CarTorque Series 2: Falcon GT HO

"I had to arrive with a one way air ticket and a bank cheque. Then he'd show me the car." This Ford GTHO is the cornerstone of Paul's enviable collection. It took him three years to find this genuine, unmodified, one owner car with all the paperwork in Mildura. He also tells a great story about the late great Peter Brock taking this actual car for a spin!

[@TechnikMeister2]

Prepared the Alto and Mcleod Ford examples over those 4 years. When you told Ford you were going to race yours (dealer only) the boot came full of the good bits that you used to replace the rubbish. Everything from heat teated rocker arms, larger alternator and power steering pullys, hard engine mounts and suspension bushings, hand lapped diff centers, shorter throw gearbox linkages, crack tested and heat treated front hubs, you beaut wheel and axle bearings, roll cage mounting plates...all the stuff they knew would break or you needed. It was called the Special Pre Delivery Kit. Private owners really only got a GT with stiffer suspension, big fuel tank, bigger holley and the vacuum tank in the engine bay. It took about two days to do the swaps and what you got was a completely different car. Once you mounted in the roll cage you were almost good to go. Also we had every reason to believe the Phase 3 motors on the dealer cars were fully blueprinted as the engine numbers were out of sequence. The Finnie Ford car was stripped, paint removed and repainted with one thin coat, the sound deadening was removed. They wanted to swap out the glass with thinner stuff but that was going too far. Holden did the same thing but a bit more covertly. The 350 Chevys in the HDT Monaros were specially built in the US. The Monaros handled a bit better but the Fords were a bit quicker. There was not much in it really. They were great days.

[@user-pb8vc8vp8w]

Steve1734. I wasn't aware the racing Phase 3 had power steering fitted. I know some road cars definitely did. ? ?

[@TechnikMeister2]

@@user-pb8vc8vp8w They didn't. It robbed 30 HP.

[@user-pb8vc8vp8w]

@@TechnikMeister2 That's what I'd heard.Just that you mentioned the hardened pulleys & my pedant ears pricked up ! Humble apple-logies chief !

[@MikeLeePhoto]

Great to see a guy like Paul preserving such classics!!!

[@arkhsm]

Awesome to see it still coming out to play !! Sounded like a leaking header pipe to me though.

[@Australia-ky7kx]

The beast still lives. So wonderful to see them race all those years ago at Mt. Panorama.

[@turxa]

"It's always been an exciting car to drive. You pick the car keys up and say I'm going to have fun today" that made me chuckle and smile.Would be a dream to even get a chance to drive one of these goddess's.

[@barryphillips7327]

Make NO mistake in 1971--72 the GTHO Phrase 3 Falcon was officially the ''fastest'' four door sedan in the world at the time!

[@deonreddy8661]

In Australia maybe, not the world.

[@barryphillips7327]

@@deonreddy8661 The WORLD!!!!

[@deonreddy8661]

@@barryphillips7327 do u mean the fastest four door in the history of cars (including ones already produced) or just the fastest amongst the '71 - '73 model years of production?

[@barryphillips7327]

@@deonreddy8661 It was Officially the Fastest four door production car in the World at that time!

[@deonreddy8661]

@@barryphillips7327 any idea on the drag strip times for it? Because the '71 chrysler new yorker and chrysler continental, mercury comet and a few others ran in the low to mid 11 second, and they were all four door cars. This ford has a 300hp Cleveland mill. Dont get me wrong, I love the car myself, it's as much a south african car as it is australian.

[@FredPilcher]

I had a mate who had one, which he let me drive. Acceleration was astounding. At the time I had a Series II E-type, which handled better (if you knew how to drive it) and was marginally faster in top speed. Of course it was infinitely more sophisticated and comfortable. But the Falcon had a bigger kick in the pants. :-)

[@WesW3187]

Very nice. I remember when I was a kid there was one called ‘Hairy’s Howler’ broken down across the street at Atherton.

