Aussie Muscle!
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DFB
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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!
DFB
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This video is from Shannon's Insurance, think Hagerty in the USA and you'll understand what they do. This series covers a variety of vehicle design deep-dives, in this case Ford during the 90's and 2000's. You may recognise some of the names being mentioned. Did you know Aussies were having a go at designing the next Mustang, however after management discovered what they were doing, it was bluntly shut down by Jac Nassar because "there will never be a Mustang designed outside of the US". And fair enough I suppose.
I've always loved backstories behind vehicle design. In addition to variety of Ford's, Graham Wadsworth was heavily involved with the AU Falcon.
I get quite animated when it comes to the AU Falcon. While I actually like the design, most didn't and I totally understood why. The travesty here being that Ford were being told through customer clinics and extensive research that customers, women in particular, wanted something fresh. Keep in mind, this was during the Jelly-Bean era of car design, basically a series of egg-shaped vehicles that all looked the same. This led Ford's designers to do just that, taking those rounded egg shapes and splicing them with sharper lines. During the design phase, the various proposals were put to customer clinics and clearly indicated what they liked. Customers were asking for something fresh, something different, Ford delivered.
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However, when the car was unveiled and put into production, suddenly those who asked for this newness didn't want to PAY money to look different. Sales tanked, Ford lost a lot money, then had to rush a restyle into action. Ford did what they thought customers wanted, what customers TOLD them they wanted. In effect, Ford was led up the garden path. The rounded edges and egg-shape design was considered ugly. And yet, the Holden at the time was actually softer and more rounded, ultimately lacking the Falcon's crisp panel surfacing.
The most telling tidbit in this video is how Mercedes arrived at the original CLS coupe/sedan, which was basically a further refined AU Falcon design. Even the chief designer of the CLS was Australian.
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The full backlog of this series can be found here -
I also highly recommend watching the GM-Holden video featuring Richard Ferlazzo, the man behind the majority of Holden's modern era vehicles. He also designed the award winning Efijy show car, basically a modern hot-rod interpretation of the original Holden's from the late 1940's. Not favorite of mine, but having seen it in person, the Efijy certainly had presence.
The original for reference..............................
I've always loved backstories behind vehicle design. In addition to variety of Ford's, Graham Wadsworth was heavily involved with the AU Falcon.
I get quite animated when it comes to the AU Falcon. While I actually like the design, most didn't and I totally understood why. The travesty here being that Ford were being told through customer clinics and extensive research that customers, women in particular, wanted something fresh. Keep in mind, this was during the Jelly-Bean era of car design, basically a series of egg-shaped vehicles that all looked the same. This led Ford's designers to do just that, taking those rounded egg shapes and splicing them with sharper lines. During the design phase, the various proposals were put to customer clinics and clearly indicated what they liked. Customers were asking for something fresh, something different, Ford delivered.
However, when the car was unveiled and put into production, suddenly those who asked for this newness didn't want to PAY money to look different. Sales tanked, Ford lost a lot money, then had to rush a restyle into action. Ford did what they thought customers wanted, what customers TOLD them they wanted. In effect, Ford was led up the garden path. The rounded edges and egg-shape design was considered ugly. And yet, the Holden at the time was actually softer and more rounded, ultimately lacking the Falcon's crisp panel surfacing.
The most telling tidbit in this video is how Mercedes arrived at the original CLS coupe/sedan, which was basically a further refined AU Falcon design. Even the chief designer of the CLS was Australian.
The full backlog of this series can be found here -
I also highly recommend watching the GM-Holden video featuring Richard Ferlazzo, the man behind the majority of Holden's modern era vehicles. He also designed the award winning Efijy show car, basically a modern hot-rod interpretation of the original Holden's from the late 1940's. Not favorite of mine, but having seen it in person, the Efijy certainly had presence.
The original for reference..............................
DFB
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I just finished writing an article on a specific interior trim offered by FPV and thought I'd show it off here as well......................
