1971 Ford Falcon XY GT HO Phase 3

THANK FORD FOR THE GTHO MEMORIES

Build No.189 was the last Falcon GTHO Phase III ordered by Thomson Ford, and came from the factory painted Bronze Wine metallic with a saddle vinyl interior.

Thomson Ford were also allocated a Phase III in Onyx Black (the only one made), and one in Yellow Glo as well as one in Yellow Ochre.

Build No.189 however was ‘swapped’ to Alto Ford in nearby Gordon, New South Wales.

A Superfringe radio was added by the dealership and then registered with CBQ-505 number plates.

This Falcon GTHO was sold new for $5,300 which was a lot of money back in 1971.

“I was just eight years old when Dad owned this car, it made a huge impression on me.

The smell of that car and the sheer presence along with that majestic sound will never be forgotten,” remembers Paul Brenchley.

“Dad bought the Phase Three from Alto Ford I think, I’m pretty sure the colour was known as Bronze Wine.

We owned 1,000 acres at Kundabung which was about eight miles south of Kempsey, and regularly took the GTHO on outings as far away as Branxton, near Newcastle.”

“The black and white photo with the plane in the background was taken at Port Macquarie Airport in 1972 with yours truly on the far left, my brother Craig, Mum and Dad.

The other black and white photograph taken in front of the bank, could have been Dad ducking in to mortgage the house to fill the tank in the thirsty beast!” laughs Paul.

“Dad sold the GTHO two years later when I was 10 years old, he traded it for one of the first Range Rovers.

We have never heard of it again.”

It is on good authority that Build No.189 has survived, and owned by a private enthusiast in Queensland.

Did you have a Falcon GTHO in your family?

For more "Falcon' Good" stories about the GTHO you should check out the new Phase IV book - www.theGTHOregister.com.au

Would the XA GTHO been better than the XY GTHO?

MEMO TO ALL FORD DEALERS - THE XA FALCON GTHO (VOL 72 NO.15)

Gentlemen,

The XA Falcon GTHO is now in production.

The exterior appearance of the XA GTHO will be similar to the current XA Falcon GT with the exception of unique wheels and tyres.

Basically the XA Falcon GTHO will carry-over most of the mechanical features of the XY Falcon GTHO however there has been some specification revisions designed to-increase performance and to make the vehicle more suitable for general driving conditions.

Apart from the standard interior and exterior dress up and comfort and convenience options, the XA GTHO, as previously, will not be offered with air-conditioning, automatic transmission or power steering.

The front and rear deck lid spoilers are a dealer fitted accessory and not as a regular product option.

The XA Falcon GTHO option will be priced retail including tax at $740 over the basic Falcon GT manual price.

SO... WHAT HAPPENED ON THE 25TH JUNE 1972 THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING?...

Find out what really happened behind the scenes in the new book about the Phase Four that finally tells the complete untold story.


Pre-order your copy of this incredible book today www.theGTHOregister.com.au

THE INSIDE STORY ABOUT THE SENSATIONAL GTHO/4 – by MEL NICHOLS
(Friday, June 23 1972 – Just two days before the Supercar Scare)

Few knew more than I how masterful the Ford Falcon XY GTHO Phase III was.

In two hours one winter’s day in 1971, as the now-legendary Phase III registered KXF-508 swept me from Albury to Broadmeadows –

that’s 200 miles –

I saw how it gobbled distance with a capability no four-door sedan in the world could match.

With the torque hefting the shaker jutting through the bonnet hard to the left,

the revs bouncing off the limiter and the speedo winding off the clock,

the Phase III stormed down the old Hume Highway in those days before speed limits at 141.5mph (226km/h) and into history.

KXF-508 – Build 97 of the 300 – was the Phase III Ford earmarked for journalists like me to test.

As deputy editor of Wheels and editor of its sister magazine Sports Car World – the most authoritative car mags in Australia –

I got first crack at the much-anticipated Bathurst contender for 1971.