[@joekool5005]

Gee, fond memories. There some amazing cars around where I grew up. Unfortunately I was a couple of years away from driving. There was a green Phase 3, a genuine orange A9X, an XU1 and my favourite... my mate's dad had a beautiful 396 big block Camaro. No wonder I loved cars!

[@Brandonvscars695]

Love the sound of the V8!

[@Neil-Aspinall]

What a great sounding engine note!

[@pauldunlea6745]

Officially the fastest 4 door sedan in the world for It's time

[@scorpiuswireless1]

Yeah but the RT was quicker so they used the pathetic 4 door tag

[@phantasyboy1031]

@@scorpiuswireless1 Idiot

[@pauldunlea6745]

@@scorpiuswireless1 Technical documentation shows the HO was marginally quicker. This has been a long standing debate but i believe most racing Enthusiasts - FMC - GMH - Chrysler would agree

[@gordy-jt6vg]

Fastest production car... Only Holden complained... 157mph at 7k rpm. 145mph. 6150rpm

[@ChrisJones-el7bw]

They were strangled to make them drivable for the average Joe who drives around in top gear at 60kph. Replace the dual plane intake with a single plane, swap the tri-y’s with 4-1s add a decent exhaust to uncork them and a totally different animal.

[@ronh2889]

FUCK YEAH!!!

[@darrenwalsh6965]

Absolute beast !

[@bellajezz1]

My dad had one exactly the same as the one in this clip... he sold it in the late 70’s because it wasn’t suitable as a ‘family’ car. Safe to say I’m sure my dad holds deep down resentment, not only for having to sell it, but more so for the fact they’re worth over a million bucks today! Doh! Where’s Marty and Doc Brown when you need em? Lol 😂

[@wawewawe1316]

I never realized these reved Soo high. I'm impressed

[@partymanau]

The sound, magic.

[@doobtube6616]

Gotta be the best looking and sounding car of all time

[@captainkaos1770]

All time ????? Are you for real it wa a square overrated under steering under braked dog box with stripes. Take a look at Australian top gets where they borrowed a genuine phase three and it wa smoking its brakes and ended up being the slowest car round they're track EVER. You must own a Harley as well and probably think they're a great bike.

[@oldmutt1427]

Certainly great sounding. I knew a guy in the RAAF who owned one in the seventies. But it is fifty year old technology. And you had to be careful driving cars of that era. Many people ended up in dreadful accidents back then driving the performance V8's. I always thought the XB sedan was the best looking Falcon GT. The two door hardtop coupe wasn't as popular on the roads then. I never liked its big arse.

[@michaelparadisis4076]

You clearly have no idea about cars buddy. Firstly, it has too many doors for a muscle car.

[@victorpetroff830]

DoobTube not even close cuda /challenger/charger/ even our own charger (Australian) is better looking than that biscuit tin lol

[@ArtVandelayOfficial]

best looking oh jesus.... it's an ugly box ,no curves or design. Look at Porsche 356, Mercedes 300sl ,cars with actual beauty in design.

[@BCBtrucks64]

anyone notice the boot lid doesnt have the bracing underneath to stop the top panel caving in with the weight of the spoiler when closing the boot lid

[@kingi2941]

nice very nice Ford falcon awesome

[@feelthafunk4548]

Beautiful car

[@feckstick2996]

It’s an Australian mustang

[@sriley064]

It's a fucking Falcon,a family/touring car A mustang is not a family car

[@wawewawe1316]

What a killer engine sound track!

[@martinlang9615]

160 mph equals approximately 258 kph. That’s scary fast! I remember doing 160 years ago in a Fairmont and it was starting to dance around. I soon slowed down. I can’t fathom 260 kph.

