From Workhorse To Showstopper: Incredibly Rare SVO Panel Van Review

[@gwstonemason]

Nice XG. Still using my 93 XF panel van on a daily basis for work. 400 000kms great solid cars.

[@rickybryan1759]

SVO was non factory. Mick Webb tried to fill the gap of having no sporty falcons in the late 80’s early 90’s. You could consider him like the BMW / Alpine relationship. Ford didn’t endorse but they didn’t hinder either. If you bought a Falcon you took it to Mick and he turned it into the closest thing we Ford fans could get to an early HSV.

[@TheFordMan888]

The package could be ordered through Ford dealers in the EA, after that you had to take it to his shop in Ringwood.

[@MartinJones123]

What about Tickford?

[@TheFordMan888]

@@MartinJones123 Tickford launched with the EB Model, Mick Webb of SVO run a Ford backed program with the EA, it was avaliablr to order the SVO performance pack in the brochure when purchasing a new EA. When Ford went In-House with Tickford for the EB, Mick Webbs SVO program got the flick. Mick still did Ford SVO packs right up until AU2, But you had to take your car to him once purchased.

[@rickybryan1759]

@@TheFordMan888 Mick’s outfit was kinda like semi- factory. The models never appeared in the back of Wheels as stand alone models. More like factory tolerated/supported after market kits.

[@TheFordMan888]

@@rickybryan1759 Correct, Selecting the box in the brochure on the EA & XF S Pack Utes didnt void your warranty, it was factory supported. When the EB and Tickford come to the party in 1991, he was just a private modifier. I have dealt with him plenty of times over the years in the spare parts trade, He even bought one Gunmetal 96 EL XR6 from me, only 17 were made in Gunmetal Grey as it was a changeover colour from EF-EL.

[@fakenews3676]

That 1st gear is like taking off in 3rd or 4th for most new cars today plus it doesn't rev higher than a diesel. Not bad at all.

[@RossReviewsau]

I enjoyed cruising in it

[@australiantruckspotting8883]

I had an XF panel van as a company car for a while. Very versatile vehicles that have no peers in today’s market.

[@RossReviewsau]

They seem bullet proof awesome vehicles

[@2jztheworld361]

“It’s almost 30 years old” when I was born the same year had to hit me like that mate 😂😂

[@RossReviewsau]

😂 join the club brother I’m 1990

[@moosethe1st910]

I just had an old XD falcon with a 5.8L V8 rumble by today here in townsville. Fully restored. Much earlier this arvo there was an old ford T bucket with the manual wind up lever at the front.

[@deanjohnson712]

I remember an EA SVO that a guy owned across the lane wher I worked in the early 1990’s, pre the EB GT

[@RossReviewsau]

That’s cool!

[@MrJak427]

Mick webb was Allan moffats mechanic he started up SVO in the 80’s when there was no factory motor sports devision at ford You took your car to SVO to get those options there was a a XH v8 SVO Ute in the bairnsdale area around 8-10 years ago cool car. They were mainly based on the xf ute it had the rear fire wall cut out and rewelded back in vertically to create a space cab along with heaps of other options depending on what you wanted

[@RossReviewsau]

That’s very cool! Thanks for the info

[@r-yan-kt7ye]

Ha. Had a xf svo pretty much identical except 3 on the tree manual and 250 cross flo, gas technology duel fuel(1100km range!),paid 3 grand for it and it took us around Aus and created my first son in it!..

[@homlesy1172]

7:11 Hand brake light on the dash is lit up

[@jeremykinniburgh8254]

It’s good seeing reviews of older cars, as well as newer ones, your channels getting better and better

[@RossReviewsau]

I appreciate that!

[@stevens.2574]

Special Vehicle operation by memory used in America on mustangs and few others, mainly body cosmetics, spoiler kits .

[@RossReviewsau]

They had an SVO in America also but was different

[@jrburger95]

This is very confusing, in America SVO stood for Special Vehicle Operations and was the label given to a high performance 4 cylinder turbo Mustang, in Australia there was 2 prototype cars called the SVO XF Falcon, one was powered by a 250 HP Turbo 4.0L while the other was a 200 HP N/A both where developed by Dick Johnson and never went into production. That being said this is the first I am hearing about this SVO XG and I am not sure if it's even related to the other SVO Fords I've mentioned.

