DeTomaso Mailing List: March 2000, Message #13

The Mad One wrote:
	[snip]
	> Dan Jones was able to help identify THAT
	> there are no less thean 5 different styles of Aussy
	> blocks....THAT WERE IMPORTED...
	[snip]

Maybe someone can clear this up for me?  When people talk about
an "Aussie block", are we talking about one that was cast
in Australia?

Australia started casting its own Cleveland blocks in 1972, when the
supply of US-cast Cleveland blocks started to dry up.  Ford
(Australia) decided to dump the Windsor in 1970 in favor of the
Cleveland, so that it could support its Falcon GT and GTHO racing
program.  Wise choice too... (Mikey Drew take note).

Ford (Australia) made the 351C engine an optional extra on its entire
Falcon line, so it was used in everything from the base-model
"Futura" (so popular with the constabulary), the "ute" (short
for utility, basically a pickup on a car chassis), through its
high-end GT and GTHO, as well as "theme" Falcons like the Cobra,
Superbird, etc.  the 351 was also an option on its large luxury cars,
the Fairlane and Landau.  Only the GT/GTHO received any engine
tweaks (intake, exhaust, port-work, compression, carb, cam, etc).
The 351 (and the 302) were discontinued in 1982.

Now could someone tell me why would a small-car manufacturer
(Ford Australia) with a limited market (13 million people, total
population of Australia in 1970s) and producing at most 5,000 V8s
per year, were making so many different blocks?  Especially, as
far as I know, only one block casting was ever made for
production-line cars.

Australians care little for NASCAR or circle-track racing, prefering
endurance circuits or off-road rallying, so I dont think there
could have been any NASCAR connection.

Or maybe, like "shrimp on the barbie" (we call 'em prawns) and
Australian Shepards (originally bred in the US), maybe so-called
"Aussie-blocks" are a spin-off from the '80s pro-Australia craze, and
are really US products?

Inquiring (down-unda) minds want to know.

Shane


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