Stop the press! This XW Falcon GT-HO press car is still on the road

​Built to win Bathurst, the 1970 Ford Falcon XW GT-HO Phase 2 was tougher, rougher and rawer than the others.

The goal was just to conquer the mountain, but the journey made it a star. Much like a pop star, the XW GT-HO Phase 2 became a household name and everyone wanted to read all about it.

Second place is unfortunately the first loser in any race, and those who have raced know you race to win. Whilst the XW GT-HO (Phase 1) achieved a podium finish with the 46D McPhee/Mulholland car, the Ford works team missed out completely – and a full lap behind in fourth place. Not happy with the results, the ‘skunkworks’ vowed to improve the XW GT-HO, resulting in the old 351cid Windsor being replaced by the improved 351cid Cleveland engine.

History shows that the second evolution of the GT-HO was successful, with the Ford works team taking a 1-2 finish at Bathurst in October 1970 — a famous victory for Allan Moffat who qualified first and drove the entire race himself, his first of four victories at Mount Panorama.

Long before blogs and social media, the public would rely on car magazines to gain their information about what was ‘hot’ and what was ‘not’ in the car industry. Two of the most popular car magazines at the time were Australian Motor Sports & Automobiles and Motor Manual. In November 1970, both magazine covers featured the ‘Press Car’ from Ford, as well as its current Bathurst competitors: The Holden LC Torana XU-1 and the Valiant VG Pacer E34. The performance tests showed the big horsepower GT-HO in front of the others by more than one second for the standing quarter mile, posting a 14.9 second run! A quote like, “Let us say this is easily the fastest production car made in Australia and one of the fastest four-door, five-seater cars in the world” indicates that in 1970, the GT-HO was a serious machine.

Doing the rounds in the media at the time, KRA-604 also featured on the pages of The Australian newspaper. In a motoring column by Mike Kable it was stated “Hail, rain or shine, I expect that a Ford Falcon GT-HO will take out line honours next Sunday in the Bathurst 500” and he was spot on. Eventually, after the new XY Falcon had been released, the services of the ‘Press Car’ were no longer required. It was then sold to the public like a regular car, with no indication of its glamorous past. 

Thompson Ford in Parramatta, New South Wales sold this car to a young man named Trevor Pioch (NSW registration CIB-602), who drove the car back to Maryborough Queensland where he lived. After only a few short months he sold the vehicle to Wayne Klupfel (QLD registration PVZ-548), but after owning the car for only four days, the engine blew! It is understood that a replacement block was supplied from Ford Australia and it was replaced under warranty, retaining all other original engine components. A few months later the car was sold to Peter Mellor of Brisbane (QLD registration PXY-423).

Peter was in his early twenties, and drove the car as you would expect a young bloke would. “I drove it very hard, not like you’d drive today” recalls Peter, who would drive from Brisbane to Surfers Paradise International Raceway, drag race the GT-HO, and then drive it home! “I really enjoyed the loose speed limits in the 1970s, I did 140mph (235km/h) a few times, no worries!” Looking after the interior was very important to him, so every time he drove the car he would sit on a towel. This protected the trim from sweat and rubbing from the drivers’ legs, and has preserved the interior in near new condition. Peter has owned a number of other Falcon GTs since, including a Track Red XY GT-HO Phase 3, but this Survivor GT-HO holds a special place in his heart. “With the close ratio box and big cam, it really was a handful to drive” though after 23 years of ownership, it was time to close this chapter for Peter.

The car was then purchased by Bryan Pratt, a 23 year old mechanic from Brisbane, Queensland (QLD registration PHO-000) who heard about the car through the GT Club of Queensland. Bryan had finished restoring his gold XT GT Falcon and was looking for something else to enjoy. After a thorough clean and detail, Bryan was really impressed with the performance of the car. “The acceleration from 60mph (95km/h) to 140mph (235km/h) was linear, it just pulled all the way” and running the car on a 50/50 blend of Avgas and Super petroleum, gave it that little extra punch. “On the dyno it put out 290hp at the wheels, which was pretty good” he recalled, “It really was a fun car to drive – it just wanted to go” says Bryan.  After four short years Bryan was looking to buy a house so it was time to sell. He placed an ad in a popular car classifieds magazine, yet another appearance in print for the ‘Press Car’. Advertised as a “Very well presented unrestored Phase 2”, it caught the attention of Shane Kennedy from Melbourne, Victoria.

Shane became interested in Falcon GTs when a friend’s father took them to Calder Park raceway a few times in an XR GT. These experiences lead Shane to buy his first GT, an XR GT Falcon. The XR GT was replaced by a Reef Green XW GT, then a Candy Apple XW GT, and then an Electric Blue XY GT-HO Phase 3. Surprising many, Shane then bought an Austin Healey 100/6 and restored it over a five year period. “Worst mistake ever made” states Shane.

He then righted his wrongs and bought this Survivor in late 1999 after seeing the advert and recognising the car. “I knew of the car through Peter Mallor, and missed it last time it was up for sale” says Shane. He flew north to buy it, and drove the car back from Brisbane to get to know it better, loving every minute of it. Once home, Shane enquired about ordering some old number plates to suit the car, asking if Victorian registration KRA-604 was available. “I had a magazine with a Diamond White Phase 2 on the cover, and decided to order the same number plates as that” explains Shane. 

As the registration had been cancelled many years ago, Shane was able to reorder the expired plates in March 2000. Only after researching the history on his car, did he discover the uncanny truth that his car WAS in fact originally registered with the plate KRA-604. Further proof to this fact is a letter that he received in May 2001 from the Association of Motoring Clubs (AOMC) which confirmed it!

“I couldn’t believe it, I honestly had no idea that the car I’d bought from Queensland would turn out to be the actual ‘Press Car’ – you wouldn’t read about it!” explains Shane. Shane now enjoys the car sparingly, and understands the importance of its unrestored Survivor state.

Source: Survivor Car Australia 

Which is the ultimate Falcon GT-HO? Tell us in the comments.