‘Chicken Coupe’ XA GT RPO83 going to auction
Amongst the GT Falcon community, the ‘Chicken Coupe’ is well known. So called for the decades it spent parked up in a Queensland shed protected by chicken wire, the car has been with the one owner since 1974.
While already sought after as an XA GT hardtop, what makes this car additionally desirable is the fact it’s a genuine RPO83 option, too. 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 HM 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 shows 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 makes this car additionally rare is its colour – ‘MacRobertson’s Old Gold’.
One of several “corporate” colours offered by Ford Australia at the time, MacRobertson’s Old Gold refers 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 ‘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), and despite MacRobertson’s being a Victorian-based company, all three 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 ‘Sidewinder’ side stripes and a power antenna, while the factory white vinyl seats were upgraded with ‘Hawaiian’ striped orange cloth inserts that 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 owner and 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.
Barn Find Auction
Delivered to Graysonline’s Queensland auction rooms in barn find condition (complete with cobwebs and rat droppings!), the XA GT RPO83 has rust and minor accident damage, as well as poor quality interior trim in certain areas. It is unregistered and not running, but retains its matching numbers drivetrain and appears to be almost complete, with only minor trim items missing, so would make a great base for restoration.
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.”
Bidding for this car and others in Graysonline’s July Classic Car Auction opens on Friday, 24 July and runs for six days. Go to: https://www.graysonline.com/lot/0003-50006052/?mode=preview
