Forbidden Muscle: 10 USA Brand Performance Cars You Couldn't Buy in America

[@codebasher1]

The 70's Aussie muscle car market was pure spun gold. So many memories.

[@mathewhyland8925]

Yeah beauty mate.

[@CraigS1124]

As an American growing up in Australia in the late 70's I got to see the classic American muscle and the classic Aussie muscle. My favorite is still the Falcon GT. To me it always looked like a hybrid between the 1971 Mustang Mach 1 (front) and the Torino (rear). Being the Interceptor in Mad Max 1 and 2, made it a legend.

[@CraigGinifer]

You need to do a part 2 video. There's a heap more non US released muscle cars from just Australia that weren't featured.

[@1953beetle]

The HK Monaro (Bathurst edition) comes to mind for true Aussie muscle. In my books anyhow.

[@bradevans7935]

@@1953beetle I'd also include the various hot Toranas and some of the HDT/HSV Commodores. If they need some other cars to include, maybe the version of the Ford/Mercury Capri sold in South Africa as the Perana (it had a 302 Windsor in it) and some of the European rally/racing homologation specials (both Ford and Opel had quite a few) would be worth looking at.

[@nunyabidness674]

Lets hear it for the Holden Maloo. El camino / Ranchero bodystyle has a muscle aspect and they make for a striking cruiser / dragster.

[@Sherwoody]

I want Mad Max’s, Ford Falcon XB GT coupe Interceptor.

[@russellhammond4373]

Got to agree. An odd Torana (6 or 8 cylinders) would be welcome.

[@TheWombat2012]

I’ve got a 1974 Charger with the 245 cube hemi six. It’s still one of the best looking Australian cars ever.

[@LtFrankDrebbin]

I always have and always will say the Aussie Charger is the sexiest car ever made 😍

[@popeye807]

At the time the Ford Falcon GTHO phase 3 was the fastest production 4 door car in the world

[@danieljones7843]

And could keep up with supercars like the Lamborghini miura

[@Karl-Benny]

And the Pacer

[@batmanlives6456]

It held that title for many years!

[@lauramildon-clews7850]

I am from New Zealand. I used to own a 1967 Ford Falcon XR GT. It came with a 289 cui engine, 4spd top loader gear box and a limited slip diff. I sold the car in 1973, it still exists with an Australian collector.

[@GTFORDMAN]

the XR GT was the car that started the muscle car craze in Australia 😎

[@matton36]

Was it gold, most of the ones ive seen here in oz are gold

[@no_triggerwarning9953]

Gold was the only colour sold to the public. There was a couple produced in silver for a corporate promotion.

[@wesleycardinal8869]

I still remember the ad campaign for the Valiant Charger; make a V sign with your first two fingers and say "Hey, Charger". 👍🇦🇺

[@GTFORDMAN]

the 67 Falcon GT was the car that started the Muscle car era in Australia, Holden responded with an American 327 Chev in their Monaro for 68 then a 350 Chev in 69, and the E49 Charger has the unfortunate title of 'being the fastest Aussie car to never win a race' but it was the most powerful Aussie 6 pack put in a production car untill 2006 when Ford introduced the XR6 Turbo!

[@qshank2752]

e38 was 3spd e49 was 4spd@@FallingFlying.

[@stephenrogers981]

The BA XR6 Turbo came out in 2003😁

[@mpetersen6]

The number 1 engine the US lost out on was the Ford Barra.

[@keeganandersson4281]

It’s amazing how much power the barra is capable of producing in stock form

[@christophertaylor9100]

Love the alloys on that Mex Mone Carlo SS. And the Valiant was a sweet little ride, not a yawn

[@danbaumann8273]

Now those are some nice models. 👀 That Australian Falcon and that Brazilian Charger...Woe... I remember a couple of 67 Beaumont SD's, 1 red, 1 blue, cruisin' around my home town growing up. Just gorgeous. The SD's were pretty rare cars back in the day...Now? Lucky if there's more than a couple hundred left. If that. Very desirable.

[@ML-dl1cp]

In South Africa from 1969-1973 you could walk into any Ford dealer and order a "Perana", which was a rebadged Capri with a race-tuned 302, 4-speed manual, and a distinct paint package. It was a rocket!

