It was specifically homologated for the Austrailian touring car championship with 300 examples being produced. The GT-HO Phase III was the third evolution of the GT-HO series, and was the greatest Australian supercar of its time. Engine power jumped dramatically, braking and handling were also greatly improved and racing fans soon had heroes like Moffat and the Geoghegans to cheer for. The XW GT also introduced the Super Roo as performance was what the four barrel 351 was all about while the HOs were out-and-out race homologation specials developed for the Touring Car Championship. The standard XW GT, launched in June 1969, was joined by the Windsor-engined Phase I GT-HO in August and, one year later by the Cleveland-powered Phase II GT-HO. The earlier 351 Windsor V8 was replaced by the famed 351 Cleveland engine during the XW model life. The XW also saw the introduction of the Phase I and II GT-HO homologation models, which were the first local performance cars to feature a full-width front spoiler. Again, it was the first Australian car to feature standard bonnet locking pins, racing exterior mirror, anti-glare bonnet rally panels, styled fuel cap, separate dual exhausts exiting at each corner, styled 12-slot sports wheels, baggy 70-series radial tyres, long distance fuel tank and large ventilated front disc brakes. The 1969 XW GT ushered in the era of the real muscle car GTs, the first with the big 351 engines combined with powerful, aggressive styling and large bonnet scoop. It was specifically homologated for the Austrailian touring car champoinship. The 1969 GT-HO Phase 2 was the second evolution of the homogated Ford Falcon. The first two hundred examples featured the Windsor 351 while the last fifty used a Cleveland 351 V8.
It featured a Holley 600CFM 4-Barrel carburettor which rasied the engine to 300 hp. In August of 1969 a homologation version of the Falcon GT appeared - the Ford Falcon GT-HO Phase I. Compared to the XR GT's exclusive exterior combination of GT Gold with black stripes, the XT was available in several colours with black-outs and colour-keyed side stripes. It was extremely popular and sales doubled that of the XR.
The XT's greatest claim to fame was the Teams Prize in the 1968 London-Sydney Marathon where the Ford team finished 3rd, 5th and 8th well ahead of many more fancied rally cars. It was the first Aussie performance car to offer headlights to match its extra performance with new grille-mounted driving lights, a four-eyes performance tradition that would be revived in later Tickford models. It gained the more powerful 302 V8, a beefy new three-speed auto transmission option, wider 6-inch rims, lower suspension and heavier shockers. The success of the XR GT saw rapid development of the XT version released in April 1968 as an ongoing model. In October, the real reason for its creation became apparent as the new GT Falcon took the 'King of the Mountain' title at Bathurst thereby establishing the foundations for V8 Supercars into the 21st Century. Its GT stripes down the sides and across the boot, distinctive GT medallions and grille blackouts caused a sensation when the first GT was released in May 1967 as a limited edition model late in the XR series.
#1967 FORD FALCON MANUAL#
The new GT was also the first full-size Australian family car variation to offer a total performance and appearance package with extra safety including the Mustang 289 V8 with Australias first four barrel carburettor, 4-speed manual gearbox, sports suspension with radial tyres on 5.5 inch rims and steering wheel impact pad, all standard. Following the example set by the old Model-T, the XR Falcon GT came in any colour you wanted, provided it was gold.
Appointments were a cut above the XR Fairmont.
#1967 FORD FALCON FULL#
Its unique charcoal interior featured the sportier ZA Fairlane bucket seats, wood-grained steering wheel, dash and matching gear knob and special Stewart-Warner full instrumentation. The experts told Ford that a GT came only with 2 doors but Ford went ahead anyway with the definitive Aussie 4-door GT based on the XR series, resplendent in its own exclusive colour, GT Gold. Developed from the special Police Interceptor Pack Falcon, the GT was the brainchild of dynamic Ford Australia Managing Director, Bill Bourke. The 1967 Ford Falcon GT was the car that started the Australian Falcon GT legend.
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