The Falcon GT.
It’s the stuff of dreams.
Arguably the greatest muscle car ever produced in Australia.
Now that it’s 2020. Now it’s a new decade. We pause to reflect on a car that gave us so much, so many memories — a car that we will never see the likes of again.
The future of the V8 looks shaky too, although it’s still hanging in there.
Ford introduced the GT as a performance package for the Falcon way back in 1967 with the XR series.
From there it was also offered with the 1968 XT, 1969 XW, 1970 XY, 1972 XA and 1973 XB.
The more extreme GT-HO with suspension and other modifications (the HO stood for Handling Option) was only available the XW and XY Falcon series and was basically designed as a homologation special for motor racing.
The Ford Falcon GT-HO Phase III was the fastest four-door production car in the world at one time.
An XA version was also planned, but shelved in the early stages of development in the wake of a scare campaign by the Sun Herald newspaper.
There was of course the 1978 limited edition Falcon Cobra, based on the XC Hardtop, which was a GT in everything but name — but that’s another story.
Fast forward to 1992, and the GT badge made a comeback with the 25th Anniversary model based on the EB II series, followed five years later by the 30th Anniversary EL version.
Both of these cars were produced by Tickford which later established Ford Tickford Experience (FTE) as a rival for HSV, with “T series” models based on the AU Falcon and Fairlane.
FTE was replaced by Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) after Tickford was bought out by Prodrive in 2003.
FPV came to an end in 2014 with the launch of the last GT — the GT-F “351” — two years before the end of location production by Ford in 2016.
Falcon GTs, even barn find cars, fetch big money at auction these days, with a record $750,000 paid for one.
But back in the day, however, a 1971 XY GT-HO Phase III would cost you just $5302.
Makes you think doesn’t it? If only you had bought one when you had the opportunity, you’d be sitting on or in a gold mine now.
Interestingly, the 1973 XB, also available as a two-door hardtop, was the most popular GT built by Ford, with a total of 2899 sold (1950 sedans and 949 hardtops).
The question is . . . If you could turn back the clock . . . which GT would you pick — which one would you like to own?
Take a second. Click on a car car to vote. You can vote for up to three of them — but you only get to vote once.
Personally we’d like each and every one . . .
CHECKOUT: First Falcon was a Chrysler
CHECKOUT: XW Falcon propelled Ford to sales record