[@MartinJones123]

Maybe it also stood for Special Vehicle Operations over here as well...

[@RossReviewsau]

There was a range of cars made here from SVO apparently still stood for Special Vehicle Operations.. and was done with mic Webber

[@braydensmith8944]

SVO was launched with the EA and was based on either a S or Fairmont. i had the former. had a few performance addons from what i believe was standard. lower suspension of the BILSTEIN kind i believe. SVO branded Extractors and some kind of exhaust, LSD ect. Sad i sold it in the end and was written off by the new owner less then a year later.

[@MrJak427]

No it was the xf ute still see them from time to time in Melbourne were they were produced at mick webs SVO

[@braydensmith8944]

Yeah man remembered just after posting this a mate had a XF SVO in the early 2000’s posted a comment somewhere further up to that effect.

[@RossReviewsau]

Thanks for the info! Oh man I would love to see more SVO cars in the future

[@jordanscarreviews6164]

Great review mate. I’m really desperate and keen for the XR6 VCT.

[@RossReviewsau]

Coming soon thanks jordan

[@efxr6538]

Cool!

[@akaitv6606]

The AU suspension and k frame in one of those is a good upgrade , lots have done that upgrade , some welding and cutting involved .

[@CorzA01]

I found this information online. Apparently SVO originally produced 600 Falcon Sedans, 100 Utes, 600 Fairlanes and 280 Capris. This Panelvan must be super rare

[@stephenw2992]

4:39 EL was mid late 90s, so maybe you meant SVO was first on the EA in late 80s? I owned an XF and XH van and never heard of SVO or saw one before this video. There was Longreach and Tradesman on the commercials, and I had a Tradesman XH van. Unfortunately the vans rust badly around the roof gutter. At times I still wish I had one because they were such a handy vehicle and much better to drive than the Japanese vans with you sitting over the front wheels and motor.

[@braydensmith8944]

did some digging and found evidence of XF SVO's so i thought EA but obviously even earlier than that,

[@TheFordMan888]

@@braydensmith8944 The XF sedan SVO was built by Dick Johnson. Mick Webb launched the first Ford backed SVO program with the EA and also did later XF Utes. You could tick the box at the dealer and order the package there and then. The program was dropped for the EB when Ford went in-house with the Tickford branding. It was still possible to get Mick Webb SVO vehicles right up until AU Series 2, you had to however take your car to there workshop to be modified. The EL SVO that was pictured in the video, was a Southside Ford Brisbane dealer pack. They weren't produced by Mick Webb of which the SVO branding is synonimised with.

[@pete508]

Man I used to see a few of those around as a kid but never anymore & she was never built for speed but as a work van or to get a sheila in the back for a bit of romance lol,this brought back memories from the 80's thanks Johnny great review.

[@danielreynolds6498]

Never heard of a svo …. My first car was a 94 xg panel van had it maybe 10years unfortunately I gave into the rust gods, but it was an incredibly practical car for work surfing small trips

[@michaeldavies9267]

Wish I could upload a photo of mine..by DJR..

[@danielreynolds6498]

@@michaeldavies9267 really !!!!!!

[@mvrv12345]

Awesome review Ross! Not much info anywhere on the SVO online so hopefully this will raise awareness!!

[@RossReviewsau]

I hope so too!

[@Low760]

This brings back memories, they weren't that uncommon when I was growing up in ute and panel van as well as EA's.

[@RossReviewsau]

Awesome things I must say!

