INFO GUIDE: 1980 - 1982 Ford Falcon XD (ESP Option)

• ESPs were fitted with wool blend cloth Scheel front seats, with rear seats in matching trim colour (known as ‘tiger’ pattern).
• The original trim code is displayed on the vehicle’s data plate on the passenger side of the engine bay (see images). New seat trim material can be sourced from “Global Trim” http://globaltrim.com.au.
• Two trim colour options were available:
  
  • B or B1 = Black (The Fairmont Ghia based cars had black velour door cards with plush carpet base section (same design as the standard Fairmont Ghia). Falcon based cars had black vinyl door trims with a velour insert panel and plush carpet base section. Through the rest of the car: Black carpet, black vinyl seat backing, black cloth seat bolsters / headrests and black/grey tiger pattern in seat insert panels).
  • G or G1 = Medium Grey (The Fairmont Ghia based cars had grey velour door cards with plush carpet base section (same design as the standard Fairmont Ghia). Falcon based cars had grey vinyl door trims with a velour insert panel and plush carpet base section. Through the rest of the car: Grey carpet, grey vinyl seat backing, grey cloth seat bolsters / headrests and black/grey tiger pattern in seat insert panels).
• Red backlit (red filtered light) instrument cluster and silver/grey instrument cluster surround (as opposed to standard black). The dashboard also featured a red LED clock. Factory T-Bar Automatic ESP's also had a RED Backlight "P R N D 2 1" panel on the dash.
• Instruments included fuel, temperature, tachometer, speedometer, oil and voltage.
• Fairmont Ghia based cars had the twin-spoke Fairmont Ghia steering wheel fitted, and Falcon based cars had the standard Falcon four-spoke wheel fitted.
• Fairmont Ghia based cars came standard with remote control boot release, Front foot-well courtesy lights, Twin-spot map reading lamps, rear C-pillar courtesy lamps and a Ghia badge applied to the glovebox lid.
• The following features were optional on the Falcon GL ESP, and standard on the Fairmont Ghia ESP:
  
  • AM/FM Push-button multiplex radio/stereo cassette with automatic aerial (A lower spec radio was also available on the GL).
  • Air-conditioning.
  • Power steering.
  • Remote control passenger wing mirror.
  • Rear inertia seat belts.

XD ESPs were all single-tone painted cars, unlike the later XE ESPs. The paint colours available are believed to be the same as those available on the XD Falcon and Fairmont Ghia vehicles in the relevant year. However, several colours are commonly sighted on ESPs, and have been separately listed below.

If you have additional information on the availability of XD ESP colours, please contact us or comment below.

XD ESP colours more commonly seen:

Other colours available for the XD range during ESP production:

XD range colours continued:

Confirming your serial number is an Option 54 car:

The serial number is essential in determining whether a car is a genuine ESP optioned vehicle. Despite certain parts being rare, most features of the XD ESP can be replicated, and therefore making a chassis number enquiry with Ford should be a priority for any prudent purchaser.

As noted in the introduction, only the original Ford order sheet will confirm whether a particular vehicle was ordered with the ESP option (option 54). In the images we have included an example of the type of letter Ford can provide you with, which will confirm 'Option 54 - European Sports Pack'. As such, it is necessary to contact Ford to receive this confirmation. When enquiring, you will need to quote the 5-digit serial number and possibly the vehicle’s Sido number. You may also be required to provide proof of ownership (obviously, you will have to have the assistance of the seller if you’re a prospective purchaser).

The serial number is a 5-digit number unique to each vehicle, and will be followed by either a “C” (6-cylinder) or a “K” (8-cylinder).

Serial number location:

The serial number is located in 3 positions (see images for a better description):

1. On the vehicle’s data plate:

Located on the passenger side inner mudguard, there will be two data plates (one for vehicle options, and one for ADR compliance). Both will contain the serial number, however, it can be easily viewed under the title “Serial Number” in the foremost plate.

2. Stamped into the body:

The serial number as noted on the vehicle’s data plates should also be stamped into the metal of the passenger side engine bay, into the top of the inner passenger side mudguard (between the suspension strut and mudguard edge).

3. Stamped into the vehicle’s engine:

Ford also applied the chassis number to the engine, which will allow you to confirm whether the car is “matching numbers”. The location of the engine number will depend on which engine is fitted (6-cylinder or V8). This is detailed further in section 5 of this guide.

The prefix body code is a 6-digit code that appears on the first row of the data plate (top left), and confirms the model and year/month of manufacture. The first 4 digits of this code will be either JG23 (Falcon) or JG32 (Fairmont Ghia). Importantly, the same code should prefix the vehicle’s engine number (See section 5 of this guide for engine number details).

Example: “JG32YP”   -   This decodes as follows:

J = Ford Australia

G = Broadmeadows plant (passenger vehicle)

32 = Fairmont Ghia

Y = 1981

P = April

Note: The 5th and 6th digit of the body prefix refers to the year and month of manufacture, per the below table:

Note, the month/year code in the Body Prefix above relates to the vehicle’s estimated ship date – being the date when the vehicle was estimated to be completed and shipped. As the body prefix was allocated at the commencement of production, this code may slightly differ (by a month or so) to the manufacture date stamped on the compliance plate. The latter represents the actual ship date.

Model codes:

As the ESP option was available on both the Falcon GL and Fairmont Ghia in the XD series (during different time periods), these codes will be relevant in determining a genuine vehicle. The model number is located on the foremost data plate in the engine bay (passenger side inner mudguard).

One of the following codes should appear under the heading “Model”, as shown in the images:

Falcon GL: 18933 (June 1980 up to October 1980)

Fairmont Ghia: 18938 (October 1980 – March 1982)