Ford Australia built its own Cortinas at Broadmeadows, with an option no British Cortina had: the Falcon 200 and 250 six, 3.3 and 4.1 litres. To fit it, every TC got reinforced side rails and centre pillars, a tubular gearbox crossmember, new firewall panels and a longer engine bay, so even the four-cylinder cars differ from British ones; sixes have a bulge in the bonnet. The TD took the XB Falcon’s steering column, wheel and stalks, and swapped the front anti-roll bar for a rear one.
The TE of July 1977 has Falcon door hardware and steering columns, bigger bumpers, its own Australian front suspension and ventilated front discs; its wagons were built by Renault Australia. The TF followed in April 1980, and Australian production ended in 1981. Ford New Zealand assembled British-pattern Cortinas, not these — a New Zealand Mk3 has no six — and Australian TEs, including the 4.1 six, came in only as imports. For New Zealand-built Cortinas see the Cortina Mk3 page.
Ford Cortina TC–TF — specification & changes within the model
- TC
- The first Australian Cortina; Falcon six from launch or soon after — sources disagree on the dates.
- TD
- From 1974. XB Falcon steering column, wheel and stalks. Rear anti-roll bar instead of front.
- TE
- From July 1977. Falcon door hardware, bigger bumpers, Australian front suspension. Wagons by Renault Australia.
- TF
- From April 1980 to 1981.
- Engines
- Four-cylinder, or Falcon 200 and 250 six (3.3, 4.1). Crossflow head from the TD.
- Body
- Reinforced rails and centre pillar, longer engine bay — four-cylinder TCs included. Sixes: bonnet bulge.
- In New Zealand
-
Assembled Cortinas here are British-pattern. Australian TEs came in as imports.
- Earth polarity
-
We cannot tell you for certain, and we will not guess. We could not find more than one source on the earth polarity for the TC to TF. Check the car before you order a coil, a regulator or a radio.