[@351tgv]

SVO? would be Mick Webb operations, in the early 80's Ford Australia abandoned the "factory performance" range of Falcon and other selected model ranges like Lazer and Telstar and left it up to 3rd party aftermarket groups like DIck Johnson, Phase Autos, Peter Brock's "Advantage International" (which also did Lada Nivas) and Mick Webb and several other smaller players like APV (or was it AVP) , from memory also the CDT (Country Dealer Team) also did several XE Falcon "Grand Prix" editions which were supposed to be homologated for Group A racing. To go into each model offered would take way to long but for this case SVO - Special Vehicles Operation" Mick Webb did essentially Falcon upgrades starting with the EA Falcon based on the Falcon S-Pack, the S-Pack from the factory came with a shorter final 3.23:1 drive ratio (diff gear ratio in standard Falcon was like 2.92 in the Series 1 EA Falcon no matter auto or manual save for the S-Pack) and the MPEFI engine good for 139kW (5,000rpm) and 338Nm (3,500rpm) with either the 5-speed Borg Warner T5 manual or the 3-speed Borg Warner 75 torque converter auto later changed to the 4-speed electronic control BTR 85le torque converter auto, other changes was suspension related and some visual trim changes, engine was the major change was extractors, exhaust and upgraded spark plugs, leads and coil, which lifted power to around 155kW (never was made official) but no difference to torque output as that was controlled by the EEC-IV computer, I don't think they did any head work or changed the cam until the EB version but buy then Ford Australia was secretly working with Tickford on the future S-XR6 but that would not arrive until mid 1992 and of course with the 4.0L and not the 3.,9L engine. As for the UTE/Panel Van, gees they go back to the original "Blackwood" "XD" which in itself dates back to the XA of 1972. The one you have in this video is the last one based on the XD package and in that also in terms of "E" Falcon would be EB Series II / ED Falcon so mid 1993 / 1993, the big change for the Falcon UTE would come later on with the "EF" cycle upgrade (save for the engine/transmission which stayed the same), the interior of this panel van is a mix of XF Falcon with EB/ED (gauges).

[@michaeldavies9267]

Love my XF SVO sedan by DJ, OWNED it for 28 years, 5 sped T5, with 155 wks, sitting on 225x50x16,s using the ESP suspension..BRILLIANT

[@RossReviewsau]

Thanks for sharing! That’s awesome 👏

[@351tgv]

from memory only a hand full were ever made by DJR version of SVO. The January 1987 edition of Wheels Mag has it on the cover, DJR tried to homologate it for Group A but Ford Australia put and end to that very quickly when they would not give him 50 XF Falcon S-Pack to convert, the same thing happened earlier in 1984 when DJR tried to have the XE Falcon homologated for Group A racing in 1985, that was done by the CDT. In short Dick was left with no other option but to go and find the FOX Mustang Group A if he wanted to stay in the ATCC. Thankfully Ford of Europe got their act together and together with Cosworth created the Group A Sierra Cosworth 500 and then the RS500 which then allowed Dick to make his own versions in 1988/9, but yeah that is history.

[@TheHayabusa09]

Hate to tell ya, but the park brake was on during the 0-100kph...check footage @ 7:05..

[@mvrv12345]

Common issue with XGs mate, the light not going off when fully down

[@RossReviewsau]

Was off I can assure you

[@andrewray3154]

I had a NA SVO decades ago.

[@TheFordMan888]

You can get Manual with a buckets and a "Dicky" seat in the middle, They come with a unique centre console from factory. Most of these Manual cars with the dicky seat were vinyl trimmed buckets also.

[@RossReviewsau]

That’s cool as hell 😂 keen to see one

[@musicvideoproductionediting]

great review! i got a 95 XG van, please do more panel van reviews.!

[@RossReviewsau]

I’ll try n find more

[@iamasmurf1122]

i saw an EL SVO in NZ when i worked for john andrew ford in NZ as an Autotech , they were a V8 car very nice cars the motors were stroked , and it goes back further than EL

[@ethanburgess8355]

svo started back with the ea-ed models, just to mention any ea-el 6 prior to au is just a sohc. intech is the redesigned/revised brother 😉😉

[@RossReviewsau]

Amazing stuff I really want to see more SVO cars now

[@ethanburgess8355]

@@RossReviewsau there is plenty for sale at the moment, couldn't tell you why tho I'd love to have one

[@vincekara9446]

Hey John, awesome review. Btw, you need to set the park brake to off for the 0 - 100! I'm sure it was off but the light was still on lol

[@RossReviewsau]

It was off.. old car the light kinda hangs on

[@shaunbeattie6557]

