Ford XY Falcon GT

Main articles: Ford Falcon (Australia) and Ford Falcon GT

Ford XY Falcon GT

For XY Falcon GT
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford Australia
Production	1970 – 1972
Assembly	Broadmeadows, Victoria, Australia
Body and chassis
Class	Muscle car
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	FR layout
Chronology
Predecessor	Ford XW Falcon GT

The Ford XY Falcon GT is an Australian built muscle car based on the Ford XY Falcon. Released in 1970 with the GTHO Phase III released in 1971. 1,557 units were produced from September 1970 to December 1971 with 300 GTHO Phase IIIs produced from May 1971 to November 1971. It was the fourth in the initial series of Ford Falcon GT muscle cars. A limited number were exported to South Africa, wearing Fairmont GT badging. This model is starting to increase in value as genuine GTs become harder to find.

With the rev limiter disabled it was capable of 250 kilometres per hour (160 mph) and would pull 7,000+ rpm in 4th gear. The rev limiter was set to 6,150 rpm. [not as ex factory/production then]

Technical details

• Engine Specifications:
• Engine: 351 cubic inch Cleveland V8 (5.763 litre)
• Bore & Stroke: 102 x 89mm (4.00 x 3.50in)
• Power (DIN): 224kW (300bhp) @ 5400rpm
• Torque (DIN:) 515Nm (380lbft) @ 3400rpm
• Compression Ratio: 11:1
• Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal, 90 degree V8
• Head Design: Pushrod & rocker OHV with hydraulic lifters
• Exhaust System: Cast iron manifold, low restriction twin exhaust
• Fuel System: 600cfm Autolite 4 barrel carburettor
• Ignition System: Single point distributor
• Manual Gearbox :
• Type: 4 speed all-synchronised
• 1st: 2.78:1
• 2nd: 1.93:1
• 3rd: 1.36:1
• 4th: 1.00:1
• Reverse: 2.78:1
• Manual Gearbox :
• Type: 4 speed all-synchronised close ratio
• 1st: 2.32:1
• 2nd: 1.69:1
• 3rd: 1.29:1
• 4th: 1.00:1
• Reverse: 2.78:1
• Automatic Transmission:
• Type: Heavy duty 3 speed C6 OR FMX
• Rear Axle:

Type: 9in LSD Traction Lock is standard with 28 spline axles or 31 spline optional

• Manual Ratio: 3.0:1 standard with optional 3.5:1 or 3.91:1
• Automatic Ratio: 2.75:1
• Suspension:

Front: Independent ball joint, coil springs, shock absorbers, wishbones and anti-roll bar Upper control arm to accept the 3 pin ball joint used, as opposed to the 4 point ball joint used in the normal GTs and earlier GTHOs

• Rear: Hotchkiss type with semi-elliptic leaf springs, shock absorbers and live axle
• Brakes:

Front: 286mm (11.25in) Servo assisted Discs Rear: 254mm (10in) Servo assisted Drums

• Steering:

Type: Re-circulating ball power assistance (Optional)

• Ratio: 16:1
• Wheels & Tyres:
• Wheels: 6.0 x 14 Steel - Steel '5 Slot' with S Steel dress ring & centre cap

7.0 x 15 Alloy - '5 Spoke' Bathurst Globe (Optional) from 1972

• Tyres: 185 x 14 - E70HR14
• Instrumentation:
• Speedometer: 140mph
• Cleveland Tachometer: 8000rpm
• Oil Pressure: Gauge
• Water Temperature: Gauge
• Fuel: Gauge
• Ignition: Warning Light
• High Beam: Warning Light
• Brakes: Warning Light
• Clock: Analogue
• Dimensions:
• Length: 4689mm (184.6in)
• Width: 1869mm (73.6in)
• Height: 1397mm (55.0in)
• Weelbase: 2819mm (111.0in)
• Front Track: 1499mm (59.0in)
• Rear Track 1486mm (58.5in)
• Weight: 1325kg (manual) 1415kg (auto)
• Turning Circle: 11.2m (36.6ft)
• Fuel Tank: 75 litre (16.4 gallons) - 163.8 litre (36.0gl) optional
• Seating: 5
• Performance:
• Top Speed: 217km/h (135mph) (auto)
• 0 - 60mph (0 - 100 km/h) - 7.2 seconds ( auto )

Standing 1/4 mile (400m) - 14.2 seconds ( auto )

GTHO Phase III

The Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III was built for homologation, it looked almost identical to the GT. The modified version the Falcon GT built in 1971 with a heavily upgraded engine, a 4 speed top-loader gearbox and Detroit locker 9" differential. It was also equipped with special brakes and handling package, plus a 36 imperial gallons (164 litres) fuel tank.

Winner of the 1971 Bathurst 500, driven by Allan Moffat, the Phase III has been 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.

