Metric

But, as below, the gauges were completely different in style and markings on the XW-XY.

Metric

And, in a carry over from the XW and XY’s, some XA GT’s had 8,000rpm tachometers.

Thorn Red 2

Perhaps the most famous, and continuing the success carried over from racing the XW and XY, was Allan Moffat who drove some quite awesome looking hardtops at Bathurst.

This is the car Allan Moffat drove in the 1975 Bathurst race.



And this is the XB hardtop that is privately owned.



The car is a 1975 XB Falcon 500 hardtop, fitted with a 302ci Cleveland V8, three speed automatic trans, and factory ordered GT/GS options - dash, steering wheel, bonnet, grille and rear wing.

XY GT Specifications

Engine Specifications:
Engine: 351 cubic inch Cleveland V8 (5.763 litre)
Bore & Stroke: 102 x 89mm (4.00 x 3.50in)
Power (DIN): 224kW (300bhp) @ 5400rpm
Torque (DIN:) 515Nm (380lb-ft) @ 3400rpm
Compression Ratio: 11:1
Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal, 90 degree V8
Head Design: Pushrod & rocker OHV with hydraulic lifters
Exhaust System: Cast iron manifold, low restriction twin exhaust
Fuel System: 600cfm Autolite 4 barrel carburettor
Ignition System: Single point distributor
Manual Gearbox :
Type: 4 speed all-synchronised
1st: 2.78:1
2nd: 1.93:1
3rd: 1.36:1
4th: 1.00:1
Reverse: 2.78:1
Manual Gearbox :
Type: 4 speed all-synchronised close ratio
1st: 2.32:1
2nd: 1.69:1
3rd: 1.29:1
4th: 1.00:1
Reverse: 2.78:1
Automatic Transmission:
Type: 3 speed C4
1st: 2.46:1
2nd: 1.46:1
3rd: 1.00:1
Reverse: 2.20:1
Rear Axle:
Type: 9in LSD Traction Lock is standard with 28 spline axles or 31 spline optional
Manual Ratio: 3.0:1 standard with optional 3.5:1 or 3.91:1
Automatic Ratio: 2.75:1
Suspension:
Front: Independent ball joint, coil springs, shock absorbers, wishbones and anti-roll bar
Upper control arm to accept the 3 pin ball joint used, as opposed to the 4 point ball joint used in the normal GTs and earlier GTHOs
Rear: Hotchkiss type with semi-elliptic leaf springs, shock absorbers and live axle

Brakes:
Front: 286mm (11.25in) Servo assisted Discs
Rear: 254mm (10in) Servo assisted Drums
Steering:
Type: Re-circulating ball power assistance (Optional)
Ratio: 16:1
Wheels & Tyres:
Wheels: 6.0 x 14 Steel - Steel '5 Slot' with S Steel dress ring & centre cap
7.0 x 15 Alloy - '5 Spoke' Bathurst Globe (Optional) from 1972
Tyres: 185 x 14 - E70HR14
Instrumentation:
Speedometer: 140mph
Cleveland Tachometer: 8000rpm
Oil Pressure: Gauge
Water Temperature: Gauge
Fuel: Gauge
Ignition: Warning Light
High Beam: Warning Light
Brakes: Warning Light
Clock: Analogue
Dimensions:
Length: 4689mm (184.6in)
Width: 1869mm (73.6in)
Height: 1397mm (55.0in)
Weelbase: 2819mm (111.0in)
Front Track: 1499mm (59.0in)
Rear Track 1486mm (58.5in)
Weight: 1524kg (3360lb)
Turning Circle: 11.2m (36.6ft)
Fuel Tank: 75 litre (16.4 gallons) - 163.8 litre (36.0gl) optional
Seating: 5
Performance:
Top Speed: 217km/h (135mph)
0 - 60mph (0 - 100 km/h) - 6.4 seconds
Standing 1/4 mile (400m) - 14.2 seconds
Also see:
The Ford Falcon GT Story
Cleveland 4V V8
Falcon XY GT Review
Falcon XY GT Identification Guide

XY GT COLOUR CODE CHART
Paint Code Fleet Code Paint Name Ford Formula Dulon Formula GT GTHO Total
6 EZ814
Vermillion Fire
1730-A
11714
256 68 324
U EZ801
Ultra White (EZ156)
L1111-A
13006
240 39 279
O EY415
Yellow Ochre
L597-A
12628
163 37 200
H EY348
Track Red
L1096-A
12632
141 23 164
X EY407
Monza Green
L1103-A
12535
130 23 153
2 EZ808
Bronze Wine metallic L1099-A
12633
111 16 127
S EZ812
Electric Blue metallic L1098-A
12531
107 11 118
9 EZ810
Nugget Gold metallic L1102-A
12635
90 18 108
E Quick Silver metallic L1100-A
12528
56 0 56
T EZ813
True Blue
L1104-A
12192
36 5 41
I EZ819
Jewel Green metallic M3595-A
13304
27 6 33
Z EZ815
Wild Violet metallic L1126-A
13305
15 6 21
F EY277
Vintage Burgundy metallic 1632-A
8634
14 1 15
Q EZ820
Yellow Glo
L1129-A
13195
7 7 14
K EZ823
Frosted Pewter metallic
1740-A
10763
5 5 10
B EY426
Onyx Black
1724-A
11695
8 1 9
D EZ821
Raw Orange
13197
2 7 9
n/a EY161
Royal Umber
5384