I’ve always wanted a car with a red leather interior, something I’ve yet to achieve. This explains why I have such an obsession with the Regency Red leather trim offered by FPV.
Regency Red arrived with the new luxury-focused Force 6 and Force 8 models that were added to the FPV range in 2006 for updated BF MK II Falcon. I always assumed the Dark Charcoal (black) was the default trim on these models, however researching this post, I discovered that it was in fact Regency Red that was standard. That situation was reversed with the 2008 introduction of the FG series Falcon, the renamed GT-E getting Soho (black) as the standard trim, and Regency Red an NCO. Due to customer demand, FPV would later introduce the F6-E in mid-2009, effectively a replacement for the Force 6 and carrying the same inclusions as the GT-E.
For these luxury models, FPV used the Fairmont Ghia / G-Series seat design. These Luxury Seats were less aggressive than the Sport Seats (GT/Pursuit/F6) and Performance Sport Seats (GT-P, Super Pursuit), and in keeping with the luxury concept, they were 8-way powered instead of 4 or 6-way. For BF MK II, the headrest of the Force models was embossed with the FPV logo. However, that changed on the FG through FG MK II, FPV instead used the GT-E or F6-E logo.
Important to note that Regency Red was not available across all exterior colours. As per the BF MK II brochure, it wasn’t available with DeJaVu, Neo or Vixen. For FG onwards, it wasn’t available with Mystic, Sensation, Silk and Steel. (I'm sure there were more, but those are the ones I have listed) Personally, I think Regency Red would have looked stunning paired with Sensation or DeJaVu.
The following table vividly depicts just how rare Regency Red is. Out of the 501 Force and E-Series FPV’s, only 79 of them were ordered with Regency Red. Take note of the FG MK II section, my running change timeline lists Regency Red as being discontinued for the FG MK II update.
BF MK II Force Series –
Droooool……………………
FG through FG MK II E-Series –
Soho black for comparisons –
Fun Fact – These 2008 through 2014 FG MK II FPV F6-E and GT-E models were the last Falcon's to have woodgrain trim. FPV called it "Dark Walnut" and was also used on the 2006 through 2008 BF MK II Force 6 and Force 8. I'm not usually a woodgrain fan, especially that hideous plastic looking stuff that was all the rage through the 90's and early 2000's. You know the sort, Toyota and Lexus loved the stuff. However, while still obviously plastic, I didn't mind the look of this Dark Walnut finish.
Man! What I wouldn't give to be let loose on some of the Regency Red examples above. My leather-care regime would work wonders to remove some the sheen and restore that gorgeous smooth, matte factory finish. Clean leather should always be non-greasy in both look and feel, whereas shiny, slippery is in fact dirty leather.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen as many examples of this rare trim up until this moment. And I don't think I've wanted a red interior more either!
I’ve always wanted a car with a red leather interior, something I’ve yet to achieve. This explains why I have such an obsession with the Regency Red leather trim offered by FPV.
Regency Red arrived with the new luxury-focused Force 6 and Force 8 models that were added to the FPV range in 2006 for updated BF MK II Falcon. I always assumed the Dark Charcoal (black) was the default trim on these models, however researching this post, I discovered that it was in fact Regency Red that was standard. That situation was reversed with the 2008 introduction of the FG series Falcon, the renamed GT-E getting Soho (black) as the standard trim, and Regency Red an NCO. Due to customer demand, FPV would later introduce the F6-E in mid-2009, effectively a replacement for the Force 6 and carrying the same inclusions as the GT-E.
For these luxury models, FPV used the Fairmont Ghia / G-Series seat design. These Luxury Seats were less aggressive than the Sport Seats (GT/Pursuit/F6) and Performance Sport Seats (GT-P, Super Pursuit), and in keeping with the luxury concept, they were 8-way powered instead of 4 or 6-way. For BF MK II, the headrest of the Force models was embossed with the FPV logo. However, that changed on the FG through FG MK II, FPV instead used the GT-E or F6-E logo.