[@stevelee5724]

You may think the Charger at first place only being a 6 cylinder might be slow, but you'd be wrong ! They were quick and fast ! The hemi 265 cid could pull hard mate 👍 Cheers from New Zealand 🇳🇿

[@matton36]

Yes, i ran against one 20 years ago with my 351 Falcon and it stayed with me

[@raviscott4853]

Fastest accelerating 6 cyl. production car in the world... Until Ford released the "Barra" 6.

[@stevelee5724]

@matton36 hey mate. Did you hear about Leonard Goughagan (forgive my spelling ) ? He held the lap record on the big race tracks in New Zealand 🇳🇿. So Ford Australia sent Allan Moffet(the champion driver of the day) out with his winning Falcon GT to tackle the 'problem Chrysler' but couldn't beat Leo. They challenged his engine and it got stripped by governing body who found it within the rules ! 265 beating the best 351 around NZ ! Too neat I reckon. And I'm traditionally a Ford fan. Now just a car fan ! I bet you enjoyed your Falcon mate. Good on ya mate. Cheers from New Zealand 🇳🇿

[@nickt8972]

Owned a VJ Charger Sportsman edition with a 265 hemi, 4 speed...V8 killer. A ford fan l am but a lot of respect for mopar magic. Miss that car.

[@yossarian6799]

The South African Perana Ford Capri V8 gets a lot of attention, but often forgotten is the V8-powered Granada (the brilliant German model, not the US heap). There was also the 1985 Ford Sierra XR8 with the Mustang 302. South Africa also made hi-po BMW models (330, 530, 745i) unique to that country. There were also the uprated Corolla TRDs in the 80s... that stonking Datsun Laurel Turbo Interceptor... the family hot-rod, the "Bix Six" 3-litre Ford Cortina ... the infamous Alfa GTV 3000 and Giulietta Turbo (faster than the Italian one) ... 90s VW Bus with the Audi 5-cylinder engine. Long gone are the days of unique-to-South Africa special models. Today it's just a global production base, sending VW Polos and Ford Rangers around the world.

[@vs9272]

Worth the wait for this. Never realized these cars existed. Thanks!❤

[@Aquarium-Downunder]

You would be shocked what we did in Australia, we had lots of oil and fun, google ( XC FALCON COBRA ) and see what you missed out on in 1979.

[@davidjackson2524]

Loads of cool performance cars from Ford Uk/Europe. Escort Mexico, Escort XR3, Fiesta XR2, RS 200, Sierra RS 500.

[@barryphillips7327]

There were also Holden ( GM ) Monaro's with small block chev power, the Chargers were Fast esp for a 6, ALL were built for thing; WIN Bathurst!!!! A GTHO Phase 3, now budget on spending 7 figures IF you intend to have one!!

[@acfsambo4996]

Also there was nearly the 1972 XA Falcon GT HO Phase IV which the Australian Gov blackmailed Ford to not make as it was going to be too fast for public roads (according to some).

[@gthofalcon3546]

No the govt had all the papers print in big letters on the front page, '160 MPH DEATH MACHINES COMMING SOON' the public demanded Ford cease making them, you could still get the XA GT, but not the XA GTHO Phase 4

[@robertpoudrette4483]

That little Vauxhall er Chevy Firenza Can-Am looks like quite the ride with that Z/28 302 under the hood!

[@bronzesnake7004]

My dad had a 69 Belmont. What a cool car which was blue. my fav color!! He gave to my older brother because he would buy a new car every two years. That's when I disowned my dad...sniff...sniff.

[@alanbarden9778]

In the early-mid 1970's, the Aussie cops in Sydney used their Chargers as Highway pursuit vehicles. The ads on TV were also legendary, everyone walking around saying "Yo Charger"!

[@francfurian8215]

It was Hey Charger✌🏻

[@peteh3313]

"Hey Charger". No "yo" in it

[@timothyirwin8974]

My aunt had a Canadian Firenza in the late sixties. Somehow I cannot imagine doing 140 mph yet alone 140 kph down any road for more than a minute.

[@zacandmillie]

My first car in New Zealand was the Australian made Charger with a 265ci straight 6. I wish I still had it because they are getting ridiculous in price now.

[@RlsIII-uz1kl]

It's actually kinda cool because we could in the future see the body styles reemerge.