[@mrbrad4637]

Back in 2008 I owned a BA XR8 which I got up to the factory speed limiter (was spose to be 230km/h from memory) but the Speedo said 245km/h and it was handling very well, although the suspension etc was decades ahead from a 70s car and much sportier compared to a Fairmont. I currently own an immaculate showroom condition Black 2008 BFII XR8 with only 54,000km on the clock.. I haven't had it over 120km/h - I'm a little more sensible now I'm almost 40 and no longer 25

[@BatMan-xr8gg]

@@mrbrad4637 I have a 2001 VU SS Ute, I am 60 and I have had mine up to 170 just for fun. Gotta use it to enjoy it. Cheers

[@mrbrad4637]

@@BatMan-xr8gg yeah I can't argue with that.. I've owned either XR6 Turbo or XR8s for the last 15 years.. I love them.. I love Aussie built V8 sedans and am still reeling over the fact they don't make them.anymore your SS will be going up in value as they are becoming collectors cars.. check car sales, you'll see all V8 ford and Holden's have climbed rapidly in value since covid.. l will be keeping mine for many many years

[@mrbrad4637]

@@BatMan-xr8gg It looks very tidy in your profile pic.. I love that colour and those wheels and bodykit, they were are very nice shape that model commodore.. They have a shape that has aged very graceful and they look great on the road today and have a tough looking road precense.. Mine is black and in my profile pic.. I like both Ford and Holden V8s.. I just really like the bonnet buldge on modern Ford V8s.. it's one of the main reasons I picked my model as I think they look great and stand out from the rest, screaming I'm A big angry V8... Kinda like what the shaker and bonnet air vents did for the V8 70s falcons

[@Jesse-B]

my all-time favourite car bar none.

[@Batman-wv5ng]

Jess My too l had one and it got stolen .

[@rosewood1]

The XW and XY were both exceptionally well made, incredible value and great to drive. We're they the fastest 4 door production cars in the world between 1968 and 1972 well yes and no. There was a competitor and it was the Mercedes 300 SEL 6.3. Of course the prices were wildly different. The race variant of the 6.3 was the Red Sow which became the first AMG with an enlarged 6.8 engine. Various ultra high performance 6.3 were produced but these were specialist cars. To my knowledge no 6.3 was ever actually raced against the ford although it was raced. Both are fabulous machines that will never be built again and both are appreciating significantly although no 6.3 has sold for astronomic values the HO has achieved. I like my 6.3 very much it's an absolute work of art. But the HO is the tribute to the great days of Australian manufacturing.

[@Batman-wv5ng]

don't trust joos Yes you right l had one and was stolen from back yard .

[@Batman-wv5ng]

don't trust joos Yes you right they only made around 200 of them l had red one which got stolen .

[@angeloparis7963]

I bought my HK Bathurst GTS 327 (genuine) in Wellington for $3000 in 1977. HOs & Monaros were every where.

[@Batman-wv5ng]

My ended in Brisbane all painted black like with paint brush .

[@Miatacrosser]

All Fords, even in America, were underrated in hp. The 1970 Boss 302 was rated at 290hp. Ya right! That thing in 1970 was putting out close to 400hp in reality. Disconnect the rev limiter and she'd hit 8000rpm in the lower gears. There wasn't anything under 400c.i. that could beat it.

[@tightlines106]

My uncle has the same car that he brought 25yrs ago at Kempsey wrecking yard from a old guy it's in pristine he just had to rebuild the blown motor all matching numbers he paid $6000- at the time

[@jamesgovett2501]

I may pretty sure the Aston Martin Lagonda took the crown away for the fastest 4 door sedan back in the day, l remember when l was a young bloke working for Lynford in Scarborough beach Rd when we had a brand new one being prepared for delivery to some lucky bastard l thought back then & l think we’re about $6,500 for a GT-HO which was a lot of money in 1971, l only earnt $30.00 a week but remember a packet of Winfield red smokes cost about a $1.00 and a pot of beer was about 30c

[@jashugg]

In 1971 a packet of Alpine was 38c so I doubt Winfield cost a buck. In fact I just checked Winfield 25 cost $1.07 in 1980 but no data available prior. However Craven A 20s were 39c in 1970.

[@darrylstem6426]

thought it would have been impossible to find a one owner phase 3

[@Batman-wv5ng]

mad ass In 1986 l could buy one for $11.000 .