Important to note that Regency Red was not available across all exterior colours. As per the BF MK II brochure, it wasn’t available with DeJaVu, Neo or Vixen. For FG onwards, it wasn’t available with Mystic, Sensation, Silk and Steel. (I'm sure there were more, but those are the ones I have listed) Personally, I think Regency Red would have looked stunning paired with Sensation or DeJaVu.
The following table vividly depicts just how rare Regency Red is. Out of the 501 Force and E-Series FPV’s, only 79 of them were ordered with Regency Red. Take note of the FG MK II section, my running change timeline lists Regency Red as being discontinued for the FG MK II update.
BF MK II Force Series –
Droooool……………………
FG through FG MK II E-Series –
Soho black for comparisons –
Fun Fact – These 2008 through 2014 FG MK II FPV F6-E and GT-E models were the last Falcon's to have woodgrain trim. FPV called it "Dark Walnut" and was also used on the 2006 through 2008 BF MK II Force 6 and Force 8. I'm not usually a woodgrain fan, especially that hideous plastic looking stuff that was all the rage through the 90's and early 2000's. You know the sort, Toyota and Lexus loved the stuff. However, while still obviously plastic, I didn't mind the look of this Dark Walnut finish.
Man! What I wouldn't give to be let loose on some of the Regency Red examples above. My leather-care regime would work wonders to remove some the sheen and restore that gorgeous smooth, matte factory finish. Clean leather should always be non-greasy in both look and feel, whereas shiny, slippery is in fact dirty leather.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen as many examples of this rare trim up until this moment. And I don't think I've wanted a red interior more either!
DFB
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Not often an Aussie car is let loose on an autobahn..........................
This is a Holden VE Commodore SS-V Sportwagen, powered by the L98 6.0-litre V8 and a 6-speed Tremec manual (the autos used the L76 and GM 6-Speed). Essentially, this is the wagon version of what was sold as the Pontiac G8 in the US. Also, it's clearly fitted with the standard exhaust, it really does sound muffled/backed up going by the hissing noises. The later VF series that became the Chevy SS used a much better setup. I also love how this engine is wellllll before augmented engine sounds that have ruined the sound of the Chev V8, just a deep, natural V8 bellow and not that horrible fake groan the last Camaro's and C8 Corvette have.
This is a Holden VE Commodore SS-V Sportwagen, powered by the L98 6.0-litre V8 and a 6-speed Tremec manual (the autos used the L76 and GM 6-Speed). Essentially, this is the wagon version of what was sold as the Pontiac G8 in the US. Also, it's clearly fitted with the standard exhaust, it really does sound muffled/backed up going by the hissing noises. The later VF series that became the Chevy SS used a much better setup. I also love how this engine is wellllll before augmented engine sounds that have ruined the sound of the Chev V8, just a deep, natural V8 bellow and not that horrible fake groan the last Camaro's and C8 Corvette have.
DFB
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From memory 888 / GM-H did that as a test-bed / promo vehicle for the planned move to a turbo V6 in what was formally "V8 Supercars", but was changed to just "Supercars" to allow other manufacturers to join the series with any powertrain............................except everyone still called it V8 Supercars, and no other company wanted a part of the series.
and sounds
DFB
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I'm not sure I'd call it "muscle", but it's not often you see an Aussie car on the Nürburgring!
This thing would have started life as an 1999 - 2002 AU Fairlane or LTD before being stretched. Thing is, me being an AU Falcon nut, the engine in this thing isn't the 4.0 Intech VCT "Red Top" engine which all Fairlane and Fairmont Ghia's got (a 5.0 Windsor V8 was optional). Instead, it has the standard 4.0 Intech inline 6 with 157 kW (210 hp). So, either it's had an engine swap at some point, or it started life as a Fairmont sedan or wagon (the Fairlane/LTD parts are all interchangeable).
