The very first GT came off the production line in 1967 in the XR Model Falcon. This car came with the message, 'Mustang Bred', and indeed, the XRGT Falcon shared many of the features of the American muscle car. These included four-on-the-floor manual transmission, 225hp 289CID V8,power disc brakes and in the true tradition of Henry Ford, they were available in any colour you wanted, as long as it was gold. A total of 684 XRGT's were produced, which was just 1.55% of the total XR production run.

In February 1968, the XTGT Falcon was released to the buying public. Ford Australia began to see the potential in the 'race on Sunday, buy on Monday' adage. With this in mind, the XTGT was made available in six colours and the engine was upgraded to the 302CID Windsor V8, conservatively rated at 230hp. The most obvious cosmetic change was the introduction of driving lights into the grill, and wider 6 1/2 inch rims. This was also the first GT to be afforded options such as power steering and a T-Bar Automatic. 1,480 XTGT Falcons were made, 317 of which were automatics. The GT model represented 3.5% of production of the XT Falcon.

Halfway thru 1969, FordOz decided to get serious about beating Holden up and down the mountain. Holden, is an Australian car manufacturer that came under the General Motors flag so long ago it doesn't matter. The mountain, is Mount Panorama, near Bathurst in rural New South Wales. And Mt. Panorama, is the mecca for Australian petrol heads when it comes to eudurance racing. Consequently, the Australian motoring calendar culminates with the race of the year, the Bathurst 1000(kms). Its corporate name varies from year to year, depending on who needs a signifigant tax deduction. But back in '69, it was the Bathurst 500(miles).

The XWGT Falcon came with a new body and a much bigger engine - the 351CID Windsor - This high performance 351 pushed the XWGT along at a fair rate of knots. It covered the 1/4-mile in 15 seconds after reaching 60mph in 9.1, not bad for a street legal family sedan.

In 1970, the GTHO Phase 2 was introduced. Based on the XWGT, it had a completely new engine, a Cleveland 4V 351CID V8. It was capable of nought to sixty in 6.7 seconds, and a standing quarter of 14.8 seconds. The 'HO' stood for 'Handling Option', but what it really meant, was that with the new engine, and ventilated disc brakes, it could stop as well as it could go. By the end of 1970, 2,749 XWGT's were produced.

But the best, according to many, and the most famous of the GT range of muscle cars, was the XYGT Falcon. Just saying its name out aloud made Monaro's wilt. True!! Often referred to as "The Shaker", it was first released in September of 1970. It came with the same race winning Cleveland 351CID V8 as in the XWGT, but its most distinguishing feature was the 'shaker' protruding through the bonnet. This was actually a fully functional cold air intake, which, when the car sat at idle by virtue of its cammy engine, did shake a little. Only 1557 XYGT's were produced which is another reason for their value today. However, the car which epitomises the GT legend, is the XYGTHO Phase III.

The motoring press called this car brute horsepower and it was lauded by all. Even the Generals troops were jealous!

Although rated by Ford at some 300hp, many believe it to be as high as 400hp - ex-factory! For many years, the Phase III was the fastest four door production car, IN THE WORLD. With its upgraded suspension and engine, it was capable of a zero to 60mph of 6.4 seconds and a 14.4 quarter mile. All this with a top speed of 140 mph. Compared this to the XRGT's 10.1 with a 16.8 quarter. Within four years, Ford had gone from better to best. A total of 300 HO's were produced. An indication of their value to Oz motoring history is reflected in their resale value. In 1971, a Phase III cost $6,200. Today, you wont pick one up for less than $65,000.

In 1972, the XAGT entered the arena, and more sigificantly, the XAGT Coupe. Due to the 'killer cars' scare of the early 70's media, the XAGT was not allowed to grow to its full potential. Although a few prototype Phase IV's were built up to various stages, only one completed car was plated and sold to the public.

The most obvious difference, XAGT had a slippery new body shape and was generally considered more refined to drive. Even so, with the Coupe's expanded rear panels, its ability to wear very fat rubber helped to continue the GT's race winning style. Although not as powerful as the Phase III, the XAGT was still able to punch out a zero to 60 in 8.4 seconds and a 15.2 quarter mile. Even in factory trim, it still had a 130mph top speed. Of the 2,761 XAGT's produced, 1,868 were 4 doors, and there were 893 coupes.

The XBGT sedan and coupe were introduced in 1974 and ended production in June of 1976, and sadly, it appeared to be the last GT built in Australia. The XBGT was a further refinement of the XAGT, and while the body changes were cosmetic, it had a hint of Mustang in the nose treatment, and it used the same bonnet scoops as the Mach 1 Mustang.

The XBGT's greatest racing success came in the famous 1-2 finish at Bathurst in 1977. Allan Moffat and Colin Bond steered their machines across the line almost side by side, and stirred the hearts of GT lovers around the country. The unfortunate part for the sake of the XB's image, was that Allan Moffat has updated his XBGT's with XC front panels.

Another world famous XBGT Coupe was the car used by Mel Gibson in his Mad Max series of movies. The car also had a nose job which really was an injustice to the XBGT which really does look the part in its own right. The Mad Max GT also appeared to have a blower stuck on top of the engine. It 'was' stuck on, whatever it was, but it was a fake.

In 1992, FordOz decided to resurrect the GT in the form of the EB Falcon. The EBGT was created for Ford by Tickford Engineering and was definitely a special, limited release. It had a distinctive paint job with extra stick on bits, and a bit more grunt from its computer managed, fuel injected 302 Windsor V8. It had a few refinements too, Anti-Lock Braking, 17" wheels and all the other options available to up market exceutive types. Many of the old hands weren't impressed with this GT, considering it to be more like a Sunday tourer with badges. Its price also put it well out of range of most people.

That blue bone-shaker above sort of fell onto the screen, thats my old speedway race car, it used to be either an XW or XY Falcon, I couldn't find any numbers on it to tell which it is..or was. It only had a little 221 inch 6-in-line, but it was fun :)

All of the cars above, with two exceptions, are owned by club members. The two exceptions are the GTHO Phase III with the City of Perth skyline behind it, and of course Mad Max's machine.

Just going back to the XWGT for a minute, it saw the application of a whole set of decals. One of these that seemed to personalise the XW, and later the XY GT's, was the 'Superoo' decal. They only appeared on these two models, which this author thought was a pity, cos they were cute :) The first one shown here on the right, is from an XWGT......

......and this one is from the XYGT.

Before I close, you should check out The Biante Website for an excellent colection of 1:18 scale diecast model GT Falcons, and then some.

This page was last mucked around with on Friday, October 4, 2002 :)

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