[@Jo_Wardy]

@@Batman-wv5ng because cars now are stupid. It's not about cars it about profits not cars.

[@user-pb8vc8vp8w]

The argument as to whether a Phase 1 existed is the same as the Holden FX.Neither existed in the accepted form. The first Falcon GTHO was just that.....an XW GT HO.These had a 351 Windsor motor.Later in this lineage it came with a 351 Cleveland motor.These cars are often called SERIES 1 1/2 & generally accepted as such.These were then followed by the officially designated GTHO Phase 2 &,a little later,the XY GT HO Phase 3 (111). The Holden FX was a 48/215 & became colloquially known as the FX as being the predecessor of the officially identified FJ Holden. Time often accepts popular identifications of vehicles that never actually existed,but everyone recognises the terminologies commonly used.

[@barrysmith6845]

Wheels magazine and a few others all quoted a speed of 141 mph

[@diamondog99]

this was good until the music started ..

[@chuckselvage3157]

As my father said they went like a rocket.

[@darryllspalding5211]

Sounds strange? Great vid though.

[@ivanmilat4203]

He drives it like mum going to the shops

[@Jo_Wardy]

Drives it like a normal car you mean not like a car someone keeps to make money on

[@craigmartin5939]

Ford should make a 2021 limited edition version of this car, remake the whole thing with current technology and faster! 0-100km/h in 3.8 secs flat.

[@timothylanders3189]

Now, just imagine the Phase 4..................

[@iamatardis]

Just fantastic. Aussie muscle and looks to boot.

[@ArtVandelayOfficial]

iamatardis shit looking

[@iamatardis]

@@ArtVandelayOfficial For it's day it wasn't too bad and I am a Valiant guy. Even I'll admit the dudes at Chrysler must have been on the drugs with the behind the times lines of the later Vals. Still love all the old school muscle though.

[@Batman-wv5ng]

Art Vandelay This is 48 years old car dummy .

[@ArtVandelayOfficial]

Batman What's the age got to do with it? Most of the cars regarding as best looking are even older than this . "dummy"

[@iamatardis]

@@Batman-wv5ng Your point?

[@type49racing10]

For more Aussie Ford Action go to: Type 49 Racing Channel on You Tube and go to Ford Australia Blues!!

[@ronh2889]

MONEY MAKES UP FOR HAIR!!!!.....an 6 Pak an looks....mmaaaattteeee!!!...yeeaahh aaaa...The helmat adds an extra 100HP!

[@Jo_Wardy]

If I owned it I'd drive everyday and clock up 100s of miles on it. It would be my only car.

[@user-fx2sh6pk9u]

Put it up against Fury's Turbo Bluebird

[@user-pb8vc8vp8w]

Was Furys' car around in '72 ?

[@glendooer6211]

First thing you do with your GT is take the ID plate off no plate it is a Dud

[@tothetruthandbeyond4510]

I told my uncle not to sell his purple phase 3 and my grandfather not to sell the XA cobra! And his Queensland beach house back in 2001!

[@dxbmick]

The XA offered the Superbird. XC had the Cobra at the end of the production period

[@Batman-wv5ng]

dxbmick And John Goss special.

[@Batman-wv5ng]

dxbmick They used all the left over parts painted blue stripe across and named it cobra they had 302 and 351 in them .

[@dxbmick]

Batman yes

[@superflea72]

your point being...?

[@streetguru3054]

But yet they struggled against the 6 cylinder XU-1 Torana…… Although id still love to own one

[@streetguru3054]

@charlie Rubbish? The XU-1's were undefeated by all GTHO's at warwick farm raceway Bathurst 500 mile 1970 XW GTHO Phase 2 finished 1st and 2nd on lap 130 while the LC XU-1 finished 3rd on lap 129 Bathurst 500 mile 1971 XY GTHO's finished 1, 2, 3 on laps 130, 129, 129 and an LC XU-1 4th on lap 129 Bathurst 500 mile 1972 LJ XU-1 1st lap 130. XY GTHO Phase 3 finishing 2nd lap 129 and 3rd going to a Charger So how it that rubbish?