And in a never-to-be forgotten weekend my photographer, Uwe Kuessner and I collected the HO –

which, unbeknown to me, was packing a Full Monty QC race engine –

from Ford’s Broadmeadows plant, drove west to flat country to record performance figures, get a feel for the car and shoot a set of photographs.

Then we pushed north 200 miles to Albury, on the NSW border.

And on Sunday morning, as we dashed back to Broadmeadows, we ran KXF-508 flat out on the long, deserted stretches.

It wasn't just fast; it was stable, it handled well, it rode tolerably at speed, and as an all-round mile-eater, nothing matched it.

Nearly a year later, anticipation built to fever pitch ahead of the arrival of the XA GTHO Phase IV.

If the Phase III was so good, imagine what its successor would be like!

Again, the trusted relationship Wheels and SCW had built with Ford –

especially its canny Sydney PR manager Max Ward and, crucially, Howard Marsden, Ford Special Vehicles boss – came into play: in another exclusive,

I’d be first to see and learn about the new XA GTHO.

So on Friday, June 23, 1972 – if memory serves me correctly – I met Howard at Broadmeadows.

After a briefing in his office within the ultra-high security Research Centre, we climbed into his XY Phase III and he drove us the few kilometres east to Ford Australia’s holiest of holies:

Lot 6 on Mahoney’s Road, Thomastown, the home of Ford Special Vehicles.

The intelligent, astute and gentlemanly Howard ushered me into his secret workshop…

and there, on stands, were two red XA Falcon GTs being stripped and rebuilt as the Phase IV prototypes.

As his skilled mechanics scurried about the cars fitting the new high-performance parts arrayed around them,

Howard outlined how his team had designed the Phase IV.

This book tells in forensic and fascinating detail exactly what they did and what they achieved.

Essentially, as Howard explained,

adding well-proven but redeveloped components from the Phase III to the more advanced new XA chassis would deliver a faster, better handling, grippier, better braked, better riding, easier to drive and safer race and road car.

From the tweaks to the 351 HO V8 –

including gas-flowed combustion chambers, more efficient exhaust headers and twin point distributors –

to the crucial bigger-but-lighter new 15-inch mag wheels, wider track and longer-legged diff, this GTHO would have what it needed to keep Ford winning.

Howard couldn’t say openly but hints suggested blue-printed engines would deliver close to 400bhp at 5600rpm and 380lb/ft of torque at 3600rpm.

Word had it that at the 6200rpm rev limit it’d outrun the Phase III by 10 mph…

but, with the rev limiter removed, maybe it’d nudge 7000rpm in top and that’d be 170mph.

I left convinced that Ford was upping the ante and Australia was about to get another world-beater.

I started thinking about where I’d take the Phase IV in a few weeks when, again, Howard promised, I’d be the first outsider to test one.

Perhaps the 200km stretch of the Mitchell Highway from Nyngan to Bourke in NSW that I once covered in an hour in a Holden HG Monaro GTS 350.

But of course it never happened.

Two days after my visit to Lot 6, Evan Green’s article headed ‘160MPH SUPERCARS SOON’ ran on the front page of Australia’s biggest Sunday newspaper,

kicking off the political storm that forced the big three car makers to cancel production of the Phase IV and its Holden and Chrysler rivals.

What did we lose?

With the Falcon at least, a car that would have eclipsed the mighty Phase III in every way to become even more dominant as the world’s fastest four-door sedan of its time.

This book, painstakingly researched, illustrated and produced to the highest standard, as ever, by Ross Vasse and Aaron Lofts now tells the Phase IV’s story in extraordinary and captivating detail,

and makes clear just how much was taken away from Australia’s car enthusiasts when the greatest HO died. – Mel Nichols

** for more about this Phase IV book visit www.theGTHOregister.com.au **

Brain Teaser

This car became the famous………………………. (add your answer here)

Clue: “O”

On a crisp Winter’s morning on Tuesday on 20th June 1972, Norman Wodetzki the Ford Motor Company’s official photographer arrives at Lot 6 – Ford Special Vehicles to capture 25 images of the upcoming XA GTHO Phase IV race cars for CAMS homologation.