[@davidewhite69]

0:09 XB Falcon being followed by an XD Falcon

[@NoralBlundell]

Good stuff 👌

[@stephencox4224]

The ultimate six cylinder Ford was the Late model XR6 Turbo Falcons especially when they went full on with modern updates to the cylinder head that would not look out of place on a Honda or Toyota and that Barra engine is considered by many to be better than RB Nissand and BMW inline sixes high praise indeed, For what is maybe one of if not the fastest Ford Production Car engine ever made. In Australia for $15,000 you can have a turn key built oLong motor one of these XR6 Engines with 998 Kilowatts aka 1300 Horsepower and streetable and with a two year warranty, Australia also is the place where the Modern French made Automatics used in anything from Falcons, Range Rovers, Jaguars, BMW's etc are sucessfully modified and remapped to suit full on Drag Car use reliably Australians lead the world here and that is something that Aussie and Kiwi's are famous for as so many of us are placed in Race teams across the world for our abilities. Somewhat of an Aussie tradition because the only World Formula One Winner of both the Manufacturers and drivers world Formula one championships ever was Sir Jack Brabham a feat that will never be equalled

[@harrywalker968]

mate had the xr6 turbo.. allways at fords.. trans rad leaks, diff probs, he put a hair, across the door gap,, went to pick up after ''service'',, hair still there.. common with any service centre.. in the 70,s. guy droped car off at garage,, forgot his wallet,,4 mins, went back, car outside with report on window.. never touched it.. i have 5 u.s.vehicles, all 4x4, 1 , 73 challenger 340 r/t. which, id sell , swap, all for,, a ford pantera, 72/3.

[@Aquarium-Downunder]

The F6 Typhoon ......... we had to have hoon in the name

[@jamesmatheson5115]

I owned a HK GTS Monaro, but always wanted a XA Falcon Coupe.

[@maguslascivious4980]

I wish we had gotten ford capris in the states.... That chevy SS is pretty sweet so is the vauxhall chevy.

[@gthofalcon3546]

I'm from Middle Earth, I've grown up with and owned 10 Aussie Ford Falcons, they have given me and all my friends years of fun and great memories, we used to almost give them away, today the few that are left are worth gold. anyway, thanks Ford.

[@runtr8389]

wow trip down memory lane

[@mikedrown2721]

I live in the other New York.... the one that boarders Canada and remember the 🇨🇦 mutations well 😊 thanks for posting

[@infinity6450]

As a proud Australian, there were a fair few cars from America we never got. But in their place we got Holden monaros and ford falcons.

[@al-mansoural-sharif8576]

Very nice indeed bravo

[@19chucki74]

Question: why didn't GM offer a manual in the Monte Carlo SS for us back in the 80s? It surely would've been appreciated.

[@christophertaylor9100]

Probably related to CAFE standards

[@teyoung304]

@@christophertaylor9100 It wasnt until the 2000's that automatics got better economy than manuals. Manuals always used to get better economy, due to no loss in a torque converter.

[@Furball-8994]

I think it had to do with the U.S. market. Auto cars sold at about 10 to1 over manual cars in the 80's. Plus the 84 Monte SS was nothing more than a standard Monte with an added 4brl carb, duel exhaust plastic front clip and stickers. They weren't going to spend the added cost to add a manual option to a car that never had one.

[@CJColvin]

Gotta love the Beaumont SD brother

[@harrywalker968]

here in aus, we had the baumont, kingswood, very boring, base model 6 cyl,s..

[@khublieoldschoolgamer5737]

Lol, nothing like Aussie muscle, I rebuilt a 1972 VJ Vaillant Charger by Chrysler I turned it into a Hemi Six Pack RT Charger replica, and I rebuilt a 5.8 ltr Cleveland XD Falcon S Pack, sports pack and it was an absolute beast. So light and quick.

[@fordprefect80]

My first car was a 1975 XB John Goss Special.

[@xbgtfella]

Nice clip. Nice to see you put a shot of the FGX. Sad to see them go. Would have loved Ford Australia to have strapped a 10R80 to the barra. Would have been epic.😊

[@bluesharp59]

Thumbs Up !

[@MyLifePixeled]

As a fan of both the US and Euro Capris, I really liked the Mexican Mustang that borrowed Capri parts.

