Mad Max The Plumber! 1978 Ford Falcon Panel Van
In addition to launching the international film career of a young and dashing Mel Gibson, 1980’s 1979’s post-apocalyptic action movie Mad Max featured a number of interesting vehicles. Most memorable among them was “the last V8 Interceptor,” a modified 1973 Ford XB Falcon with a driver-activated supercharger. For a single click on But It Now here on eBay, this similar-looking 1978 Ford Falcon panel van can be yours for a mere $5000 — plus shipping if you’re some distance from West Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia.
This angle rather completely obscures any resemblance to the Interceptor. Still this might be taken for the car that Max’s brother, Mild Mike the Plumber, may have used driving from toilet to toilet with a plunger in one hand and a can of VB in the other.
From this vantage point it’s easier to pretend you’re Max, and you’re mad, and you’re chasing down the motorcycle gang that killed your family. Of course you’d quickly realize that this Falcon is missing the Interceptor’s oversized fuel tanks rigged to explode when necessary, its supercharger, and sadly, even a V8.
That’s right; in place of the 600 HP V8, and seemingly in little danger of sticking up through the hood, rests this practical inline six-cylinder, though the shiny blue bits add a hint of promise. Hard-chargers planning to enter this van in the first autocross they can would be advised to secure the battery lest it tumble about the engine compartment or escape onto the road below. How would you describe the potential of this Maxed-out panel van?
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Comments
Needs a flamethrower or .50 cal. machine gun mounted on the roof. Maybe both.
Yes, with the flamethrower & machine gun aimed at the car, then let ‘er rip!
Rocket launchers on both sides of the panels.
In these politically correct times, I’m pretty sure the movie trailer would be: “Max is back….and this time he is only slightly annoyed.”
I was a teenager when these were released, and I have to say that they are becoming increasingly rare. I do a lot of driving on our Aussie roads and honestly can’t remember the last time that I saw one, standard or otherwise. They are so rare now that if you do see one, I can guarantee that you’ll remember it.
I hope mel Gibson doesn’t see this. it is just so wrong
The battery remains affixed due to the use of ‘push cables’…invented here, just now.
Todd please… Mad Max was a 70ties movie released in 1979…
Fixed! Thanks Poppapork. Missed it by *that* much.
Sweet looking Ford XC Falcon Panel Van. I love the Mad Max treatment.
“…this practical inline six-cylinder, though the shiny blue bits add a hint of promise…”
Yes indeed!
When USA went bent8 for the muscle cars (1960s) Oz continued developing the 6 (Holden, ford). Ford of Oz took the same i6 & made a cross flow (’60s) & evolved into the Barra (good over view https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Barra_engine) thru 2016. Folks I know have made 500 HP on those Oz ’60s heads on a 60s ford USA motor.
Just a quick correction there Chad. The crossflow head was introduced in 1976 with the introduction of the XC Falcon. They then upgraded the cylinder head from cast iron to alloy in 1980. If the sticker on the air cleaner for this is to be believed, then this is the venerable 3.3l (200ci) engine. With that engine and the 3-speed transmission, that makes this the most basic model in the Falcon range.
The interesting thing about the last of the Australian Ford 6-cylinder engines (commonly known as the Barra) is that many international motoring journalists who have driven Fords fitted with that engine rate it as a better engine than the in-line six built by BMW. They were powerful, smooth and very refined….and now they’re out of production.
4.1 litre six with cross flow head
XY(10/1970) is still OK but X-A, -B (-C, x-flow intro; thru alu head – the X-D) can still be presentable.
The “Concord” front panel worked on Max’s car but on anything else forget it! The XB was a good looking model anyway but unfortunately in the 70s and 80s (mostly because of the panelvan craze) people wanted to change it and not always for the better………..West Walsend is a suburb of Newcastle so it’s near the ocean (salt water) and they were known to rust. A rare survivor even in Australia…….
Little known fact. Peter Arcardipane, the designer of the aftermarket ‘Madmax’ styling conversion worked for Ford in Australia, a little bit longer before heading to Mercedes Benz and bringing us the beautiful C215 and accompanying W220 S class and the first CLS four door coupe the W219.
Biggest find would be to locate the red WB holden panelvan that max used as his personal car. Disappeared off the face of the earth years ago.