[@jamiehope4580]

In the wet lol. Dry track they never even came close

[@streetguru3054]

@@jamiehope4580 Are you trying to be funny? after 500 long miles at Bathurs the LC 3 litre XU-1 finish 3rd and only 1 single lap down in 1970 and in 1971 finish 4th and again only 1 single lap down. Let me explain what not even close means. 1979 A9X Torana winning by 6 laps / 37 kms and Toranas finishing 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. As for 1972 you do relise that Toranas also had to deal with the same wet track on the same day so whats your point?

[@BatMan-oe2gh]

What everyone forgets is that the Ford struggled due to its brakes and tires, not power. In those races the XY still had the fastest lap.

[@BatMan-oe2gh]

Torana weighted 1242 KG and the XC weighed 1475 KG, and Moffat had a DNF. Yes the A9X was very quick. But the Ford had the LC.

[@user-fx2sh6pk9u]

They were hard to pass...because they took up most of the track...as did most of these old dinosaurs

[@Aspromuntanu]

Where is mildura

[@freeagent8225]

Namatjira Ave.

[@jkmsaturn]

Brutal: Think of the GT HO Phase III as a four-door Dodge Viper.

[@croweater6814]

No think of the gtho phase 3 as a gtho phase 3.

[@nordic5490]

jm watches mate, only brutal in that 50yr old chassis. A dead stock soccer mum's 4L FG g6e is some thing like 20 seconds faster around Winton.

[@paspax]

@@croweater6814 Phase III*

[@croweater6814]

@@paspax shoot me. I could not be arsed Roman numeraling the name.

[@agotoscano8429]

My dad owns the original one of a kind

[@mercoid]

Ago Toscano ... I am your daddy!!!!!!! 💪

[@Batman-wv5ng]

Ago Toscano I own one and got stolen .

[@michaelcarter7387]

15 cwt ? Try 27

[@BatMan-oe2gh]

Curb weight 1524 kg (3360 lbs)

[@johnrroberts7900]

Yeah, 27 cwt is the weight of an xb250 Falcon auto sedan. source: we owned one. A Morris Minor 4-door weighs more than 15 cwt, lol.@@BatMan-oe2gh

[@BatMan-oe2gh]

@@johnrroberts7900 I owned 3, 2 Fairmonts and a modified 500. That's just the XY's. I also had 3 XB's, 1 Fairmont, and 2 modified. Joys of being born and getting to drive these types of cars before the Law came down hard.

[@davidr4332]

There a nice boat they should of put a couple of outboards on it too , lol.

[@davidr4332]

@MichaelKingsfordGray You must own Ford too with that name you have there , climb onto your horse and ride into the sunset Cowboy .

[@davidr4332]

@MichaelKingsfordGray Author serious Ford owner have a nice day .

[@MrTallpoppy58]

Real !

[@MrTallpoppy58]

@MichaelKingsfordGray wan__r

[@wawewawe1316]

Dam the government politics killing the super muscle car!!!!

[@paspax]

@MichaelKingsfordGray .. Educate yourself about "the Supercar Scare".

[@ronanrogers4127]

I had a marinised 351 fitted in my boat. It was throaty, but pretty dated technology

[@darrennic2565]

6150rpm was the ''cutout'' not 6250

[@mrnrc1783]

Gotta be like driving a supercharged brick lol

[@toby621]

slr torana

[@jonnightrain]

Victoria car capital Australia

[@1969cmp]

Victoria is the capital of a lot of things 😨

[@kruleworld]

Victoria, Nanny State.

[@MrKillahippo]

@@kruleworld I had a great Nanny..

[@davidr4332]

They mite of been hard to past overtake but Peter Brock would past overtake them in a Holden to victory lane..

[@Batman-wv5ng]

don't trust joos Xu1 no match for got.ho . It was only six cylinder 202 with triple carbs.