[@Thumper68]

That opala with a 400 small block would be great

[@blackhawk7r221]

Anyone else remember the early/mid 80’s Mexican Ford LTD taxis with a 4 on the floor?

[@Hitman-ds1ei]

I brought 2 of the SS models back from South Africa nearly 20 years ago and a GT Fairmont ( Australia export models) and the one you called Opala was there as well but with a different name which i cannot recall but it had a Vauxhal 6 cylinder not a chevy 6, corporate model sharing i guess

[@arthurwatts1680]

With the exception of the first Monaro (styled by an American over here at the time) and the first GT Falcon (the XR from 1967), I have to concede that our Canadian friends got the cleanest versions of US muscle cars. The Valiant Charger was definitely a head turner, but it needed bags of cement in the boot (aka trunk for Americans) to go around corners. Chrysler Australia could have offered the 340 in our version of a 'sporty' Dart, the Pacer Hardtop coupe, but no-one had the guts to take on the bean counters

[@blackhawk7r221]

We had a Canadian Chevelle rolling around our area long ago. Weird little changes, like rear coils rather than leaves, or vice versa, can’t remember.

[@haroldbirge6881]

🤯Definitely going to 🏆 subscribe 🏆That was cool different 🍀got her done😎✌️

[@joemac8474]

The Mexican Monte Carlo has a taco holder too🤣🤣

[@pashakdescilly7517]

There was a version of the European Ford Capri made in South Africa with a V-8.

[@JosephCowen-ru7up]

That was a Perana !

[@JosephCowen-ru7up]

And the Parana Capri used Australian 302 Cleveland engines , Ford Australia/ Borg Warner D20 Single Rail four speed trans and Borg Warner Australia 78 limited slip diff in 3.91 ratio.

[@Inverted.surfer]

Gotta say, the ford xc falcon coup was really a cool and tough looking machine.... Alas, time tunes our taste buds but... we lose our teeth. My mum had one and i just stood back and let her trade it in on a little four cyl thing.... excuse me, I'll have to go and have little cry.😢

[@lesklower7281]

Great list never knew about the Mexican varients also the South African varients also but definitely know about the Australian varients because l live in Australia

[@Chapps1941]

As a stoner, BITD, we'd go around in a VW Beetle and throw onions and potatoes at Holden and Ford V8s to get them to chase us. Little did they know that a V8 can't catch a Beetle. Ovals, sports grounds, median strips, parklands, creeks, fire tracks, sides of hills, mud, low depth water, building sites were all areas where the VW had superior speed because they had excellent ground clearance and tractability.

[@damionneranginui6546]

My biggest regret was a car that I had to decide to be my first I passed on. 1970 Chrysler valiant Charger. White just no interior. It was too hard to source the genuine parts in 94. Still hurts today. It was even the same engine configuration which is why I looove sidedraft carbies.

[@CAROLDDISCOVER-2025]

Hey thanks for doing this episode. I've been a big fan of the as you say corky renditions that are closely related to muscle cars found here but not quite the same. Did the guy from South Africa that there's a lot with South African cars that looks something like what we had. I've always been big fan of Australian cars. The Canadian Beaumont speaks for itself. I really enjoy this episode and now I'm watching another one of your episodes.

[@harrywalker968]

ford falcon gt xa / xb / xc. cut down torino.. xa gt 200k plus. torino, 40k.. rather a torino.. i own a challenger r/t 340 73..

[@MagnaLume]

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Glad to know you enjoyed the video! Watch for more videos about Non-USA performance cars coming soon.

[@davocc2405]

Quite a few more cars from Oz that even made it to the States, was surprised to see quite a few police cruisers were Holden Statesman builds if I recall correctly. Car companies in Oz were addicted to tax breaks and government handouts, they had a hissy fit when this dried up and shut all local manufacturing down. Back when they ere operating they had a bad reputation for stomping on the heads of more innovative engineers and designers, when they were allowed to do their jobs well they produced some rather good offerings on shoestring budgets. Think: European handling and American grunt (with older school simplicity). The other problem was the need to focus on making fleet cars - tax legislation made it extraordinarily hard for retail car sales but fleets would buy them with such a high turnover that some would sell the vehicle rather than replace tyres. My university (in Queensland) used to buy sedans and wagons for such a hugely discounted (and tax free) rate that they'd be able to sell them used at fleet auctions for an actual PROFIT; that's how skewed the market was.

