‘Chicken Coupe’ XA GT auctioned for $300K
At their six-day Classic Car Auction this past July, Graysonline auctioned an XA Falcon GT hardtop with a difference.
The one-owner car was consigned after more than three decades parked up in a Queensland shed protected by chicken wire, which led to the car being referred to as the ‘Chicken Coupe’.
Well known amongst the GT Falcon community, the car was already sought after as an XA GT hardtop, but what made it additionally desirable was the fact it was a genuine RPO83 option. That means it has the performance parts originally intended for Ford’s abandoned XA GT Phase IV project.
Secret Phase, Well Equipped
Only 250 GT Falcons were built with the RPO83 option, which was publicly known as the ‘Performance Pack’ and consisted of a Holley 780cfm carburettor and H&M headers. These parts were originally intended for the Phase IV Falcon project, but when that was snuffed out after the infamous “supercar scare” of 1972, Ford Australia used RPO83 to clear stocks of these parts and surreptitiously offer “Phase” performance to in-the-know enthusiasts. A total of 130 XA GT sedans and 120 XA GT hardtops were RPO83-equipped.
Of course, being a GT, RPO83 cars also had the 351 V8 engine and a 4-speed manual transmission as standard (no RPO83 GTs are believed to have been fitted with automatics).
This car’s ACCHS report showed it was well-equipped from the factory, too, with power steering, power windows, air conditioning, a radio and 8-track player fitted, as well as a tint-band windscreen, tinted side and rear glass, front and rear spoilers, a rear window louvre and 2-piece sports wheels.
Chocolate Box
Beyond its RPO83 spec and long options list, what made this car additionally rare was its colour – ‘MacRobertson’s Old Gold’.
One of several “corporate” colours offered by Ford Australia at the time, MacRobertson’s Old Gold referred to the confectionery company best known for introducing the Cherry Ripe and Freddo Frog that are still with us today. The actual colour was a deep orange, inspired by the hue used on the ‘Old Gold’ chocolate box selection that MacRobertson’s marketed. Delivery vans for the company are believed to have been finished in the same colour, too.
Only three RPO83 GTs are known to have been painted in MacRobertson’s Old Gold - one sedan and two hardtops. An unusual sidenote with this is that, while MacRobertson’s was a Victorian-based company, all three GTs painted in this shade were sold new in Queensland.
Already a 1-of-1 car in this specification, this GT was individualized even further by its original dealer, Metro Ford in the Brisbane suburb of Spring Hill, when it was delivered in August, 1973. Dealer-fitted extras included a power antenna and ‘Sidewinder’ side stripes, while the factory white vinyl seats were upgraded with ‘Hawaiian’ striped orange cloth inserts to complement the exterior colour.
One Owner
According to a comprehensive story on the Chicken Coupe published in Survivor Car magazine, the XA GT RPO83 was driven by the manager of Metro Ford and prominently displayed in the dealership. The first owner saw it on the road and on display, and in one of those “had to have it” moments, paid $7,000 for the car in 1974, part-trading an XP Falcon.
As a commuter, as a wedding car and family transport, the GT hardtop was driven regularly by its first and only private owner. It was only taken off the road in 1988, when insurance premiums for performance cars like this became too high.
The car then spent the next 32 years stored in a shed fronted with chicken wire, hence its nickname. The owner resisted all offers to part with it during that time, and it’s only with his recent passing that this 1-of-1 XA GT is now on the market.
Big Dollar Result
Delivered to Graysonline’s Queensland auction rooms in barn find condition (complete with cobwebs and rat droppings!), the XA GT RPO83 had rust and minor accident damage in the usual areas, as well as poor quality interior trim in certain areas.
Unregistered and not running, the car retained its matching numbers drivetrain and appeared to be almost complete, with only minor trim items missing, so would make a great base for restoration.
Ahead of the auction, Rian Gaffy, Classic Car Specialist at Graysonline, said “This car is as Australian as it gets. From its accidental birth after the supercar ban to its decades in a shed surrounded by chicken wire to its colour scheme that honours a local chocolate company, it’s a uniquely Aussie story surrounded by rumours and legend. We’re very proud and excited to offer it for auction.”
When bidding for the car, and others in Graysonline’s July Classic Car Auction, opened on Friday, 24 July, there was immediate interest in the Chicken Coupe and it soon met its reserve. The car had reached the quarter-million mark by the third day, with interest continuing to drive the price up ahead of the close of bidding on 29 July.
When bidding closed, the final price was $300.909.
For more details on future Graysonline auctions, go to: Grays Online
