here's hoping it's something special...

Sad day to be sure though.

[HO 3]

Originally Posted by 1970XW351

Knowing Ford, they will probably balls it up ala the final Fairlane that was auctioned for charity... It was a 6 cylinder with a few options and sold for less than retail price. But here's hoping it's something special...

Sad day to be sure though.

It doesn't really matter what kit the last car comes with.................in time it will become the most valuable Australian Ford built car ever.

Cheers Mick

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by turbo4

It's called the Bathurst 1000.
Hopefully one of the Fords win Bathurst that weekend.

Whats V8 Supercars?

Car cruise to Geelong and Broady, better idea.

[HO 3]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

Ford have no ****en idea... Of all the weeks to close the plant, Bathurst weekend??? WTF!!

More than likely the clash of dates has already been carefully considered by Ford management and is not a dumb coincidence.................

Cheers Mick

[asagaai]

I remember reading a few years ago about Ford shutting shop, and thought who tff would buy a last Falcon- they are dreaming.

Then when I got bored driving my Honda Euro, and am at that time, no mortgage, kids getting older, my own business going well, where do I go for real grunt and fun, but for reasonable money, that can also be practical.

Guess- what- I ended up being the moron who bought the last performance Falcon. And sooo happy I have done so, done 6,700 and the engine is finally loosening up -at higher revs in 3rd and 4th gives me the hairs on neck now.

Ok - the handling is somewhat cumbersome- has understeer at 90% upwards of envelope, rear is as loose as and disconnected as a...actually will not go there.

But, what a base package Ford Australia has given me. My Streetfighter intercooler will give me more consistent baseline grunt, and I will do a tune, bigger jets/fuel pump to get 6,500 revs and a bit more torque hump at round 2,500 upwards.

I will do shockworks or similar with more solid bushes to tighten up the suspension.....carbon fiber tailshaft.

And- where would you need to go to get similar practicality to carry 4 people, luggage, and have that linear grunt.

All I know it would cost big $$$$

Ah Ford Australia, thank you for the FGX XR8- I will miss you ..and the memories of the Falcon Coupes with 351 and tyres wider than the Nullabor and tailpipes big enough to stuff cats down....

Very sad to see Ford AUSTRALIA go....

[malazn mafia]

Saddest day ever. End of an era. We can thank our government kindly for the one way free trade agreements that turned Aus into an automotive dumping ground for all sorts of overstock, factory seconds Chinese, Thai, Korean and whatever else third world crackerjack toys...

[mik]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Saddest day ever. End of an era. We can thank our government kindly for the one way free trade agreements that turned Aus into an automotive dumping ground for all sorts of overstock, factory seconds Chinese, Thai, Korean and whatever else third world crackerjack toys...

Totally agree Mate, the whole lot of them over the decades led us down this path and now Australia is the asia/chinas trading whipping boy, its not just sad for the current people being hurt by this , its sad for future generations as well in my book.

[Dr Smith]

I also wonder if having to adopt FULL Euro5 by 1/11/16 was a factor in shut down date?

[FairmontGS]

In Drive today the editorial hinted at a final fitting tribute to a great Australian Motoring Icon being planned by Ford.

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/f...11-gjk8u6.html

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

I also wonder if having to adopt FULL Euro5 by 1/11/16 was a factor in shut down date?

Thats exactly why.

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by asagaai

And- where would you need to go to get similar practicality to carry 4 people, luggage, and have that linear grunt.

All I know it would cost big $$$$

Very sad to see Ford AUSTRALIA go....

Yeah bingo, +1. To replace what we have in our Aussie built Territory will cost twice the price, maybe more as it's really X3-X5 in this niche. That Aussies built it ingeniously off an already present platform and then priced it sub 40K on release, that is the genius of local production I am going to miss.