How many gears does a Ford Falcon have?
It depends on the model and year—the Ford Falcon has used as few as two forward gears in older automatics and as many as six in later variants. There's no single universal number for the entire lineup.
To understand the question, it's helpful to look at how gear counts changed across generations and trim levels—from the original XK/XF era through the end of production in 2016—along with performance-focused FPV variants.
Historical generations and gearing
1960s–1970s: early Falcons
During the early years, customers could choose manual transmissions with three forward gears or an automatic with two forward speeds (the Fordomatic). This era also saw standard 3-speed manuals in many trim levels.
- Manual transmissions: typically three forward gears.
- Automatic transmissions: commonly two forward speeds (Fordomatic).
In this period, the number of gears was limited, reflecting the engineering and market standards of the time.
1980s–1990s: modernization and consolidation
As engineering advanced, Falcons offered more flexible options. Manual gearboxes commonly offered four forward speeds, while automatics were often 3- or 4-speed units, depending on the engine and trim.
- Manual transmissions: commonly four forward gears.
- Automatic transmissions: three- or four-speed automatics.
By the late 1990s, the automatic options were increasingly 4-speed, with some models offering more contemporary 4-/5-speed configurations.
2000s: EF–BF era and the Barra engines
The EF to BF era brought more consistent 4-speed automatics across many models, while some six-cylinder variants offered 5-speed manuals. The overall trend was toward more gears and better efficiency in automatic boxes used with the Barra engines.
- Automatic transmissions: usually four speeds.
- Manual transmissions: five speeds on some six-cylinder variants; others retained four.
This period marked a shift toward multi-gear efficiency, particularly in automatic boxes used with the Barra engines.
2010s: FG and FPV performance variants
In the final generation, automatic options included six-speed units (including ZF-sourced automatics in many variants). High-performance FPV and GT variants offered six-speed manuals in some configurations, while other trims continued with six-speed automatics.
- Automatic transmissions: typically six speeds on many models.
- Manual transmissions: six speeds on FPV/GT variants in several years; others used five or six depending on the spec.
Thus, late Falcons spanned 4–6 forward gears, with six-speed configurations becoming common in the FG era for performance variants.
Note: Specifics vary by model and year. If you provide the exact model and year, I can give the precise gear count for that vehicle.
What this means for owners and buyers
When shopping or maintaining a Ford Falcon, verify the exact transmission type and the number of forward gears for that vehicle’s year and model. This affects performance, fuel economy, and parts compatibility.
Summary
Across its production history, the Ford Falcon's number of forward gears ranged from two in early automatics to six in later, mainly FG-era transmissions, with intermediate configurations at four or five gears depending on the trim and whether it was a manual or automatic. The exact count is tied to the specific model and year.
For buyers and owners, always verify the precise transmission specification for your particular Falcon, as gear counts affect performance and maintenance compatibility.