SVO DID STAND FOR SPECIAL VEHICLES OPERATIONS WHICH STARTED IN1981 TO DESIGN AND DEVELOP PERFORMANCE PARTS AND ACCESSORIES

[@RossReviewsau]

Appreciate the information

[@steveskrobot9496]

While you guys are talkin about SVO EL and EA Falcons! SVO Australia was an idea from Dick Johnson and a friend in partnership, after the XE Turbo 6 Formula Falcon prototypes that got axed at the last minute, Dick wanted to produce 500 XF Turbo 6 Falcons in SVO, Probably got the idea from Racing his Foxbody Mustang in 85 and 86 in the ATCC, with SVO being in AMerica with the Limited Edition Foxbodies, long story short, there is one prototype of the XF Turbo SVO in existence, and when you see it, it resembles the XG svo a little. The XF SVO got knocked on the head also because also in 1987, the Little Turbo Cosworth Ford Sierra won preference to battle against Holden Dealer Team, so again, another Dick Johnson dream not coming true.

[@thatguyben3128]

_The old SVO shagging wagon, cool_ 😎

[@RossReviewsau]

😂😏😏😏😏

[@Cooper20228]

great review looks sick

[@RossReviewsau]

Thanks!

[@MartinJones123]

Great review and something a little different... Any more 80's and 90's Commodores on the way?

[@RossReviewsau]

Not at the moment but have some potentially lined up!

[@MartinJones123]

@@RossReviewsau Can't wait!

[@efxr6538]

Hope so! 😁

[@fakenews3676]

Those rims remind me of the AMG monoblock wheels from the old mercs

[@RossReviewsau]

Yes I like em a lot

[@efxr6538]

Loving this X and E series Falcon content Ross. How about reviewing an XH XR6 or XR8 ute next? I'm gonna like and comment on everyone's comments to get the KZbin algorithm working for you! 😉

[@RossReviewsau]

Thanks very much mate! Let’s hope I can find one

[@FalconTerritory]

I guess it's something related to Ford America's sport division which was called svo for the foxbody mustang then later called sho when the Ford tarus came out. I'm not sure though

[@RossReviewsau]

Mic Webber was behind it apparently

[@jackciroc3397]

If you can find the svo ea falcon turbo that would be good and dig up a HDT 5.6ltr director VL at the same time you would be a legend bro.

[@TheFordMan888]

AIT did the Turbo for the EAs, SVO all run the 3.9L still. There's also a EA TSS that was supercharged and had a twin tyre system.

[@RossReviewsau]

We can only hope! Hard model to find

[@shannonhall4385]

​@TheFordMan888 those AIT turbo vehicles were something else

[@351tgv]

@@TheFordMan888 - yeah Mick Webb as far as I know never did a EA Falcon S-Pack Turbo, at best it was extractors, exhaust, plugs, leads and coil upgrades and the shorter final drive ratio 3:23:1, they never opened the engine, torque stayed the same as that was regulated by the EEC-IV computer (which only Ford had access to at that time) but power was lifted to around 155kW from the changes mentioned. AVP (or was it APV) also did did a similar upgrade package and they claimed 164kW (although never verified). Peter Brock also did his EA Falcon upgrades claimed similar engine power of around 160kW form the 3.9L MPEFI and as did Phase Autos (but even then they were one off concepts). I know this will never happen because Ford Australia own the vehicle and pretty much mothballed in the Ford museum it but it would be interesting to to see a review of the EA 351-GT, 4 were made only 2 survive (Jack Rousch has the original white EA Falcon S-Pack which was the prototype) and the on one display is the red one that Wheels and Motor tested back in mid 1990, they are the only official EA Falcon with V8 engines in them.

[@TheFordMan888]

@@351tgv The EA 351GT was located at the Geelong Museum of Motoring but they have since closed and are looking for a new location. They also have the Terra & Sandfire XH Ute Concepts, The AU R5 Concept and AU Venom Concept too.

[@chrisrolfe6917]

The car's 30 years old, but that interior is the same as in the XF Falcon from 1984 X-D

[@rory8867]

Road test just around corner from my place, if l knew would of bought my FGX XR6 or ZL Fairlane and NL Fairlane for you to look at !!

