1971 XY Ford Falcon GT
Few cars stir the senses more than the sight and sound of a red-blooded Falcon GT HO in full flight. In Phase III form, the GT HO was the ultimate Aussie muscle car of the early Seventies.
Ford launched the world's first 4-door GT, the XR, in 1967 and there were few who would have dreamt that this was the start of an era. The XR began the legend and today the XR, XT, XW and especially XY GTs have become the most collectible Australian built cars.
558 XR GTs were sold in that debut year. They were given a boost with seven GTs starting (and finishing) Bathurst and Ford GTs coming home in first and second place. In 1968 Holden challenged with the V8 HK and Ford countered in the face lifted XT with a 4.9-litre V8. The 1968 GT was released in May powered by the 302ci, which disappointed many, believing that Ford would use the bigger 390ci (6.4 litre V8).
Unlike the XR GT, the XT GT was a regular production model and was offered in a wider choice of colours.
Again Bathurst was the muscle car decider, with Holden winning their first race in the 5.3-litre powered Monaro, after Fred Gibson holed a radiator while heading for certain victory in a Ford GT. The 1969 XW GT saw the model gain the 351ci (5.76 litre) - the largest engine ever fitted to a Falcon. The 351 GT delivered awesome performance, able to top 200 km/h.
The 1971 XY GT was the last of the original GTs and looked almost identical to previous models, apart from the distinctive bonnet scoop. The scoop was attached to the engine, not the bonnet and quickly gained the "Shaker" tag. It was an idea borrowed from the American 1969/70 Boss 302 Mustang. Performance figures of the XY GT were almost identical to the XW GT. However, Ford revealed its real ace in the XY GT- HO Phase III in September 1971 and it was this car that was the true culmination of the GTs to date.
Visually identical to the XY GT, with the exception of a front air dam, the Phase III also had a shaker in the bonnet. The engine had a number of modifications over the GT and could achieve a top speed of 234 km/h.
In 1971 a Phase III came second at Bathurst, although it was five laps down on a Torana driven by Peter Brock.
In brief:
Falcon XY GT and GT-HO
Introduced: GT - late 1970, GT-HO Phase III - September 1971
Models: GT, GT-HO Phase III
Engine: 351: 5.7 litre 90 V8. Head design, pushrod and rocker actuated overhead valve with hydraulic lifters; Fuel system, GT - Ford Autolite four barrel downdraught carby; GT-HO Phase III - Holley four barrel downdraught carburettor; Power, GT - 224kW @ 5400 rpm and 513Nm @ 3400 rpm, GT-HO Phase III - 276-291kW @ 5400 rpm and 513 Nm @ 3400rpm.
Transmissions: Four-speed all syncro manual. 1st: 2.78, 2nd: 1.93, 3rd: 1.36, 4th:1.00, Rev: 2.78.
Three-speed FMX automatic. 1st: 2.40, 2nd: 1.47, 3rd: 1.00, Rev: 2.00.
Engine/Transmission combinations:
GT - 351 V8 standard. High Output engine standard on Phase III. Four-speed manual transmission standard on all models. Three-speed FMX auto optional.
Performance:
Model: XY GT-HO Phase III 5.7 litre V8.
Top speeds in gears: 1st 97 km/h, 2nd 85km/h, 3rd 177km/h, 4th 229 km/h.
0-100 km/h 6.5 seconds.
Price at introduction: GT $4,250. Phase III $5,250.
Number built: 1,857 (including 300 GT-HOs). Breakdown: 1970 - 757 GTs; 1971 - 800 GTs, 300 Phase IIIs.
Identification: GT - ‘Shaker' bonnet scoop. Sports stripe running length of car above wheel arches. ‘Super Roo' decals on front guards. ‘GT' and ‘Falcon GT' badges. Two bonnet blackouts. Shaker blacked out. Blacked out grille, rear boot lid between tail lights, upper door frames and sill panels.