Whilst the photos were taken in black and white, imagine what Norman would have witnessed as he stood there capturing history.

This is just one shot, with many other unpublished and previously unseen photos of the XA GTHO race car ‘prototypes’ that will be in the new book about the Phase IV.

Read the complete untold story about what really happened behind the scenes. Reserve your copy today.

WHAT’S THE STORY?

This significant Falcon GTHO was quietly revealed without much fanfare at the 2007 Muscle Car Masters at Eastern Creek in Sydney.

It has quite the story to tell from its humble beginnings at Lot 6 up until and beyond Fred Gibson rolling it at Bathurst in 1972.

Could the revealing of the claimed 65E ‘survivor’ also slip beneath the radar in similar fashion be it at a local car show or an auction?…..

THE TRUTH

You’ve all heard stories about Falcon GTHO engines ending up in boats.

Well this time it’s TRUE!

Do you know the name of the 'bullet hull' speedboat which is fitted with the Phase 4 engine from the ex-Hoddo XA GT rally car?

Find out the factual truth in the new book which tells the complete untold story about the XA GT Phase IV

for more go to www.theGTHOregister.com.au

You can stop looking.

We’ve found it in NZ!

Guess which Phase 3 has been restored?

BRAIN TEASER

Can you work out which Phase 3 Build Number the Bathurst Cobra ( #31) is towing?

See more and find out more in soon to be released official Cobra Bible

Pre-order yours here www.theGTHOregister.com.au

(you may even be interested in the XA GTHO Phase IV book)

These photos were posted back in 2018.

What more do we know six years later?

Find out what the go is in the new book about the Phase IV

You won't be expecting what is revealed inside!

Visit www.theGTHOregister.com.au

THE TRUTH. THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.

Only those interested in factual truth about the "Phase 4" and all the Brambles Red cars built to Phase IV spec at Ford Special Vehicles (aka Phase Four prototypes), the test and development mule, the pre-production special order and of course the complete story of how the Calypso Green XA GTHO came to be, should pre-order this officially Ford licensed publication to learn

The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Can you guess which car is pictured?

Don't click on this link if you can't handle the truth! -

www.theGTHOregister.com.au

It's a no-punches-pulled page turner that'll rivet you in your seat from the very word Go!

MORE IMPORTANTLY TELL US WHAT YOU THINK

What do you have to say about the GTHO Bibles so far?

Here is what others have said about them;


“This is not the first book devoted to a single car model, but I’ve never seen a one-model volume that matches Vasse’s effort in terms of completeness, background knowledge and thousands of facts. It is truly encyclopaedic in its coverage.”
— Peter Robinson / Australian Automotive Heritage Foundation (former Editor of Wheels magazine)


“Written by Ross Vasse and officially licenced by the Ford Motor Company, The 1971 Ford Falcon XY GTHO Phase III Register is an encyclopaedic account of the legendary Falcon.” – Jack Houlihan / Street Machine


“Officially licensed register of Australia’s most famous V8 sedan is a must-have for fans…Armed with licensing approval from Ford Australia, Vasse has published the 1971 Ford Falcon XY GTHO Phase III register, a compendious book that provides the lowdown on practically every aspect of the flying Falcon…..In short, this is a fantastic book: well made, lovingly presented and printed on quality stock by a local company.” – Ken Gratton / Carsales


“While many books have been written on the 1971 Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III – a vehicle which became famous for its Bathurst endurance race victories and for being the fastest and most powerful production sedan in the world at the time – the register promises to be the most detailed analysis yet of the breed.”
— Joshua Dowling / Drive.com & CarAdvice.com (Channel Nine)


You will not be disappointed with the same high standard and depth of research you can expect to see inside THE PHASE IV and THE COBRA BIBLE registers being released this year.