Now, with only 210 hp, it was never going to be fast, especially after all of the extra bodywork was added. However, the sluggish kick-down was true to type for that era. All automatic Falcon's from this era had an Australian-made and designed 4-speed auto made by BTR Engineering. Prior to the 2002 BA update, these were programmed to be very conservative, so they would resist kickdowns and upshift early, especially in "Economy Mode". And none of these SOHC 4.0 inline 6's liked to rev, even the fancy VCT version was done by 4500 rpm. You can hear how harsh it is too, these engines were designed to surf a rich torque curve between 1500 to 2500 rpm, which made them excellent for towing and long-distance highway cruising. On the highway, despite the size of the engine, these things with their moonshot gearing offered excellent economy.
Fun Fact, that same BTR gearbox was used in the Maserati 3200 GT coupe and convertible, you the know, with the boomerang style taillights.
Funny thing is, he didn't hate it.
This thing would have started life as an 1999 - 2002 AU Fairlane or LTD before being stretched. Thing is, me being an AU Falcon nut, the engine in this thing isn't the 4.0 Intech VCT "Red Top" engine which all Fairlane and Fairmont Ghia's got (a 5.0 Windsor V8 was optional). Instead, it has the standard 4.0 Intech inline 6 with 157 kW (210 hp). So, either it's had an engine swap at some point, or it started life as a Fairmont sedan or wagon (the Fairlane/LTD parts are all interchangeable).
Now, with only 210 hp, it was never going to be fast, especially after all of the extra bodywork was added. However, the sluggish kick-down was true to type for that era. All automatic Falcon's from this era had an Australian-made and designed 4-speed auto made by BTR Engineering. Prior to the 2002 BA update, these were programmed to be very conservative, so they would resist kickdowns and upshift early, especially in "Economy Mode". And none of these SOHC 4.0 inline 6's liked to rev, even the fancy VCT version was done by 4500 rpm. You can hear how harsh it is too, these engines were designed to surf a rich torque curve between 1500 to 2500 rpm, which made them excellent for towing and long-distance highway cruising. On the highway, despite the size of the engine, these things with their moonshot gearing offered excellent economy.
Fun Fact, that same BTR gearbox was used in the Maserati 3200 GT coupe and convertible, you the know, with the boomerang style taillights.
Funny thing is, he didn't hate it.
DFB
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Vale Allan Moffat - Australian Ford Royalty
Without doubt, Allan Moffat created generations of Ford fans. While he also raced other brands, and at one point crossed the divide, Allan is most famous for his racing efforts in Mustang's and Falcon's spanning multiple decades. His race wins in GTHO Falcon's gave Ford a massive image boost and laid the foundations for its ultimate market success through the 80's. Without him, and the mystique he shaped with the legendary GTHO Phase III, I doubt the modern FPV GT's would ever have happened.
The Coca-Cola Mustang is surely one of the reasons why I associate the colour red with the Mustang nameplate.
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The notion of doing 161 laps of Bathurst as a sole driver is just mind boggling. That's driving at the edge of control without a break for 500 miles or 1000 kms! No power steering, drum rear brakes, a park bench-like seat and relatively no concession to safety outside of a helmet and basic seat belt. And to think he won the race doing that!
The 1 - 2 finish would have to be one of the most iconic moments in Bathurst and Australian Touring Car Racing history.
The Cobra Falcon's, surely one of the most iconic and highly recognisable Australian cars of all time.
In many respects, Allan's racing achievements are more remarkable due to the varying support he got from Ford. Brock on the other hand had a bottomless pit of funding from Holden.
Back in the early 2010's, by chance I actually got to meet Allan at the Melbourne Motor Show. That year, FPV had unveiled the Black Edition Concept, and with Alan being the FPV brand ambassador, he was present on the Ford/FPV stand to help promote it. As was usual, Saturday's were the busiest day of the show and the place was packed. And yet, as I walked onto the Ford stand, there was this old man standing over behind a counter with no one around. I'm like, OMG, that's Allan Moffat..............no one else knew who he was. Being all by himself, I decided to walk up and say hello. He went on to sign a poster, then complimented me on my then brand-new Nikon camera, to which I was quite star struck by. He was so polite, a true gentleman. I thanked him and left him alone, but I still wonder if anyone as young as I was eventually figured out who he was.
rl]
In the late 2010's, Allan partnered with Tickford as a brand ambassador. During that time, two special edition Tickford Mustang's were created in his honor. The first as a tribute to his Coke Mustang days, the second inspired by the 1977 1 - 2 Bathurst win livery.
