Ford Falcon GT
The Ford Falcon GT (Grand Tourer) was introduced as a performance variant of the Australian Ford Falcon XR series in 1967. GT variants were also offered in: 1968 XT, 1969 XW, 1971 XY, 1972 XA, 1973 XB models with the Ford Falcon Cobra being offered in the 1972 XC series. The Ford Falcon GT was the first Australian muscle car with the HO (Handling Options) variants released with XW GT Phase I and II and the XY Phase III being further modified for performance. The XB Falcon GT was only available in hardtop coupe form (introduced with the XA). The name was dropped with the XC model, Falcon GTs have later been offered through Walkinshaw and FPV.
A fear campaign against supercars started with scare headlines of 160 plus miles per hour street cars led to Ford dropping production with the planned Falcon GT HO Phase IV.[1]
A Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III was the most expensive Australiam vehicle sold at auction.[2] In 1971 a Phase III won the Bathurst 500 driven by Allan Moffat.
There was a police variant of the Falcon GT called the Ford Falcon GT Interceptor.
XR Falcon GT
The XR Falcon GT featured a 225 bhp (168 kW) version of the 289 cubic inch (4.7 litre) Windsor V8 engine, sourced from the Ford Mustang. All but thirteen XR GTs were painted in the colour 'GT Gold', eight were "Gallaher Silver" and five were "Russet Bronze, Sultan Maroon, Polar White, Avis White and Ivy Green". The non-gold GTs, while having the same specifications, are the rarest of the early Australian muscle cars.
Ford XT Falcon GT
Ford XW Falcon GT
Ford XY Falcon GT
Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III
The Ford Falcon Phase III released in 1971, was powered by a heavily modified 351 Cleveland engine with 4 speed top-loader and detroit locker 9” diff, the GT was an instant classic. Described as "...simply one of the best cars in the world, a true GT that could take on Ferraris and Astons on their own terms..." by Sports Car World.[citation needed] It was also equipped with special brakes and handling package, plus a 36 gallon fuel tank.
The Phase 3, as it is referred to by some purists, was very successful in the Australian Touring Car Championship (1973 ATCC winner Allan Moffat drove a Phase 3). [3][4]
XA Falcon GT
In 1972, the XY series Falcon was replaced by the XA Falcon range. Production of the XA based 1972 Falcon GT-HO Phase IV, commenced in mid-June 1972 but stopped due to a "Supercar Scare", e.g. The Sun-Herald ran 160mph 'Super Cars' Soon as its front page lead article on Sunday 25 June 1972: (a copy of that front page is shown at the start of a Phase 4 documentary).[5]
Four vehicles were built when production was stopped -- three as race cars for the Bathurst 500 in October, and one made it off the production line for sale to the public. The four vehicles were sold by Ford Australia, but the Phase IV was never officially released.[6]
XB Falcon GT
References
- ^ http://www.gtho4.com/ford/video-clip.html See a copy of the front page is shown at the start of a Phase 4 documentary with the headline: 160mph 'Super Cars' Soon, (25 June 1972), The Sun-Herald]
- ^ Joshua Dowling (3 June 2007), "The Sun-Herald" reported the sale of Phase III for $750,000
- ^ "eBay Australia's Muscle & Performance Cars Buying Guide". ebay.com.au. Retrieved 2006-09-11.
- ^ "Ford GTHO sets new auction record for a 'muscle car' at Bonhams & Goodman's first collectors' cars auction for 2007". Bonhams & Goodman. 2007-03-25. Retrieved 2006-09-11.
- ^ http://www.gtho4.com/ford/video-clip.html
- ^ "The Final Finest Phase" article in "Super Ford" magazine, 1987, pp. 20-27
External links
- Supercars.net forum, retrieved September 11, 2006
- Bowden's Own, retrieved September 11, 2006
- http://www.gtho4.com, retrieved 4 May 2007
- Falcon GT Club
- The Ford Falcon GT Story at Unique Cars and Parts
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