For more info, visit; www.theGTHOregister.com.au

DEAD or ALIVE

Tell us what you think about this?

The other “works” GTHO

WHAT'S THE REAL STORY?

What actual colour was the Phase IV repainted in?

Why was it repainted?

Who painted it, and when?

What's the real story?

Find out the answers to all these questions in the new Ford book which finally reveals the complete untold story about the famous Phase IV.

Inside this officially Ford licensed publication you will find out what really happened behind the scenes.

Find out all about the test & development Phase 4 mule, a special order pre-production Phase 4 road car built months before, learn everything about the three Lot 6 race cars and find out what Ford did behind the scenes to cover up the Phase 4 program.

Reserve your copy of this rare book today to be one of the lucky few that didn't miss out.

The XA GTHO book is a limited print run.

To pre-order yours go to www.theGTHOregister.com.au

What do you think.

Is a 1971 Ford Falcon XY GT HO Phase 3 still a good enjoyable investment or have they had their day?

THANK FORD FOR THE MEMORIES

Is this Build No.46 back in 1974?

This is the Phase 3 my brother owned in Canberra in 1974 and the XT I had at the time.

These were the best days! - Jeff Fishpool

visit www.theGTHOregister.com.au for everything Falcon GTHO

DID YOU KNOW?

Bob Morris was the youngest driver to contend Bathurst in a Falcon GTHO

But did you know he was involved with The Phase IV?

Find out what his contribution was in the upcoming new book about the XA GTHO which tells the complete untold story of what really happened.

Pre-order yours today

www.theGTHOregister.com.au

‘there are only two times in life….. Now and too late.’

If the Phase 3 is King of the Road, then make way for the Crown Prince of GTHOs.

There can be only one - The Phase IV

Read the complete untold story, check out the new book here www.theGTHOregister.com.au

1971 Ford Falcon XY GT HO Phase 3 Following the footprints of truth. Sharing old photos and stories, help us find and document the his

What a line up!

Which is fastest?

www.theGTHOregister.com.au

65E perhaps??.........

Someone got lucky888!

Grand Sale, Grand Sale!

$489K - Build No.47 For Sale with ICAARS Report

According to the ACCHS report, this GT-HO is one of only 23 GTHOs painted in Monza Green and is one of four built with the specific options selected.

The recently published 1971 XY Falcon GTHO Register notes that this genuine Monza Green XY GTHO was originally sold through Byrne Ford, Chermside in Brisbane.

As with many such desirable muscle cars, this GT-HO was stolen in the late 1970s and the thieves tried to disguise the identity of the car by tampering with the shock tower VIN number.

Thankfully, the GT-HO was recovered.

The original owner advertised the Phase 3 for sale in the Sydney Morning Herald in 1978 and sold the car to a Victorian owner with just 5,984 miles on the clock.

At this stage, the Victorian Police gave the car a VP number in 1979.

Moving through several well known GT-HO collector owners over the years,

the GT-HO has recently been forensically authenticated and the HO is supplied with a full ICAARS report authenticating the vehicle as genuine and also a letter from the Victorian Police confirming that the HO wears its original VIN number.

Build No.47 is an important XY-HO.

This GT-HO is one of the first 50 HOs built and these 50 cars were used by Ford to gain CAMS Homologation approval for the Bathurst race cars.

Because these HOs had to be built exactly to the same specifications as the race cars,

this GT-HO features the same running gear as Ford's race cars.

Importantly, Build No. 47 still features the original matching numbers 351 Cleveland engine with the factory X marking on the engine block.

It also retains all its important GTHO race gear, from the HO Rev Limiter, Brake proportioning valve, Vacuum tank, the close ratio Top Loader gearbox, heavy duty HO tail shaft and the race spec Daytona Limited Slip nodular iron 31 spline 3.5:1 9" diff.