Always a sharp, calculated and levelheaded man, in his final years Allan succumbed to the grips of dementia. His mental decline meant not remembering the very things that made him a household name and a hero to many. While Allan raced well before my time, even as a budding Ford man in the early 2000's, I knew exactly who he was and what he meant to the Ford faithful. His legacy is immense and no doubt be remembered forever as a pioneer and a hero to generations of Ford guys and girls.
Allan Moffat - four-time Australian Touring Car Champion, four-time Bathurst 500/1000 winner, six-time Sandown 500 winner.
Without doubt, Allan Moffat created generations of Ford fans. While he also raced other brands, and at one point crossed the divide, Allan is most famous for his racing efforts in Mustang's and Falcon's spanning multiple decades. His race wins in GTHO Falcon's gave Ford a massive image boost and laid the foundations for its ultimate market success through the 80's. Without him, and the mystique he shaped with the legendary GTHO Phase III, I doubt the modern FPV GT's would ever have happened.
The Coca-Cola Mustang is surely one of the reasons why I associate the colour red with the Mustang nameplate.
The notion of doing 161 laps of Bathurst as a sole driver is just mind boggling. That's driving at the edge of control without a break for 500 miles or 1000 kms! No power steering, drum rear brakes, a park bench-like seat and relatively no concession to safety outside of a helmet and basic seat belt. And to think he won the race doing that!
The 1 - 2 finish would have to be one of the most iconic moments in Bathurst and Australian Touring Car Racing history.
The Cobra Falcon's, surely one of the most iconic and highly recognisable Australian cars of all time.
In many respects, Allan's racing achievements are more remarkable due to the varying support he got from Ford. Brock on the other hand had a bottomless pit of funding from Holden.
Back in the early 2010's, by chance I actually got to meet Allan at the Melbourne Motor Show. That year, FPV had unveiled the Black Edition Concept, and with Alan being the FPV brand ambassador, he was present on the Ford/FPV stand to help promote it. As was usual, Saturday's were the busiest day of the show and the place was packed. And yet, as I walked onto the Ford stand, there was this old man standing over behind a counter with no one around. I'm like, OMG, that's Allan Moffat..............no one else knew who he was. Being all by himself, I decided to walk up and say hello. He went on to sign a poster, then complimented me on my then brand-new Nikon camera, to which I was quite star struck by. He was so polite, a true gentleman. I thanked him and left him alone, but I still wonder if anyone as young as I was eventually figured out who he was.
rl]In the late 2010's, Allan partnered with Tickford as a brand ambassador. During that time, two special edition Tickford Mustang's were created in his honor. The first as a tribute to his Coke Mustang days, the second inspired by the 1977 1 - 2 Bathurst win livery.
Always a sharp, calculated and levelheaded man, in his final years Allan succumbed to the grips of dementia. His mental decline meant not remembering the very things that made him a household name and a hero to many. While Allan raced well before my time, even as a budding Ford man in the early 2000's, I knew exactly who he was and what he meant to the Ford faithful. His legacy is immense and no doubt be remembered forever as a pioneer and a hero to generations of Ford guys and girls.
Allan Moffat - four-time Australian Touring Car Champion, four-time Bathurst 500/1000 winner, six-time Sandown 500 winner.
Klasse Act
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You guys had cool muscle too
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Big Dave
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Interesting "concepts". I like the look of both, but probably the Falcon more, it's just more possible.
www.carsales.com.au
Ford Falcon vs Holden Commodore: the 2026 Edition - carsales.com.au
What would the iconic super sedan stoush look like today?