Thread: Ford Falcon XA GT Hardtop And Four Door.

It's time to shine the spotlight on a classic Ford that also deserves respect and a special mention.Anyone out there got any special memories about this piece of Australian motoring history? The below article is from Luke West.

First Falcon GT Designed In Australia
The XA model Falcon broke new ground for Ford Australia.The tradition of adapting American designs ended with the XY model.With no direct US Falcon to use as a basis-the Falcon was discontinued in America in 1970-Ford Australia's Melbourne based staff developed an all new design for the 1972 model release.Their success gave the company's US brass the confidence to invest in design facilities at Broadmeadows that have since created four decades of uniquely Australian Falcons.That said there was still a hefty US influence in the XA's look.It came to life under the watch of American Jack Telnack-a member of the original Mustang styling team.Ford Australia's styling team had a certain degree of styling autonomy,however they lacked experienced modellers.A three man team headed to the US to learn off Ford hq.The team impressed the staff at Ford USA so much Ford president Bunkie Knudsen told Ford Australia chief Bill Bourke to ramp up design facilities locally.

First GT To Be Made As A Two Door Hardtop.
The launch of a second body shape for the XA provided an intriguing and colourful new dimension to the Falcon GT story.Dimension being the operative word,as the hardtop provided a design that was more suited to racing under the Group C rules,with the ability to use wider profile tyres under the bulging flanks of the hardtop.It's a design that carried over to the XB and XC ranges and is considered to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing designs of any Australian made car. Contrary to perceptions,the wheel base and overall length was identical between the four door and the two door despite the latter looking longer.The hardtop was 5cm lower and much wider due to the rear wheel arches.Performance was the same as the hardtop.

It Proved To Be A Popular Choice.
The XA GT might not be revered in the manner of it's rawer,more masculine older brothers,the XW and XY GTs,but that doesn't mean it was unpopular with buyers.In fact more XA GTs were sold than the XW and XY GTs. All up,2758 XA GTs were sold;1867 four doors and 891 two doors.This compares to 1557 XY GTs and 2287 XW GTs.When 662 GT-HO sales are added to XW's tally that model edges ahead of the XA's count,but when you take into account that phase IV program was scuttled it's not a fair fight.Interestingly all three were out sold by the XB GT which sold 2899,1950 four doors and 949 hardtops.

XA Falcon Range Boosted Sales.
The XA model overall played an important part in Ford's long march to market leadership.During it's lifespan,March 1972-September 1973 a total of 152,609 XA fords hit the road,compared to the more fondly remembered XY which sold 118,666.The extra 33,943 XAs sold over the XYs represents a 28.6 percent increase model to model.Press reports at the time suggest that the curvaceous XA model stole sales from the HQ Holden models and VH Valiants due to clever packaging.It was just the right size compared to the others.While the HQ looked to small and the VH to big and heavy the XA was just right.

The XA GT Was The Essence Of Grand Tourer.
With it's high-backed bucket seats,improved handling and more up-market interior,the XA GT was the very essence of a grand touring sedan.Which was,after all what GT stood for.It was far more comfortable long-distance cruising than the models before.

Helped Create The Legend That Is Gossy.
Australian motorsport history is full of colourful and distinctive characters.Among them is John Goss,who was the first of the establishment to race the XA model,long before the works team.Consequently,his car suffered major engine failures due to oil surge generated by the hardtops higher grip levels and higher cornering speed.Goss's sharp engineering mind eventually nutted out a solution which enabled him to win Bathurst in 1974 giving the XA it's second consecutive Bathurst win.

Performance Is Comparable To The XY GT.
The road going XA GT is unfairly compared with the XY GT-HO Phase 3 in terms of performance.Yet the XA GT should really be up against the car it replaced-and a model history has treated more kindly-the regular XY GT.Straightline performance figures taken from "WHEELS" and "SPORTS CAR WORLD" magazines from 1972 showed that the XA GT accelerated from 0 to 60mph in 8.4sec,compared to XY GTs 8.3.However the XA GTs 0-100mph time of 18.7 is a full second faster than the XY GTs 19.7.

It Played The Flutes.
It was the only Falcon GT that incorporated bonnet flutes recessed into the bonnet between a prominent center peak,giving it a distinctive look.

Distinctive Tail Pipes.
First GT to incorporate rectangular chrome tail pipes.This feature has had a resurgence of popularity in modern high performance cars.Ahead of it's time?

Debut Win For Works XAs.
A works XA Falcon won on debut at Adelaide International Raceway in August 1973 in atrocious conditions.Fred Gibson's hardtop,wearing the factory team's stunning blue and white corporate livery for the first time,splashed home ahead of Kevin Bartlett in Goss's example.Gibson won despite being penalised one minute after the team added fuel to the car while the engine was running.

Greater Colour Choice.
The XA GT was available in more colour and trim options than it's predecessors.According to the Falcon GT club of Australia ,XA GTs were produced in 50 different colours.It was as if Ford would paint your GT any colour you liked,including ultra-lairy 1970's colours like Lime Glaze,Wild Plum and Calypso Green.The XW GT was produced in 24 colours,the XY in 34.

Last GT With Chrome Bumpers.
If 'classic not plastic' is your mantra the XA GT has it all over the colour-coded bumper-equipped XB GT.The XA was the last Falcon GT with chrome bumper-bars.

Last GT Before Regulations Blunted Performance.
Emission regulations blunted the performance of the XB GT,leaving the XA the last of the performance orientated GTs.

The XA GT Showed The Poms A Real Muscle Car.
The XA GT was among the Falcon models exported in small numbers to the old dart.In the case of 17 XA GT hardtops,the recessed and sloping tail lights were deemed illegal in England.Thus the poms substituted them with Triumph Dolomite tail lights.

A Sound Investment.
If you're a long time XA GT owner-that is 10 years plus-your pride and joy has proven to be a good investment.According to valuation estimates courtesy of VIP Automotive Solutions collectable car index,10 years ago the value of a 1972 model XA GT Falcon four door (non RPO 83) was $13,500,compared to $46,000 today.In 2007(pre-global financial crisis) the same model peaked at $80,000.As to the two door XA GT it's 2002 value was $16,000,skyrocketing to $115,000 in 2007 before settling to a more realistic $61,500 today.These figures are for cars with an overall condition rated as being 8-10.RPO variants can add as much as 30 percent to these figures.

It Rallied For A Cause.
There is a certain degree of irony in the fact that the only example of the ultimate XA GT-the Phase IV-to enter competition was pounded relentlessly in rallying.Factory Ford driver Bruce Hodgson was the only man to have competed in a Phase IV in anger during it's hey-day.Hodgson finished sixth in the 1973 Australian Rally Championship in the factory prepared Falcon.The following year he pedalled the car in the even more punishing rallycross arena.

I think the XA GT is another awesome Australian muscle car that also deserves respect.

Mate of mine has two,both XA coupes.Both built late 1972.
Both in immaculate almost original condition.


Doesn't tell to many people he has them for obvious reasons.
Had a spin in one of them,the raw power,and noise, was unbelievable