Along with the original factory running gear, this GT-HO features the all original factory interior except for a retrim to the two front seats.

The dash, crash pad, console, steering wheel, rear seat, door cards and rear carpets are all original items.

In the ownership of the current owner since 1998, XY GTHO Build No. 47 was used as a family daily driver by the current owner.

The GT-HO has been all through Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales and was used as a wedding car for the owners daughter in 2022.

Repainted in 2006 with receipt attached in the photo gallery, the GT-HO has also had an engine rebuild by Gasoline Garage in Leeton, NSW in 2022, plus a rebuild to the Top loader and diff.

The car also had an overhaul to the suspension and brakes.

The original sump, extractors and other items replaced will come with the GT-HO.

Build No. 47 is showing 110,576 miles on the odometer which is believed to be genuine given the ownership documentation trail supplied with the car.

Just back from the detailer, this GT-HO absolutely glows. Now ready for its next custodian, this GT-HO is for the collector who wants to actually drive a real Phase 3 in the manner that Ford designed it to be used.

This is an awesome Phase 3 that looks and sounds tough and drives like a Phase 3 should.

Priced at a fraction of the cost of a perfect GT-HO, this is one of the 300 genuine GT-HOs built and a car that ranks in Australia and New Zealand as the most coveted Aussie Muscle car.

Now for sale at Australian Muscle Car Sales and ready to be enjoyed by the next lucky owner.

Australian Muscle Car Sales for sale a genuine 1971 XY Falcon GTHO Phase III - Build No.47/300. Monza Green and Saddle trim

Phase 3 Vs Phase 4

A 'Dyno' shoot-out.

SEEING IS BELIEVING 👀!

Can you believe that even before the XW GT was released

that Ford had a concept design for the XY GT?!

www.theGTHOregister.com.au

THANK FORD FOR THE MEMORIES
(a fabulous 4 minute read about the 80561)

Build No.28, or better known as 80561, has had more owners than most people have had hot dinners!

Of these, there are a few notable owners associated with this GTHO Phase III’s history.

Because of the sequentially close serial numbering to the factory ‘works’ race cars,

it’s long been thought that Ron Lindau, the dealer principal of Lindau Ford in WA,

ordered this HO purposely to race.

Whether this is the case or not, will forever remain unknown.

But we can state that 80561 entered final assembly a week prior to the ‘works’ race cars and was ordered with a Super Fringe radio.

We also checked with CAMS archives, and no record of an application for a logbook for 80561 was found.

This said, its destiny was to race albeit on the drag strip rather than on a circuit, but we’ll get to that bit in a moment...

The first GTHO Phase III scheduled to arrive in WA, 80561 was also the first of four HOs allocated to Lindau Ford.

Because the letters HO were never stamped by the factory on the original identification plate,

there had been some conjecture whether it was in fact a GTHO or a standard GT,

but rest assured it certainly it left the factory as a HO.

Aside from the engine code H designating the 351/4V HO mechanical lifter engine,

Build No.28 came factory fitted with a rev limiter and all other HO components.

This is not the only GTHO Phase III that wasn’t stamped with the letters HO on the ID plate.

Lindau Ford is recorded as the first registered owner until the 21st November 1971, when 80561 changed hands with Motorama car yard at Nedlands, WA.

By 1974, this Phase III had no fewer than eight owners, the ninth owners were Peter and Rob Lush.

The Lush brothers are renowned for their racing exploits,

“We had been waiting for the new Phase Four, but when that didn’t eventuate we went looking for a Phase Three,” tells Rob.

“We heard about a stock standard GTHO for sale at Midpark Motors who were known for selling muscle cars back then.

When we went to see it, they told us it wasn’t available as it was at the panel shop being repaired.

Apparently it had hit a kangaroo, and the front spoiler had broken, amongst other superficial damage.

We ended up paying $6,500 for it, which was a lot of money back in those days.”

