Aussie Muscle!
- Thread starter DFB
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DFB
Well-known member
- Aug 12, 2019
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- #142
My time growing up with cars was during the early to late 2000's, as such the older stuff I doesn't always interest me. However, those pioneering 60's and 70's muscle cars paved the way for the modern era.
This 2003 TV commercial shows the 1971 XY Falcon GTHO being driven around Bathurst with the then current BA Falcon FPV GT.
The GTHO in top Phase III spec was always touted as the fastest four door sedan in the world, a record that stood for many years. These cars were a touring car homologation special, mostly to make sure Ford was a strong outright contender at the Bathurst 500. While they looked similar to regular Falcon GT, the GTHO Phase I, Phase II and Phase III got a range race car parts to make them faster, more durable and handle better. The Phase III being the ultimate evolution, the planned Phase IV was cancelled due to the government stepping in and suggesting that race cars for the road was not ethical, and if the Ford, Holden and Chrysler continued to make them, then all government vehicle orders would be cancelled. Guess what they chose.
Check the speedo and tachometer in this shot, which was taken on the Hume Highway with a Wheels Magazine journalist at the wheel. Speed limits were imposed a few years later.
The Phase I and Phase II were powered by a high performance 351 Windsor V8, which was swapped for a 351 Cleveland V8 mid-way through the Phase II production run. The Windsor's were probably the better performance car engine due to the excessive heft of the Cleveland. Where the Windsor had a mellow V8 tone, the Clevo had a very distinctive hard-edged howl, which most Ford guys here prefer.
The Phase I and II were based on the XW Falcon and identical looking, the Phase III was based on the XY Falcon and are easily picked over the previous versions by that classic shaker intake poking through the hood. Watching the shaker move as you drove was and is highly appealing, to the point where some would put them on modern Falcons.
For the record, the HO in GTHO was officially termed "Handling Option" by Ford. I think this was to avoid using "High Output" and curb insurance costs associated with high performance cars.
The Holden counterparts were based on the smaller Torana, which made them more nimble through corners and across the top of the mountain at Bathurst. But come the straights and the big Falc would blow past them. These Torana's are obviously just as collectable and respected, but the Phase III GTHO is arguably the most coveted muscle car of its era, in fact it's performance was only bettered decades later.
I've been lucky enough to bag a ride in a Clevland powered GTHO Phase II, which were noticeably rawer than the Phase III due to the wild camshaft they used on this model. And RAW is most certainly how you would describe that car! When given a boot full, the big Falc squats down on the rear and points the nose to sky, then assaults you with an epic wall of vibration and sound. And being a car from the 70's with little to no noise insulation, you hear every single beat from that engine.
Respect your elders!
This 2003 TV commercial shows the 1971 XY Falcon GTHO being driven around Bathurst with the then current BA Falcon FPV GT.
The GTHO in top Phase III spec was always touted as the fastest four door sedan in the world, a record that stood for many years. These cars were a touring car homologation special, mostly to make sure Ford was a strong outright contender at the Bathurst 500. While they looked similar to regular Falcon GT, the GTHO Phase I, Phase II and Phase III got a range race car parts to make them faster, more durable and handle better. The Phase III being the ultimate evolution, the planned Phase IV was cancelled due to the government stepping in and suggesting that race cars for the road was not ethical, and if the Ford, Holden and Chrysler continued to make them, then all government vehicle orders would be cancelled. Guess what they chose.
Check the speedo and tachometer in this shot, which was taken on the Hume Highway with a Wheels Magazine journalist at the wheel. Speed limits were imposed a few years later.
The Phase I and Phase II were powered by a high performance 351 Windsor V8, which was swapped for a 351 Cleveland V8 mid-way through the Phase II production run. The Windsor's were probably the better performance car engine due to the excessive heft of the Cleveland. Where the Windsor had a mellow V8 tone, the Clevo had a very distinctive hard-edged howl, which most Ford guys here prefer.
The Phase I and II were based on the XW Falcon and identical looking, the Phase III was based on the XY Falcon and are easily picked over the previous versions by that classic shaker intake poking through the hood. Watching the shaker move as you drove was and is highly appealing, to the point where some would put them on modern Falcons.
For the record, the HO in GTHO was officially termed "Handling Option" by Ford. I think this was to avoid using "High Output" and curb insurance costs associated with high performance cars.
The Holden counterparts were based on the smaller Torana, which made them more nimble through corners and across the top of the mountain at Bathurst. But come the straights and the big Falc would blow past them. These Torana's are obviously just as collectable and respected, but the Phase III GTHO is arguably the most coveted muscle car of its era, in fact it's performance was only bettered decades later.
I've been lucky enough to bag a ride in a Clevland powered GTHO Phase II, which were noticeably rawer than the Phase III due to the wild camshaft they used on this model. And RAW is most certainly how you would describe that car! When given a boot full, the big Falc squats down on the rear and points the nose to sky, then assaults you with an epic wall of vibration and sound. And being a car from the 70's with little to no noise insulation, you hear every single beat from that engine.
Respect your elders!