GTHO Phase III
| Ford XY Falcon GT | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Ford Australia |
| Production | 1970–1972 |
| Assembly | Broadmeadows, Victoria, Australia |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Muscle car |
| Body style | 4-door sedan |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Ford XW Falcon GT |
The Ford Motor Company Falcon XY GT is a muscle car based on the Ford Falcon XY. Released in 1970 by Ford Australia, with the GTHO Phase III released in 1971. Some 1,557 units were produced from September 1970 to December 1971 with 300 GTHO Phase IIIs produced from May 1971 to November 1971. It was the fourth in the initial series of Ford Falcon GT muscle cars. A limited number were exported to South Africa, wearing Fairmont GT badging. The Fairmont GT model is starting to increase in value as Falcon GTs become harder to find and buyers being to appreciate the Fairmont as a genuine GT.
With the rev limiter disabled it is capable of 228 kilometres per hour (142 mph) and can exceed 7,500rpm (at high risk of engine failure) in fourth gear. The rev limiter is set to 6,150rpm. The engine type was a 351 Cleveland (carried over from the XW GT/GT-HO Phase II).
Type: 9-inch LSD traction lock is standard with 28 spline axles or 31 spline optional
Front: independent ball joint, coil springs, shock absorbers, wishbones and anti-roll bar Upper control arm to accept the three-pin ball joint used, as opposed to the four-point ball joint used in the normal GTs and earlier GTHOs
Front: 286mm (11.25in) servo assisted discs Rear: 254mm (10in) servo assisted drums
Type: re-circulating ball power assistance (optional)
7.0 x 15 alloy - "five-spoke' Bathurst Globe (optional) from 1972
Standing 1/4 mile (400m) - 14.4 seconds ( manual )
The Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III was built for homologation, looked almost identical to the GT and was a modified version of the Falcon GT built in 1971 with a heavily upgraded engine, a four-speed top-loader gearbox and Detroit locker nine inch differential. It was also equipped with special brakes and handling package, plus a 36 imperial gallons (164 litres) fuel tank.
Winner of the 1971 Bathurst 500, driven by Allan Moffat, the Phase III has been described as "...simply one of the best cars in the world, a true GT that could take on Ferraris and Astons on their own terms..." by Sports Car World.
The GTHO's 351 Cleveland engine output was understated as 300 bhp (224 kW) to satisfy insurers. It is generally accepted to produce in the region of 350-380 bhp (265 kW -283 kW). Initial cars were equipped with an electrical rev limiter which came into effect at 6,150 rpm. With the rev limiter disabled, the engine was reputed to pull in excess of 7,000 rpm, even in fourth gear. At that time the Phase III GTHO was the worlds fastest four-door production car.
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Wikipedia