Build Year: 1969
Make: Ford
Model: XW Falcon GTHO Phase 1
Body Type: 4 Door Sedan
Transmission: 4 Speed Manual Top Loader
Exterior / Interior Colour: G – Candy Apple Red / K – Dark Saddle Vinyl
Engine Type: H-351W Windsor V8 4V
Engine Size: 5.8 Litre
Odometer: 28033 Miles Showing
VIN / Chassis No: JG33JG33014
Engine Number: GL1538C
Fuel: Petrol

THE FACTS

  • Genuine August 1969 XW GT-HO Phase 1 Ford Falcon
  • 1:260 Built in 1969 (1 of 2 with these build options)
  • Genuine 28,032 miles
  • With Books – sold to Mr H. Bunting on 28/8/1970
  • Original Paint – Code G – Candy Apple Red
  • Original Interior – Code K – Dark Saddle Vinyl
  • Matching Number 351V8 Windsor V8 351W 4V – Engine No GL1538C Chassis Number: GL1538C
  • 4 Speed Top Loader Gear Box
  • 9” inch Diff
  • Current Ownership: Since 1983.

THE STORY (full story attached and as prepared by the vendor)

Our vendor (Allan) found the car in a car yard in Tamworth, N.S.W IN 1983 when it had 17,000 miles on the clock.

Allan purchased the car for $13,000. At the time of purchase Allan was given the name of the previous owner, Mr Harold Bunting, who was a former employee of Ford in Geelong. Harold stated that the purchase of this GTHO formed part of his retirement package from Ford and was the last one left (and it was special one) should he wish to purchase. At the time a new GTHO would cost around $4,600, Ford valued this one at $7,200 apparently because of all the extra work that went “into it”.

Harold told Allan that the car was prepared as a reserve race car for Alan Moffat, the engine was fully blue printed and balanced so it could be raced.

AUCTIONEERS NOTE
The above may well explain why the car was sold in the August of 1970 but built in August 1969 and if you look in the service books the first service was carried out at 1226 miles on 29.9.1969, well before the car had been sold to Mr Bunting. Furthermore, the car had been sold to Mr Bunting in Port Macquarie when in fact the first service was undertaken in Footscray, Vic.

Mr Bunting stated to Allan that the car had been clocked at 150 miles per hour twice, confirming that Ford were able to extract a bit more power out of the engine.

Once Allan purchased the car the idea was to always keep the mileage down and in the “early days” some years the only mileage clocked was in and out of town for registration purposes.

On the way home in 1994 Allan put his foot down, took it up to 100 mph and there was a loud bang and he looked in the rear-view mirror to see a cloud of black smoke, he pulled over, noticed a hole in the side of the sump just below the engine block. Allan had the car towed home, parked it in the shed and handed the number plates back in and got on with farming. A very disappointed man.

Then one day Allan said to his son “lets find out what we have on our hands”, pulled the engine out and took it to an expert on building high performance engines.

A few days later he phoned Alan and said “you must be the luckiest bloke around”, Yes, the engine had put a con rod through the sump, but the engine would live again. Some new pistons, con rods, valves, polished the crankshaft, honed the cylinders and meticulously reassembled paying attention to balancing, and of course a new sump. The cylinder heads were modified to run on unleaded fuel.

The gentleman who did the rebuild wanted to know what oil Allan had been using as there was no wear in the engine at all. When Allan told him the car had only done 27,000 miles he said that answers the question.

At some stage, many years ago Allan admitted he lost interest in the car, and the car was parked in the shed “and gathered dust”. This may have occurred around the time Allan was diagnosed with an incurable blood cancer (17 years ago).

A few years ago, Allan decided to put the car back on the road and by this time the brakes had seized. It was loaded onto a trailer and off to the trusted mechanic. Now the car is running back as normal, looks and sounds awesome.

With time running out and after 42 years of ownership Allan and family have made the decision to offer the car to the market.

AUCTIONEERS COMMENT
A remarkable find, great back story and a genuine, very low mileage car, matching numbers, with the books. Not sure there is another genuine XW GTHO Phase 1 with this type of mileage and originality, if there is I / We haven’t seen it. A once in a generation opportunity to purchase an investment quality, museum worthy Aussie Muscle Car. Here for genuine sale, the car presents extremely well, with original paint, chrome, and interior (which is as good as new). Speaking with Allan, wife Roslyn, sons Andrew and Ross you can feel the love, respect, and appreciation they have for the car. From an auctioneer’s point of view it’s an absolute privilege to bring this car to the market and an opportunity we won’t forget… GOOD LUCK!

This vehicle is located in our facility in Newcastle, for further information please contact Ashley Burns on 0408 618 294 or Phil Shaw on 0437 637 644.

To protect your investment vehicle bidders should consider at a minimum replacement of fuel, oil, fluids, filters and thorough brake inspection as vehicles may have been stationary for some time. Vehicles are sold as is off the floor – unregistered. Please check photos carefully for vehicle condition. No warranty expressed or implied, sold with all or any faults, and where applicable sold with Australian Government Import Approval.