History
Never has an Australian car held so much gravitas as the Falcon XY GTHO Phase 3.
Powered by a 225kW 351ci Cleveland V8, driving through a four-speed manual gearbox, the GTHO was advertised as the world’s fastest four-door production car in the early 1970s.
But it wasn’t just the numbers that charmed Aussie motoring fans. What really saw the Ford muscle car come to stand head and shoulders above the rest, was its remarkable success at the racetrack.
Racing legend John Bowe summed it up well: “They’re raw, big, fast and quite brutal road cars, which were built to race,” Bowe told MOTOR Magazine.
“They were made to go up and down the mountain at Mount Panorama. That is the principal reason the GTHO existed. It was when car companies built cars to go racing. That is its whole secret.”
At the height of production touring car racing in Australia, the GTHO reigned King. At Bathurst in 1971 it filled all three spots on the podium, and Allan Moffat’s pole position qualifying time was 11 seconds faster than the Phase 2 the previous year – a time difference which is simply incomprehensible in modern touring car racing.
It’s little wonder the GTHO quickly reached legendary status.
Selling new in 1971 for a little over $5,000, by 1980 the value of the big Falcon had doubled. By the late 80s, figures were reaching the $100,000 mark. Last year, a pristine GTHO sold at auction for $1,030,000.
Of the 300 Phase IIIs built, it’s believed there are now fewer than 100 remaining, making this particular car very special indeed.
The car’s full documented history shows it being delivered new to Adelaide and spending a very sheltered life with fastidious owners who truly recognised the significance of this very special Australian muscle car.
In spectacular original condition, the car has taken many deserving titles, including a host of awards at the recent 2019 Falcon GT Nationals in Adelaide. It was the first time shown at the Nationals with the judges referencing the car as a "knockout car with great presentation detail work and ... the new benchmark".
This wonderful time capsule has travelled just 45,000 miles and remains original in every aspect, including the interior, paint, underbody, GT stripes, original Dunlop AcquaJets, front and rear spoiler, and markings.
This car also featured at the 2019 Motorclassica Event in the Preservation Class and also cover page featured in a collector's limited edition of Survivor Car Australia late 2019.
This is a simply outstanding example of a timeless Australian legend.
