Ford Falcon 1970 Problems

In the days before posted speed limits on our highways the Falcon GT was king. With a top speed in excess of 200 km/h and able to cruise comfortably at 160 km/h the GT was an awesome road car.While Ford is trying to resurrect the GT in its new BA Falcon range it’s doubtful it will ever capture the commanding road presence of the great GTs, which now reign supreme over the classic car market.The 1970 XY Falcon GT was the last of the great classic Falcon GTs. The GT badge first appeared in 1967 in the XR range, with follow-up models in XT and XW before the 1970 XY, which was the last of the original body shape that began with the XR.The GT carried on in XA and XB before being dropped as a regular model in 1973, and Ford later built a couple of GTs – EB and EL – to celebrate the 25th and 30th anniversaries of the original GT, but they were pale imitations of the real thing and have become collectable only because they were built in very limited numbers.MODEL WATCHThe XY GT is regarded as the last of the great GTs, and is the most sought after today, apart from the HOs that were really built more as race cars than the GTs that were awesome road cars.There was no mistaking a GT in 1970. It had wild stripes down the side, the bonnet was blacked-out, bold GT badges announced it, and if you missed all of those clues there was no escaping the ‘shaker’ air scoop that protruded through the bonnet.Inside it had comfortable bucket seats, a centre console, full sports instrumentation, and a wood-rimmed sports steering wheel.Power was from a 5.7-litre ’Cleveland’ V8 which Ford claimed put out 220 kW, but the reality was that it was considerably more than that.Most GTs had the four-speed manual gearbox, but there was a three-speed automatic option available, and the diff was the tough nine-inch.Despite weighing a hefty 1500 kg, the XY GT would sprint through the quarter-mile in 15.5 seconds, and with its tall rear axle ratio would reach a heady 225 km/h.There was a downside to the go-power though, as the GT was a thirsty beast if you weren’t circumspect with your right foot. With the standard 75-litre fuel tank you found yourself making frequent stops for fuel, although a larger, 164-litre tank, was available as an option and reduced the frequency of servo visits.IN THE SHOPFalcon GTs haven’t always been treated the way we’d like to think a classic should be. They were among the fastest cars on the road in their day and most have been used and abused, so expect signs of a hard life.The more owners they’ve had the greater the likelihood they’ve been driven hard, and possibly crashed, so hope for the best and be prepared for the worst.Cars that have had lots of owners will usually need lots of work to bring them back to good drivable condition. Every owner thinks they know best so they will often fiddle, and generally make things worse in the process.The XY GT is now 30 years old, and like most 30-year-old cars suffers from the dreaded tin-worm. Expect to find rust in a number of areas, in the bottoms of the guards, the bottoms of the doors, around the rear window and possibly in the plenum chamber and torque box at the front of the chassis.Mechanically they are tough. The Cleveland V8 is rugged and can stand a fair amount of abuse, and can easily be rebuilt once they’re worn out. Same goes for the four-speed gearbox and diff.LOOK FOR• classic car synonymous with the golden era of Australian muscle cars.• awesome road performance with thundering exhaust note will turns heads and make you feel good.• rapidly sinking fuel gauge will ensure you get to know your local servo attendant.• make sure of the authenticity.• be prepared for the wear and tear from a hard 30 years of high-speed road life.

Want a classic Falcon GT, but can't afford the silly prices GTs bring? The GS might be the answer.  There's no doubt the Falcon GT is the classic leader in Australia, it is the car that defines Australian muscle, the one that has set the price pace for classic muscle cars.For most classic car enthusiasts the prices GTs have been bringing has put them out of reach of all but the well heeled.  The solution may be the GS or 'Grand Sport', an option pack that could be added to a Falcon 500, Futura or Fairmont to give the regular Falcon sedan a sporty appeal.MODEL WATCHNot everyone wanted, or could afford, the rumbling menace that was the Falcon GT, but many desired a sportier ride than the regular Falcons could offer.  The answer for them came in the form of the GS option pack, a bundle of bits and pieces lifted from the Ford parts bin that cleverly combined to give the Falcon a more exciting personality.The GS pack could be added to any of the regular Falcon models, the 500 base sedan, the more luxurious Futura and the fabulous Fairmont.In essence the GS option was a dress-up kit aimed at giving the regular Falcon a sporty look.Outside there were rally stripes running down each side, ending with a GS decal on the read guards, and fully chromed wheel covers, while inside there was a GT-style wood-grained steering wheel, and a full array of dials in the cockpit dash.  From there the GS buyer could dip further into the option box and add all manner of appearance and mechanical options to individualise his/her GS even further.The interior could be made sportier with bucket seats and a sports console, air-conditioning made it more comfortable, a laminated windscreen added to its safety, while a vinyl roof could be fitted to give it a real touch of class. Mechanical options included a 5.0-litre V8, manual or auto transmissions, power disc brakes, power steering and wide radial tyres.  In the XY model it was also possible to have the GS option with the legendary 351 Cleveland V8 engine.IN THE SHOPBuying old cars is always fraught with risk so take lots of time and examine cars very carefully; it's always a good idea to get an expert to eyeball your car before you lay down any cash money.The old adage of condition, condition, condition is the best advice to follow when looking at old cars.A pristine car in good condition could provide many years of enjoyment without the need for a major rebuild, but a car in down condition requiring a full resto could cost tens of thousands of dollars and end up costing far more than it's worth on the market.Look for rust, and not just rust you can see on the outside, lift carpets, boot mats, remove door trims and check the underbody. If a car is fitted with a vinyl roof inspect it closely for bubbles that could indicate rust underneath.Engines, gearboxes, suspensions and other mechanical components are likely to be worn, but it's not a huge job to refurbish these components, and it can be fun to do if you're handy with tools.IN A CRASHThe XW/XY Falcons were built well before airbags, safety was provided primarily by a collapsible steering column, a strong, solid body, and seat belts.  Check seat belts for wear to the webbing and replace if they're worn.AT THE PUMPA six-cylinder Falcon GS can be an economical classic, one that won't cost an arm and a leg to run. But a big-bore V8 will suck up the juice and will cost a lot more.LOOK FOR. Classic Aussie chrome bumper car. Sporty GS look. Roomy family fun car. Low-cost classic. Avoid rusty cars. Easily maintainedTHE BOTTOM LINEDoesn't have the GT edge, but it's a neat, affordable and fun Aussie classic.RATING70/100