The Ford Falcon, featured in the iconic Mad Max film franchise, has become a cult classic among car enthusiasts and fans of the series.
The original Mad Max, released in 1979, featured a 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT Coupe as the vehicle driven by the protagonist, Max Rockatansky, portrayed by Mel Gibson. The car, known as the “Interceptor” (aka V8 Interceptor, Last of the V8 Interceptors, or Pursuit Special), started out as a standard, white 351 cu in Australian-built Falcon, but was customized with a (non-working) Weiand 6-71 supercharger, nitrous oxide injection, roof and boot spoilers, wheel arch flares, front nose cone and air dam, exhaust side pipes, and various other modifications to make it a formidable force on the road.
The base-model Falcon was turned into a police interceptor for use by the Main Force Patrol (MFP). The MFP were the Australian Federal Police special task force in the movie, and their mission was to control the country’s ballooning crime rate. They would work hand-in-hand with the standard police to combat biker gangs and other savage criminals, hence the need for such a beefy vehicle.
In the sequel, The Road Warrior, a new Ford Falcon, a 1975 XB GT Hardtop, was used as the Interceptor. This version of the car was heavily modified with a new body kit, removal of the front air dam, a functional supercharger, a pair of large cylindrical fuel tanks mounted on the rear, and a matte black finish.
The third film in the franchise, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, featured yet another Ford Falcon, this time a 1977 XB GT Sedan. This version of the Interceptor was modified to include a turbocharged engine and a new paint job, making it one of the most memorable versions of the car in the series.
The Ford Falcon’s role in the Mad Max franchise cemented its place in pop culture history, and it remains a sought-after vehicle among car enthusiasts and fans of the series. The car’s rugged, no-nonsense design, combined with its high-performance capabilities, make it a perfect fit for the post-apocalyptic world of the films.
The Ford Falcon is not only a great car for the movies but also an iconic car for the Australian automotive industry. The Ford Falcon was produced in Australia from 1960 to 2016. It was a symbol of the country’s manufacturing industry, and it was a popular choice among car buyers in Australia.
If you have a Ford Falcon that looks like it was part of the Mad Max series, check out our Falcon restoration parts here.