Rob was only 19 years old then, and didn’t know as much then about cars than he does now,

“Midpark Motors were your typical salesmen, and mentioned this car was destined to have been raced by Rod Donovan for Lindau Ford,” remembers Rob.

“We had to return the car to Midpark for some warranty work, and to have the front spoiler fitted.

But whilst it was in the workshop, the business had gone bankrupt.

Our father kept the person at the counter busy demanding our car be released,

whilst my brother and I virtually had to repossess the GTHO out the back door!”

The Lush brothers wanted a high performance engine, so they had the original motor rebuilt and blueprinted with 13:1 compression TRW dome pistons.

This resulted in the engine detonating by spinning a bearing and throwing a rod,

“The rod didn’t go through the block, but it did cause enough damage that the block was unserviceable,” tells Rob.

“Before it blew, that engine would rev to 7,500rpm with the rev limiter removed, and sit on 140mph and then some!

I remember on one occasion I was speeding at 120mph along the highway,

when on the opposite side of the road a policeman in a Torana SLR5000 had just pulled over another motorist and noticed me flying past.

I floored it past 140mph and gave them the slip,” laughs Rob.

With the original engine gone, a replacement engine was soon found but it wasn’t a Ford product, no siree…

The substitute engine came in the form of a big block Chev 454 LS7 V8 which nestled nicely into the HO’s engine bay with little modifications.

“That engine punched out 580bhp and was coupled to the standard Toploader with an adaptor plate supplied by Larry Ornsby,

we also had a scatter-shield fitted, and a Hurst vertical gate shifter.

The engine bay was never cut to fit the 454.

We opened the rear wheel arches to fit 28.5 inch slicks.

We also painted it jet black and added HQ door handles!” declares Rob.

“It ran mid-12s from memory because we had too much trouble with wheel spin.”

80561 was then sold to Kevin Pocock, less engine, for the same price the Lush brothers had paid for it.

By 1980, this GTHO had now had more than a dozen owners in WA alone!

THE BULLDOZER

“My mum used to call my HO, the ‘Bulldozer’,” reminisces Nick Melentis of his time with 80561.

Nick clearly recalls it never had HO stamped on the ID tag, but confirms the engine code was H though.

“I had sourced a rear spoiler from a 1971 Boss 351 Mustang through American Auto Parts.”

“As a young man, the car was just pure excitement.

The power, the balance, and handling made it a joy to drive.

It was at the Australian Touring Car Championship at Wanneroo 1973, my father John, a former lifelong employee of the Ford Motor Company, took me to watch Moffat do battle with Brock in that most memorable race.

And to think, seven years later I would be so fortunate to own and treasure a very special GTHO.

It was a dream come true!”

Nick owned this GTHO for around three years before moving it on, but says, “I’m still a Phase Three tragic!”

Over the years, 80561 has had a lot of changes and a lot of owners, eventually ending up on the east coast.

In 2002, it was sighted with larger than normal font ‘HO’ stamped on the ID tag, whilst for sale by Joe Barca.

The modified for racing rear wheel wells were still visible.

Like a pinball, once again old 80561 bounced around a change of hands more times than can be remembered, and is now in the ownership of a private collector in Victoria, albeit with a reproduction ID tag.

* We hope you enjoyed this story, read on if you would like to see more like it... *

The Lush Bros missed out on getting an XA GTHO Phase Four but you don't have to miss out on adding the new book about the Phase 4 to your collection.

Inside this Limited Edition book you will read the complete untold story about what really happened, and what Ford did to cover it all up.

Don't miss out on your copy of this epic publication that is officially licensed by the Ford Motor Company

This is a limited print run, don't miss out.

Pre-order your copy today, check it out

www.theGTHOregister.com.au

How do we get to see a what's on these!

Let's start a petition, who else wants to see what's in these?

LOST BATHURST FOOTAGE

Digging through the archives we’ve come across some rare Super8 footage of Bathurst including Allan’s practice sessions!

We’ll post up some clips once it’s converted to digital