Classics by the Beach: October, 2026

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This heavily patinated XP Falcon, with its distinctive sign-writing, has piqued the UMPH editorial team's interest.  Two questions arise:  firstly, what is or was the Falcon-Mobil 70,000 Mile Durability Run and, secondly, did this car actually participate in whatever that event was?


The answer to Question 1 was easily answered by reference to the the excellent Primotipo ... 'blog, which, rather than quoting or plagiarising, we've made available via the following link: https://primotipo.com/2022/03/18/ford-falcon-70000-mile-9-day-reliability-trial/ .  (We at UMPH are a little sensitive to IP thievery, having recently discovered our images and research reproduced, without our permission, on an overseas FaceBook page.)


The second question was only slightly harder to answer, with AI suggesting that the original car has gone to the Great Wrecker's Yard in the Sky, as do Shannons (https://club.shannons.com.au/club/news/racing-garage/xp-falcon-the-crazy-70000-mile-gamble-that-saved-ford-australia/).  Both sources state that car # 1 hit a sizeable boulder and was cobbled back together by support crew to enable it to complete the event, but that it was too badly damaged to be of use to Ford Australia and was subsequently destroyed. 


Having arrived at the conclusion that the XP featured here is a recreation, replica, homage to the original or however else you might like to describe it, it must be said that it's been done extremely well.  Its livery very accurately mimics that depicted in both the Primotipo and Shannons articles - albeit their images are monochromes - and the spot lights, wheels and other accoutrements all appear to be the same as or very close in style and era to those in shown in those sources.








The owner of this delightful Mk III/A Austin Healey Sprite, a long-time senior staffer within the UMPH conglomerate, seems incapable of wiping the smile off his face, such is the joy he derives from driving it.  It's his third Sprite and a return to the marque after the better part of four decades since his last, a more basic - he'd say purer - Mk II.  


Judging by the admiration it attracted at today's Classics by the Beach event - held at Long Beach, Sandy Bay, fifteen minutes' drive south of Tasmania's capital city of Hobart on the first Sunday of every month - he's not the only person beguiled by this very pretty British roadster!  And deservedly so!















Did you enjoy this post?  If so, why not browse the rest of the uppermiddlepetrolhead site?  There are loads and loads of classic, sports and performance vehicles featured, as well as stacks of car shows and motorsports events.  Even better, you can follow either the 'blog itself or do so via Upper Middle Petrol Head's Facebook page.  And please do like and share!





U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)




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