[@RossReviewsau]

Next time! Keen

[@callumandrews4342]

ZL Fairlane would be mint!

[@pnr9730]

I got a standard 1993 panel van I'm thinking of selling no rust always garaged. And a XG ute too. Can sell together or separately. The panel van is a goer the ute needs resto??

[@munckintattoolover24]

Cool car! Makes me want to get a panel van now!

[@RossReviewsau]

They are really cool eh

[@imanenigma3348]

Nice old van mate, but I'm calling a mock up. About to pick up a nice rust free XH2 van myself. Same engine/trans, EF frontal treatment, they are not Intechs by the way. In Australia, we may have come up with the ute idea and many others are built around the world but high roof panel vans, that drive like a car? Only in OZ, unless I'm mistaken.

[@RossReviewsau]

I think it was a mock up 🥲 still cool tho

[@imanenigma3348]

@@RossReviewsau Yes mate, we should be grateful people are keeping any of our oldies going, we did not build many cars here to start off with and many ended up in the crushers. Mind you at 61, I don't really class an early 90's car old!😉

[@nathand7560]

You will have to take my XD Panelvan with a 393 stroker for a cruise when its finished 👍

[@nymphia2922]

Hey man great video, what app do you use to test your 0-100? Looks really intuitive!

[@RossReviewsau]

Called a Dragy

[@nashadam1231]

Love it!!!

[@RossReviewsau]

🫶🫶

[@xandercollinet9462]

Should do a Nissan cefiro a31 again was one of my favourite vids but I’d love to see it done now

[@falscherbruce5522]

I had an XG with liftgate rear window instead of barn doors. Pretty rare, not factory, apparently retrofitted as a project.

[@andrewzuiderduyn3159]

Definitely could go camping in it

[@RossReviewsau]

100%

[@andrewzuiderduyn3159]

​@@RossReviewsau on point

[@fiftyoneindustries2]

Was the park brake on for that drag test? double check the dash

[@RossReviewsau]

Nah mate think just old dash wasn’t on

[@daviddench4036]

Svo is a not factory backed is stated with the xf and finished with au 1 they where sold through some ford dealers in Sydney Melbourne and Brisbane they did a el xr8 with wild body kit engine upgrades to take on hsvs

[@RossReviewsau]

Interesting lots to learn about them! I want to see more

[@todd_harrison4500]

​@@RossReviewsau the EF-EL SVOs were done by Southside Ford Dealership. The name got passed around a bit😅 I actually have a (Mick Webb's) SVO steering wheel on my AU XR8!👍

[@bashyamate2613]

I can't remember where I heard it but there was an svo au falcon and it had the intech making 185kw

[@mattcanning6133]

I think there's an AU ute that's Mick's "shop truck"

[@dancunningham9324]

Hi Mick Webb was based in Heidelberg in Melbourne and was a independent vehicle modifier my father had a new ea s pack in 1988 that mick done some work on.

[@RossReviewsau]

Holly hell I need to see that

[@pgilb70]

Pretty sure that's mocked up by a keen punter. Doubt it's a factory supported svo. Cool rig though.

[@justin3131ify]

Mmm hmm first give away are the ROH wheels, Svo vehicles were stamped svo, secondly the stock engine and seats are another indicator.

[@braydensmith8944]

possible giveaway is on the acc test when showing the gauge cluster the oil pressure is pinned on max which would indicate the engine only has a oil pressure switch and not a Pressure sender indicating either the engine has had the wrong sensor fitted ? or the vehicle was built originally with a low series cluster.

[@TheFordMan888]

@@braydensmith8944 I was going to purchase this car at Grays Auctions about 8 months ago, the oil was milky, and can confirm a mock up. The genuine SVOs were bucket seat console in the XG. Cluster is also from an EA SVO, as XG had white increments not yellow. The wheels are also the ROH version, not genuine SVO stamped.

[@ablokeinatroopyaustraliawide]

@@TheFordMan888 yep exactly right, I'm currently doing an svo style xg van, bought genuine rims, eb xr dash, genuine Momo svo wheel and decals etc that I went down to micks shop and bought directly off him.

