Necessity can be the mother of invention, and Ford Australia demonstrated this in 1978. Faced with a new model scheduled for release in 1979 and a ready supply of XC Falcon bodyshells lingering in its parts department, the company produced the limited edition 1978 Falcon Cobra. Only 400 of these classics rolled off the line, and good examples are highly sought Down Under. This car has made the journey to Granite Falls, Washington, where it is listed here on Facebook Marketplace. The seller has listed the Cobra with an asking price of $99,950, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Yargbull for spotting this slice of Australian motoring history.

Eagle-eyed readers will immediately draw comparisons between our feature car and The Interceptor from Mad Max. This is understandable because the Falcon XC was a mildly facelifted version of the previous XB model, which was the vehicle used by George Miller to produce the iconic movie car. Ford Australia had made it public knowledge in 1978 that it had an entirely new model, codenamed “Blackwood,” set for release in 1979. Its latest offering would be available as a four-door Sedan, Station Wagon, Van, and Ute. There was no scope for a Hardtop variant due to the largely European styling, and with sales of such vehicles essentially falling off a cliff after 1975, justifying the development costs proved impossible. However, the company found itself in a bind as 1978 dawned because it had 400 surplus Hardtop bodyshells for its existing XC model gathering dust in its Parts Department. So, what to do? Edsel Ford II was Managing Director of Ford Australia at the time, and he had a lightbulb moment. The company would produce 400 examples of a Falcon Cobra, all with numbered dash plaques. It was a fitting end for the Hardtop and would also leverage the previous year’s racing success for the Moffat Ford Dealer Team that had swept to crushing victories in the 1977 Australian Touring Car Championship and Bathurst 1000. Edsel decided that the limited edition should recapture the look and feel of the North American Cobra models, which is why buyers received their cars finished in Sno White with contrasting Bold Blue stripes. Except, not all is as it seems, because Ford Australia painted each body Bold Blue, overlaying the Sno White paint and subtle Olympic Blue separating stripes during a second run through the paint shop. It seems like a complicated process, but the extra layer of paint was probably a good thing since rust could be a problem with the Hardtop body. The Cobra package also included front and rear spoilers, unique vinyl decals, and 15″ Globe “Bathurst” alloy wheels. The seller states that apart from a minor touch-up on the rear quarter panel, this Cobra is original and unrestored. It presents exceptionally well for its age, with no significant panel or paint imperfections and no evidence of rust. The underside shots confirm that the floors are spotless, and those beautiful alloy wheels are seemingly flawless.

As befits a car of this type, the 1978 Falcon Cobra was V8-only territory. Buyers could choose from an entry-level 302ci powerplant or opt for the desirable 351. Both engines were “Clevelands,” with the 302 uniquely Australian. An interesting sidebar to that is that while North American production of the 351 Cleveland ended in 1974, it soldiered on Down Under into the 1980s. Ford Australia exported engine blocks and complete motors back to the US for years to meet buyer demand for that engine. Therefore, it is possible to find Broncos and F-Series models produced up until 1985 with an Australian engine under the hood. The first owner teamed this car’s 302 with a three-speed automatic transmission, with power assistance for the steering and four-wheel disc brakes standard Cobra features. Australia had recently fallen under the weight of emission regulations when the Cobra emerged, with this V8 developing 202hp and 268 ft/lbs of torque. Performance was relatively modest by modern standards, but with the engine exhaling via a dual exhaust, they still sounded pretty sweet. The seller indicates that this Cobra is numbers-matching but provides no information surrounding how it runs or drives. However, the bulletproof nature of the drivetrain suggests that the news should be positive.

Ford utilized quite a few components from its Parts Bin when creating the Cobra, although there were also unique features. The dash, console, wheel, and gauge cluster were all drawn from its GS and Fairmont GXL models. The wheel was considered quite chunky for the period, allowing the driver a clear view of the factory tachometer. The seats were typical Falcon buckets, although Ford Australia chose to trim them and the rear bench in unique Black and two-tone Blue cloth. The first owner ticked the box on the Order Form beside air conditioning, and there is a Clarion cassette player mounted in the dash by the driver’s right knee. The final piece of the Cobra puzzle is the plaque mounted on the glovebox lid, confirming that this is the 349th car built. As with any classic from this era, interior trim is prone to wear and deterioration. However, this car has avoided such problems. The seats are excellent, there is no carpet wear, and the dash and plastic exhibit no evidence of UV damage. It is neat, tidy, and guaranteed to receive plenty of positive comments.

Ford Australia produced its final cars in 2016, marking the end of the Falcon badge that had been the company’s staple since 1960. It had created some of Australia’s most iconic high-performance models, including the XY Falcon GTHO Phase III. With the factory now largely dismantled, there is no doubt that Australians will never see another era like the one where Ford and Holden fought tooth and nail for market dominance. That makes preserving cars like this 1978 Falcon Cobra critical, especially when it has already survived for forty-seven years in such excellent condition. I acknowledge that it won’t tick the boxes for some readers outside its home country, but it remains a pretty special car in the hearts of Aussie enthusiasts. You will struggle to find many of these in North America, and with the price looking quite competitive, this Cobra might be ideal for someone who wants to stand out in a crowd. That makes it worth a close look.