37-year-old Falcon chases top money at Brisbane Show

The most valuable car at this year's Brisbane Motor Show may not have an exotic Italian name or a blue-blood British pedigree. In fact it may have more DNA in common with a local taxi and a mountainous country road in the backblocks of NSW.

Yet with a estimated selling price of $700,000 - $780,000, the 1971 Ford Falcon XY GT-HO Phase III 'Bathurst' Sedan that is one of the star car of the inaugural Shannons Brisbane Motor Show Auction, could be right up there with the latest automotive glitterati when the hammer drops on the afternoon of Sunday February 10

Just what is it about the Phase III GT-HO that has made the car such an icon and the king of the local muscle car scene?

The fact that, of the 300 original examples built, just over half survive in original condition; that it was the ultimate Falcon GT in terms of raw performance, not to mention the fastest four-door sedan in the world at the time? Perhaps it's the model's racing heritage - the GT-HO proved just about unbeatable at Bathurst, taking out five of the top six places in 1971, with Allan Moffat at the wheel of the winning car.

Whatever, the Falcon XY GT-HO Phase III has become the most collectable production car ever made in Australia and correct cars in top condition are rapidly appreciating assets, with prices nudging the three-quarter million dollar mark.

With a fully documented history from new, the stunning GT-HO being offered by Shannons is one of just five examples built in Frosted Pewter metallic and, with the options fitted from new -including a left-hand hand mirror and 8-track stereo - it is unique amongst Phase IIIs.

Better still for Phase III aficionados and collectors, the car is one of the 50 made with factory fitted close-ratio Top Loaders and a 3.5:1 31-spline Detroit Locker 9-inch rear end.

Delivered new through Mortimer Ford in Mildura, Victoria the car acquired a reputation for blowing the doors off the competition in and around the Robinvale area, where the original owner lived and was soon nicknamed 'The Silver Ghost' by locals.

The car's original salesman, Colin Rogers, still works for Pioneer Ford in Robinvale and has fond memories of this very car. The vehicle, which has never sustained any accident damage, subsequently underwent a total restoration by Frank Portelli's Classic Car Detailing in Melbourne in 1997. It remains in mint condition today, having traveled approximately 6,000 miles since.

If you miss out on this GT-HO, Shannons have a very attractive 'consolation prize' in the form of a nearly-as-rare brand new limited edition 2007 Falcon GT Cobra sedan.

One of just 400 built with the potent 302kW 5.4 litre V8 engine tweaked by Ford Performance Vehicles - all of which have been spoken for - this GT Cobra has less than 50km on its odometer and is one of the hard-to-find and most desirable 6-speed manual cars.

Shannons has had numerous enquiries from both collectors and dealers about the standout white and blue car and expect it to sell for $85,000-$105,000 in the February 10 auction.

For further media information and images, contact: 

Michael Browning (03) 9879 9111 / 0418 324 328