[@Batman-wv5ng]

Maxx Damage Tirana could only vin if ford broke down the had issues with over heating brakes .

[@Batman-wv5ng]

don't trust joos Yes you right,Ford had problems with overheating brakes .

[@davidr4332]

@@Batman-wv5ng Which school did you go too you can't even spell Torana or Win , Mr Chicken Brian Batman still in fantasy land , Author serious Ford owner that drive a Bat Boat , lol.

[@davidr4332]

@@Batman-wv5ng You hit it on the bell not very well designed then Ford Sh#t , lol.

[@montinaladine3264]

Sure, they did as much as they possibly could to it to make it a legend, but sorry - at the end of the day, it's a 4 door touring sedan - a family car with a big powerful engine, spoilers, upgraded suspension and stripes. It just doesn't look that great, it's square and chunky, it's not a sports car like a Mustang, Challenger Cuda, Mercury, Camaro, Monaro or Charger. Now if Ford Australia had imported in, say 500 of the US 1969 Falcon 2 door bodies, and did what they did to this one, that would have been a special looking car.

[@gordy-jt6vg]

1million $s not special 😆 😂😆

[@johncirillo6]

Sorry guys they are way too much money keep it

[@tonyp2865]

And not one piece of trim lines up with the other. Terribly built.

[@jbfrodsham]

A million dollars ha ha ha ha

[@Batman-wv5ng]

J Frodsham The last one sold at Shanan auction for $1.030 000.

[@mrporsche4236]

My favourite car in the was never the fastest 4 door in the world There was a car in europe that was faster

[@parabelllum8733]

Great Car . Butt Ugly though .

[@Pendaws]

There NEVER was a Phase I GTHO.

[@kruleworld]

it may not have been called phase 1, but it was definitely a hotted up GTHO.

[@Batman-wv5ng]

Evil Ash It was phase 1-2-3 and they made about 4 or 5 phase 4

[@SeanCleverly]

That's true. It was XT GT then XW GT(Phase 2) XY GT(Phase 3) The HO incidentally stood for Handling Options, not High Output as many people believe.

[@sriley064]

@@SeanCleverly Wrong GTHO Phase 1 is a XW with a windsor,the 1.5 or 2 is the same car with a clevo,the phase 3 is an XY

[@phantasyboy1031]

Yes there was it was the XW GTHO Phase 1 the car that should have won Bathurst in 1969 for Alan Moffat another one that got away.

[@hoey3510]

i dont get the whole 4 door thing..not a true muscle car... 🙄.. only in australia...

[@paspax]

The muscle is under the bonnet. And in the handling package.

[@andrew111379]

sounds like a lawn mower...you knob...

[@Batman-wv5ng]

andrew c You only drove a lawn mower hahaha.

[@garyjones1549]

Chrome strip all wrong....

[@davidwynne3289]

Chrome strip wrong, why?

[@scorpiuswireless1]

Over rated car. Essentially a 4 door with a big motor. Not a sports car.

[@paspax]

And an improved brake package with Larger front discs with a better caliper and larger, wider rear drums, stiffer front sway bar, rear sway bar, different front upper control arm for improved steering geometry, different front spring rates, stiffer rear springs, improve dampers, Different carby, different engine internals, different inlet manifold, tubular extractors, different engine ancillaries such as pulleys and alternator (among others). It was built to go racing. The rules were for "production" cars at that time so only very minor changes, all safety related, were allowed. Built for racing = sports car.

[@superflea72]

meh, overrated...nothing special here to me.

[@paspax]

Sooo.. you know nothing about Australian motorsport. Gotcha..

[@superflea72]

@@paspax what does Australian motorsport have to do with my view on redundant relics?

[@ArtVandelayOfficial]

Very ugly overrated brick

[@Batman-wv5ng]

Art Vandelay What would you know it’s 48 years old dummy .

[@gregfarmer8448]

So you wouldn't have one if it was given you then. Is that correct?

[@Batman-wv5ng]

Greg Farmer No l would take it but it’s impossible to get one .I had one red with black interior and was stolen .