[@dannyngatai6082]

I love the XB Coupe, Monaro and any 4 door Valiant. But I'd have a Chevelle, a Brracuda or a Roadrunner first.

[@Taranau]

I remember a movie, made in South America, kind of like The Blues Brothers. In that, there were car chases involving police cars that did a lot of crashing... The bit was, all the police cars looked like four door 68 Mustangs... What were those??

[@AsYm-PtOtiC]

I had an x cop 360 charger.. I should have kept that beast

[@D800Lover]

Had to be an Australian coming out on top and 2 of the top 3 cars Australian. No other country has had a muscle-car culture to match it.

[@joellamoureux7914]

Mexicarlo!!!

[@donaldhill1401]

I will always contend that Ford screwed us in the USA not having the falcon. Love that car.

[@jeancharlesrabaux5658]

Une 404 irait bien la dedans 404 PEUGEOT

[@braddietzmusic2429]

A lot of reasons to be unhappy with Domestic automakers to not make these available to US customers.

[@swatmann7541]

hey charger

[@mrirace926]

Waiting on that 2nd and 3rd Video. Ford and GM gave ALOT of unfair goodies to foreign markets. Mainly Australia and Brazil.

[@christophertaylor9100]

Ford especially did nice stuff for the UK

[@MagnaLume]

More coming soon!

[@co2588]

GTHO Phase 3... who has a spare million.?

[@o8thman812]

The US first made Valiants... Aussies made them superior, but the New Zealanders made them fly...

[@goannaj3243]

Yeah but all the Euro's yell 1.8OL sounds good to us

[@Aquarium-Downunder]

A good V8 has a euro 1.8 for a starter motor

[@ronniebraine9692]

The Aussie 1971 Ford Falcon XY GTHO Phase 3. Best muscle car of all by far.

[@davidclarke6658]

There was going to be more great performance cars destined to be released in the 70s in Australia, but the bad press about Hi powered cars in the hands of the masses and the upcoming introduction of pollution regulations killed their release.

[@thunderlips350]

Who's Beaumont?

[@budwickman446]

If I had the money......

[@ollienilson1644]

Couldn't a US citizen go to Mexico and buy a SUPER BEE and bring it home to the US?

[@spokanefut]

The OG Chevy 302s from the Zs were technically rated at 290 or 295 horses. That was for a multitude of reasons, not a damned one of them having anything to do with truth. I watched showroom stock Z28s shut down big block mopars and Ford CJs equally equipped again and again. I had a tight 68 SS396 Chevelle and the Zs just left me in the dust. The .120 over 283 was a rev monster so the 302 with its factory development was capable of sustained 8000 RPM runs (which were also fun/scary as a passenger). IIRC those 290 horses were clocked at 4500 RPM. I'm sure I'm wrong though ;^)

[@nickrydar9225]

They purchased Oz companies they didn't make.

[@paulandersen8396]

Ford and gm made better cars outside of the u.s. than they did in their homeland

[@derekpierkowski7641]

Why do Aussie Fords look like AMCs? That's the question.

[@moisesgaribay4893]

Because AMC's Look beautiful

[@harrywalker968]

really.??..the falcon xb gt, is a cut torino. we dont have the looong noses the u.s cars do.. i have a challenger. 73, r/t. 340.. there was a stigma here with chrysler, as the '' wogs'', car, italians bought them, so they were a wog mobile, but,,they knew best,,eh.. the charger, with a v8, was the go, light, fast. the 6 cyl ran at bathurst as it had more than enough power. the holden, cough,,torana lj, had a 6 cyl with su,s. it ran side draughts at bathurst,,as holdens allways cheated to win.. ford xy gt ho. 160 mph,, beaten by a 6 cyl torana,, fkn be real.. holden cheats.. they banned the sierra, which was 4 laps ahead, so brocky could win.. he died in a ford daytona cobra. he drove sierras,, without,,ford badges.. ass holes... id buy an amc, amx.. might one day get my dream car.. ford pantera. corvettes o.k., its just the wierd rear suspension & glass body.. not good..

[@Aquarium-Downunder]

????? what one?

[@BobbyTucker]

Politics, nothing but politics, of course cash had a lot to do with it too.

[@ljtheman7875]

Gm is no longer in South africa