Ford's general Sales Manager, Keith Horner, On April 18,
1967, 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 around
$3,800.00.
The XR Falcon GT was an instant success and the 596 units built between March
1967 and February 1968 sold as quick as they could build them. a 1st & 2nd
at Bathurst
cemented Fords decision to continue and the development of the GT
Along came the XT Falcon in 1968. 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. One of these can be seen at the FordMuseum
in GeelongVictoria.
Between February 1968 and June 1969 1,415 XR GTs were built.
May 1969 saw the birth of the XW GT as it 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 however most of the modifications added by the Ford
racing boss Al Turner, were to the engine, which now developed 300bhp (225KW).
The 351 got a bigger 600 Holly Carb vs the 450 carb, 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. (Handling option)
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 carburetor and improved gear ratios with a high 3.5:1
rear axle. Moffat won Bathurst
in a Phase II entrenching the dominance of the Phase II and the Falcon GTHO
Then came along the all new XY Falcon. The XY GT rolled off the line late in
1970 and was followed in 1971 with the all-time well loved 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
reaching speeds of 140Mph.
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 carburetor (780 vs 750cfm), bigger radiator,
larger harmonic balancer, better valve train, baffled sump, extractors and a
choice of four rear axle ratios.
Bathurst 1971
saw a GT HO Phase III's finishing 1st 2nd 3rd
5th & 6th. Any wonder the XY GTHO Phase III is still
the most sought after muscle car in Australia
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.
Recent prices received for a genuine Phase III have reached $750,000.00.
"I wish my dad had kept his".....
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 then
governing party advised Ford, Holden & Chrysler to stop making killer cars
or they would not buy their cars. This scared all of the car companies and that
stopped production of the Australian Supercars.
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 GT continued in production and sold well in both sedan and hardtop
versions, however, only a standard spec 351 Cleveland was available
Ford's last ditch with GTs for a couple of decades, 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. Two
tone paint & color coded bumpers and the eye catching GT351 Guard Stickers
made the XBGT a much sought after car.
When the last XB GT rolled out of Broadmedows, it was the end of an era. For
many of us hard lined ford guys, the XC GXL just didn’t cut it..
There was excitement when the XC Cobra hit the market, a limited edition
hardtop spec'd with either a 351 or 302.. Unfortunately this was the "were
killing the world" decade, and the poor XC power plants were choked with
all the anti-pollution plumbing sacrificing all the power and using more fuel.
Its a sad story really....
The XD rolled out of the factory in 1979, still. No GT model. Ford released an
ESP version, in V8 & 6 Cyl combinations, Sheil seating and bilstien
suspension they were a terrific handling machine, but alas, not a GT
The XE came along in 1982 and again, no GT, The XE ESP was quite popular, more
so than the XD. the choked up 351 sounded a treat, and the hunted down stance
of the XE ESP made it a real head turner. A great effort by Ford, However...
Its not a GT
The XE series saw the last V8 roll out of the factory until 1992, and the EB
Series...
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 GT's outstanding
performance, luxury appointments and distinctive styling ensured the tradition
of the Falcon GT lived on.
in 1997, the 30th Anniversary EL Falcon GT comes straight from the heart of the
team of engineers and designers at Ford and Tickford. For 250 quick-thinking
Australians it was the opportunity to acquire a piece of Australian motoring
history.
This special limited build of 250 individually numbered cars recreates the
magic of the Falcon GT legend. It does it with 1990's style, sophistication and
refinement. It comes complete with special leather bound trim, LTD like luxury
appointments, 17" alloy wheels and who wouldn't notice that insane bodykit
and spoiler!
And, in the tradition of all Falcon GTs, this commemorative model delivers 200
kilowatts of grunt. Although it was limited, and plastic, It was a GT...
We had to wait until the release of the BA to see another GT from Ford, and
what a release.
The BA Falcon could be the saving grace for Ford in Australia. The Boss 5.0 ltr Quad
Cam V8 certainly gets the blood rushing, and FPV have continued the development
to now with the G series..
Take one for a drive, the GT, the GT-P and the GT-E are all fantastic looking
and superior in performance to their predecessors.
Once a GT's in your blood, it never quits eating at your insides to take her
out for a early morning blast before work...
