Back to photostream

Ford Falcon XY GT-HO Phase III (1971)

The Ford XY Falcon GT is an Australian built 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 228 kilometres per hour (142 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 (380lb-ft) @ 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

 

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.

 

Performance:

 

Top Speed: 228 km/h (142 mph) @ 6150rpm 0 - 60 mph - 8.4 seconds 0 – 100 km - 8.9 seconds Standing 1/4 mile (400m) - 15.4 seconds

 

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.

 

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". (not) 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.

 

[Text from Wikipedia]

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_XY_Falcon_GT

 

This miniland-scale Lego 1971 Ford Falcon XY GT-HO Phase III has been created for Flickr LUGNuts' 91st Build Challenge, - "Anger Management", - all about cars with some link to being angry.

4,806 views
1 fave
0 comments
Uploaded on May 29, 2015