[@TheFordMan888]

@@ablokeinatroopyaustraliawide Yeah you can get just about everything off him to do your own these days.

[@Swwa89]

I saw an xf ute one day with a nissan badge aparently its legit!!! Bit like the gq patrol Ford maverick thing but iv only ever seen one

[@RossReviewsau]

Really? Lol

[@imanenigma3348]

@@RossReviewsau That is a definite. Nissan Patrol = Ford Maverick around 1988 for a little while Nissan Ute = Ford Falcon Ute around the same time. Also, Toyota lexen? was just a rebadged Holden Commodore around the same time VN, VR, VS series I think. Plus Holden Apollo = Toyota Camry Holden Astra = Toyota Corolla All around the late 80's early 90's.

[@Nathan-ce5bd]

My uncle had 1 of them in a ute red

[@RossReviewsau]

Awesome

[@Dboma88]

Mate where is that road and that dam? Reckon its near me but i cant place me finger on it

[@rickybryan1759]

Now if you could get your hands on an SVO EA/EB s-pack…

[@RossReviewsau]

Ikr! I’d love to see another SVo

[@raphaeldolios3195]

I have an EA svo with turbo conversion

[@rickybryan1759]

@@raphaeldolios3195 sweet!

[@randomdude4669]

This car also has a steering box to my knowledge

[@datwistyman]

My mate had a yellow PV that was a Broncos edition in Qld and came with all the football club extra's. It was the same model as this one. I was only young then so I don't know anything about it. But leaving a comment in case anyone knows about it and can talk about it.

[@4litrespoolyboi206]

Can we get to NEMESIS already?

[@RossReviewsau]

Coming soon… lot of videos in the pipeline

[@lukey6534]

It should do 100kph in 2nd So it should be closer to 9 seconds 0-100.

[@michaelbyrnes7944]

Intech is a AU engine

[@JosephCowen-fz8vj]

Intec is an EA through AU engine , all the 3.2 litre, 3.9 litre and 4.0 litre single cam engines were called Intec from Ford Australia. They were competing with Holden , and they then called their new six the Ecotec and much later Alloytec .

[@michaelbyrnes7944]

@@JosephCowen-fz8vj obviously you talk shit only intech engine was in AU falcon not all from EA to AU and was the only one with it written on the rocker cover.. go back to yanky land wanker

[@giggygiggy1393]

The owner could write to Ford to get the lowdown on it

[@RossReviewsau]

Would be interesting

[@johnsbackwithcommonsense7628]

Don't park that infront of a school 😂

[@RossReviewsau]

🤣💀

[@imanenigma3348]

Not going to ask you why.😉

[@motolife3024]

0-100 like a turbo diesel 😄 🤣

[@stephenw2992]

I had an XH van with virtually the same motor and it could beat old school V8 manuals off at the lights with its 4 speed auto.

[@RossReviewsau]

😂

[@ablokeinatroopyaustraliawide]

Could've at least put svo rims on it and not the ROH ones. Same rim but different casting for svo ones. It's a mockup for sure...

[@RossReviewsau]

really??

[@ablokeinatroopyaustraliawide]

@@RossReviewsau yep, those rims where the letters say ROH on that cast section should say SVO . That’s just one of the many bits that aren’t correct….

[@efxr6538]

@@ablokeinatroopyaustraliawide hmmmm

[@Schultzy1992]

13.2 seconds

[@RossReviewsau]

she aint quick lol

[@bubbalo3388]

Looks like a hearse.

[@RossReviewsau]

😅 I guess

[@efxr6538]

😂

[@imanenigma3348]

A hearse is for dead people, mate. In Australia, the panel van is for making people, or at least practicing😉.......and apparently also good for tradies!😂

[@JosephCowen-fz8vj]

Shagin Wagon !

[@JosephCowen-fz8vj]

Holden had the Sandman , Ford had the Sundowner and Chrysler had the Drifter ! All had that surfy culture idealoligy, all sleeping in the back , living that life , ! They are history in Australia!

[@joshredfern5080]

Not a genuine Mick Webb SVO