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Early in 1972 Ford released the XA
Falcon with the GT in sedan and hardtop versions. The
hardtop being preferred for racing as its bulging rear
flanks accommodated wider tyres. Ford built 1868 sedans
from January 1972 to September 1973 and 891 hardtops
between July 1972 and September 1973.
The XA GT was
designed for wider appeal with its less aggressive
look and better creature comforts. The XA GTHO Phase
IV is the best remembered model that never was.
Three
prototypes were built at Ford's "Lot 6" race
workshop, and one production model made it down the
Broadmeadows assembly line before the "Supercar" furore
stopped production.
The only production phase 4 GTHO
sedan came down the line in 1973 and was Calypso green,
and prior to that 3 T code XA GT sedans were built
as racing prototypes GTHO's in Brambles red.
The Phase
IV was to have had 340bhp (255kW) and around 400 ft/lbs
of torque and a reported top speed of around 150mph
(240kmh). The 'normal' GT continued in production and
while many race teams made do with their Phase 3 XY's.
The XA GT won at Bathurst in 1973 with Moffat and Ian Geoghegan in the hardtop version, and in 1974 John
Goss and Kevin Bartlett in an XA GT Hardtop won the
first really wet Bathurst 1000 enduro. |
