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GT HISTORY

The Falcon GT was born in 1967 when then Ford Australia Managing Director Bill Bourke saw the prototype of an XR Falcon V8 police special being developed by engineers at the Company's You Yangs Proving Ground and suggested they develop a production version, paint them all one colour and call them GTs.

 

XR - 1967

On April 18, 1967, Ford's general Sales Manager, Keith Horner, issued a Confidential Dealer Bulletin headed "Falcon GT". The bulletin was short and to the point. The new model would be "a high performance vehicle especially suitable for trial and stock car racing but flexible enough and luxurious enough for normal car use.

"It will be available in one colour "GT Gold" with charcoal trim, have a high-performance, 4 barrel, V8 with 225hp, a floor mounted manual transmission with synchromesh on all four speeds, special suspension, wider rimmed wheels, radial ply tyres and a 16:1 steering ratio with power steering "optional" The bulletin continued . . . The price was $3,890, including sales tax.

The XR Falcon GT was an instant success and the 596 units built between March 1967 and February 1968 sold as quickly as they were built. It quickly established its credibility with a convincing 1-2 in the Bathurst 500-mile classic, Harry Firth and Fred Gibson taking the laurels.

 

XT - 1968

With the XT Falcon in 1968 came a new engine, the 302 cubic inch (4.9 litre) Windsor which boasted an extra five horsepower over the XRGT's 289 Windsor and an increase in torque from 305 to 310 ft/lbs developed 600 rpm higher at 3800 rpm. Wheel rims were widened to 6", a limited slip differential was fitted as were driving lights, a front anti-roll bar and optional automatic transmission.

The most headlined XT GT's were the three cars entered by Ford in the London-Sydney Marathon. Masterminded by Harry Firth, the team came home in 3rd, 6th and 8th places to take out the prestigious Teams and Manufacturers' Prizes for Ford and Australia, with Ian Vaughan driving the top placed car.

Between February 1968 and June 1969 1,415 XR GTs were built.

  XW - 1969

In May 1969 the first of the XW GTs rolled off the Broadmeadows assembly line. Ford upped the ante with the XW by fitting the 351 cubic inch (5.8 litre) Windsor V8 with an output of 290 bhp (217KW) and 385 ft/lbs of torque. With bigger brakes, a final drive ratio of 3.25:1, a huge 36 gallon (164 litre) fuel tank and suspension mods to take the extra power and torque, the XW seemed to be the ultimate grand tourer. But more was to follow.

The HO variant, which arrived two months later, was a real street racer. HO stood for "Handling Option" in Fordspeak but most of the modifications added by Ford racing boss Al Turner were to the engine, which now developed 300bhp (225KW). The 351 got a bigger (600 vs 450cfm) carburettor, hydraulic valve lifters, revised camshaft, heavy duty alternator, alloy inlet manifold as well as a three-inch heavy duty tailshaft, heavier front roll bar, beefed-up coils, stiffer shocks and a new rear roll bar.

In its first appearance at the 1969 Bathurst race an XW GT HO came in second in spite of wrong tyre choice which saw the works cars pitting for unscheduled stops throughout the day. The GT HO also saw the debut of the "Super Roo" emblem, the tyre burning kangaroo. Production of the XW model resulted in 2,287 GTs from May 1969 to October 1970 and 662 GT HOs from Juty 1969 to October 1970.

Ford further refined the XW GT with a Cleveland 351 engine, still with 300bhp. The Phase II GT HO which appeared in August 1970 sported a 750cfm Holley carburettor and improved gear ratios with a high 3.5:1 rear axle. Allan Moffat won Bathurst in a Phase II after leading from lap 2.

 
XY - 1970

The new XY GT rolled off the line late in 1970 and was followed in 1971 with the all-time classic GT HO Phase III. With between 370 and 390bhp (276 - 291 KW) and 380 ft/lbs (513Nm) of torque, it was reputed then to be the world's fastest 4-door production car.

Looking suitably aggressive with its "shaker" air intake protruding through the bonnet, a rear deck spoiler and bold side stripes, the Phase III was fitted with a yet bigger carburettor (780 vs 750cfm), bigger radiator, larger harmonic balancer, better valve train, baffled sump, extractors and a choice of four rear axle ratios.

Predictably, Bathurst 1971 was a Falcon GT rout with GT HO Phase III's finishing 1-2-3-5-6.The most replayed sequence of the race was Bill Brown's car rolling spectacularly along the fence at McPhillamy Park.

There were 1,557 XY GTs made from September 1970 to December 1971 while just 300 GT HO Phase III's were built from May to November 1971.

 

XA - 1972

Early in 1972 Ford released the XA Falcon with the GT in sedan and hardtop versions, the hardtop being preferred for racing as its bulging rear flanks accommodated wider tyres. Ford built 1,868 sedans from January 1972 to September 1973 and 891 hardtops between July 1972 and September 1973.

The XA GT was designed for wider appeal with its less aggressive look and creature comforts. The XA GT-HO Phase IV is the best remembered model that never was. Three prototypes were built at Ford's "Lot 6" race workshop and one production model made it down the Broadmeadows assembly line before the "Supercar" furore stopped production.

The Phase IV was to have had 340bhp (255KW) and around 400 ft/lbs of torque and a reported top speed of around 150mph (240kmh). The 'normal' GT continued in production and while many race teams made do with their Phase 3 XYs. The XA GT won at Bathurst in 1973 with Moffat and Ian "Pete" Geoghegan in the hardtop version.

In 1974 John Goss and Kevin Bartlett in an XA GT Hardtop won the first really wet Bathurst 1000 enduro.

 

XB-1973

The last of this era of GTs was the XB and it was also the most prolific. From July 1973 until June 1976 Ford produced 1,950 sedans and 949 hardtops. Many will argue that up until then, the XB was the best looking GT built by Ford, it was certainly the best "grand tourer" in the real sense of the term and was the first GT to be fitted with four wheel disc brakes.

EB-1992

In time for the 25th anniversary of the original XR GT, 1992 saw the return of the Falcon GT in the form of the EB.

The new partnership between Ford and Tickford Vehicle engineering took on the challenge of re-introducing the GT for the '90's. With a 200 KW, 5.0 litre V8 engine, modern technology and development processes, the result was a stunning success.

Immediately recognised as a collector's car, the EB ensured the tradition of the Falcon GT lived on.


EL-1997

Ford celebrated the 30th anniversary of the legendary XR Falcon GT, with the release of 1997 GT EL Falcon.

The 30th Anniversary Falcon GT, which is based on the EL Fairmont, has been enhanced in almost every facet. The aggressive aero-package is backed up by a 200kW powerplant, unique automatic transmission, carbon fibre wrapped driveshaft and newly released Yokohama A510 245/40 VRI 7 tyres.

The interior has also been upgraded to make the GT one of the most well-appointed cars ever produced in Australia. Only 250 numbered GTs have been built for the Australian market, 116 in automatic and 134 manual. An additional 15 cars were built for New Zealand with two vehicles going to South Africa.

The GT is available in three colours, Heritage Green, Sparkling Burgundy or Navy Blue and it had a recommended retail price of $69,500. The four-speed 'Adaptive Shift' automatic transmission is a no cost option.

The GT was launched at the Melbourne Motor Show on February 28. Interest in the new GT was been building in the months leading to the launch, with customers offering deposits to dealers for the GT, sight unseen.