The GTHO's 351 Cleveland engine output was understated as 300 bhp (224 kW) to satisfy insurers. It is generally accepted to produce in the region of 350-380 bhp (265 kW -283 kW). Initial cars were equipped with an electrical rev limiter which came into effect at 6,150 rpm. With the rev limiter disabled, the engine was reputed to pull in excess of 7,000 rpm, even in 4th gear. The Phase III GTHO was Australia's fastest four-door production car. In 1971 it won the Bathurst 500 motor race in the hands of Allan Moffat

Performance:

Top Speed: 227 km/h (141 mph) @ 6150rpm 0 - 60 mph - 6.5 seconds 0 – 100 km - 6.8 seconds Standing 1/4 mile (400m) - 14.4 seconds

Bathurst (6.172 km - 1938-1986) (6.213 km - 1987-present) Fastest Lap time: 2:36.5 by Allan Moffat (1972 Hardie-Ferodo 500 - Ford Falcon XY GTHO Phase III)

Value

The Phase III GTHO is in incredibly high demand with collectors and investors. Good examples have been sold for prices in excess of A$700,000. Due to this demand, a small production run, and 'fewer than 100 remaining' there been a flow on effect into values of the lesser XW and other XY Falcons, particularly genuine GS and 'standard' GT models. Other models that have also benefited from the appreciation of the GTHO include the XA and XB GT hardtops, the earlier XW GTHO Phase 1 and 2 and the XC Cobra.

A Falcon XY GTHO Phase III was sold at by Bonhams & Goodmans at auction for A$683,650 in March 2007. The car had only 40,000 km on the clock. The buyer of the car said it will be garaged, and that it won't be driven, but that he will be "keeping it as an investment". The sale price set a new auction record for Australian muscle cars. Whilst in June 2007 another Phase III sold for A$750,000. Shannons national auctions manager Christophe Boribon blames the global financial crisis for the collapse in values. "We reached an artificial high a couple of years ago but then the GFC hit. Now it is back to reality, " he said. "There is only a limited number of buyers out there for a car like that. "The car is a very rare car. The car is the holy grail of Australian muscle cars."Falcon GTHO Phase III

Price new 1971: $5300 Value 2007: $683,500 Value 2008: close to $1 million Value 2010: $331, 000

The Phase III GT is one of the few cars ever made that appreciated in value from the moment it left the dealership - even in 1975, four year old Phase IIIs were fetching prices equivalent to or higher than the on-road price of brand new XB GTs from Ford dealers.

Alternative names

The name of the car is often abbreviated to GTHO Phase III or even just Phase 3. Sometimes it is even referred to as a Hoey. It was also known as the Shaker because of the air intake scoop that protruded out of the bonnet and shook with the motion of the engine.And rattler because of the sound of the solid motor ...

Race record

Of greatest significance, the Falcon GT-HO Phase III succeeded in an outright win at Bathurst in the 1971 Hardie-Ferodo 500 and also secured the 1973 Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC) title; in both instances the cars were driven by Allan Moffat.

Moffat had great success with the Phase III in Australian production touring car racing where it scored many race wins from the latter half of 1971 through to 1973. One of the Phase IIIs driven by Moffat is now owned by Bowden's Own, an Australian car care products company. This particular example was a replacement vehicle fettled in September 1972, the original 1971 Bathurst winning car having been badly damaged at Adelaide International Raceway in the opening round of the 1972 Australian Manufacturers Championship; this particular GT-HO was subsequently driven to a number of victories by Moffat and enabled him to secure the overall 1973 ATCC honours:

• 1st 1972 Australian Manufacturers' Championship, Round 4, Phillip Island
• 1st 1972 Australian Manufacturers' Championship, Round 5, Surfers Paradise
• 1st 1973 Australian Touring Car Championship, Round 1, Symmons Plains
• 1st 1973 Australian Touring Car Championship, Round 2, Calder Park
• 1st 1973 Australian Touring Car Championship, Round 3, Sandown Park
• 1st 1973 Australian Touring Car Championship, Round 4, Wanneroo Park
• 1st 1973 Australian Touring Car Championship, Round 7, Oran Park

Successor to the GTHO Phase III

In 1972, the XY series Falcon was replaced by the XA Falcon range. Production of approximately 200 XA-based Falcon GT-HO Phase IV cars was originally scheduled to take place in June/July 1972, but this was terminated at 'the eleventh hour' due to what became known as "The Supercar scare". The Sun-Herald newspaper had run this as a front page lead article (with banner headline in large capital letters) on Sunday 25 June 1972: "160mph 'Super Cars' Soon". A copy of that front page is shown at the start of a Phase IV documentary.

Only one vehicle had been completed when production was cancelled. Three standard GTs were also at various stages of conversion into GT-HO race cars for the Bathurst 500 in October 1972. These four vehicles were later sold to specific individuals and/or dealers by Ford Australia. The Phase IV was never officially released.

Back to Ford Falcon GT
Back to Ford Falcon (Australia)
Back to Ford Australia
Last updated on 5 July 2014 at 10:52.