Identifying an XY GT

Body prefix numbers of Australian produced cars:
JG33AB12345
J – identifies the country of production (Australia)
G – identifies the assembly plant (Broadmeadows)
33 – identifies the model of car (Falcon GT Sedan)
A – identifies the year of production (See chart below for year and month codes)
B – identifies the month of production (See chart below for year and month codes)
12345 – is a unique number identifying each vehicle
Date Codes:

Year Codes Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
1970 K L Y S T J U M P B Y A G
1971 L C K D E L Y S T J R M P

Paint Codes:
H = Track Red

S = Electric Blue

X = Monza Green

9 = Nuggett Gold

E = Quick Silver

T = True Blue

U = Ultra White

6 = Vermillion Fire

I or EZ819 = Jewell Green

O = Yellow Ocre

2 = Bronze Wine

Z or EZ815 = Wild Violet

Q or EZ820 = Yellow Glow

F = Vintage Burgundy

B = Onyx Black

D or EZ821 = Raw Orange

C = Bold Blue

F289 = Surfer Orange

L = Limelight metallic

EZ099 = Shell Yellow

5 = Tealglow

EZ903 = Spearmint

K = Frosted Pewter

Z801 = Royal Umber

F320 = Harmony Grey

F269 = RAA Lemon

F280 = Zircon Green

F240 = AGFA Orange

SPEC = Rothmans Blue

SPEC = Aviation Orange

SPEC = Whatever You Like
Engine Codes:
T = 351 4V
Transmission Codes:
L = Four speed manual
B = Floor shift automatic
Trim Codes:

B = Black
K = Dark Saddle
S = Light Saddle
W = White
2 = Cloth Inserts. This code followed the trim colour code eg B2 was black with cloth inserts
Model Code:
18038 = XY GT - 1970
18138 = XY GT - 1971
Production Numbers:
Built September 1970 - December 1971 = 1557 GT units
1970 = 757 units
1971 = 800 units
Built May 1971 - November 1971 = 300 GTHO units

XY GT

In 1967 when most Australians were driving sedate family sedans and small two-door cars, the Ford GT Falcon took to the streets - a local sedan with muscle under the bonnet. The Holden Monaro GTS and Torana XU1 and the Chrysler Valiant Charger soon followed.

They were built in limited editions by mainstream manufacturers who wanted the prestige of winning production car races, especially the annual Bathurst 500 mile race.

GT Falcons like this one were raced in unmodified showroom condition. (These days Holden and Ford still make 'Bathurst' cars, but for racing they are stripped of sedan car comforts and modified for more speed.)

The Phase Three Falcon took the first three places in 1971's Bathurst car race. It was the world's fastest four-door production car for many years. Only 200 were ever made and so, like other muscle cars, they have become highly collectable. It boasted 380 bhp, compared to the mere 40 bhp of the Toyota Corolla of the time and the 208 bhp of today's 4-litre Falcon.

With a top speed of over 140 mph (230 km/h) - it can do 400 metres in 14.6 seconds from a standing start thanks to the Cleveland 5.7 litre V8 engines large port high-compression heads, a Holley four-barrel carburettor, full extractor system and close-ratio gearbox.

Cosmetic improvements included front and rear spoilers and a large 'shaker' bonnet scoop. Today, the XY GT Falcon is seen by many Australian car collectors as the definitive "Aussie Muscle Car".

My car

Bowdens photos

Corporate Colours

Y280, Zircon Green - 1

Corporate Colours

XY GT

Y161, Royal Umber - 4

Corporate colours

Y015, Aviation Surface Orange

There is one extra XY ‘fleet’ colour that we have yet to mention, and it is, frankly, bizarre: Y015, Aviation Surface Orange. One XY GT, built in July, 1971 was painted this colour, according to Ford records.

What is Aviation Surface Orange ? Quite simply, it is the orange paint used to paint, in a chequerboard pattern with white, any structure that is over 200ft in height in the vicinity of an airport. The best thing I can do is refer you to this site - a pdf file - that defines the FAA’s regulations for painting such a structure. Quite why anyone would want to paint a car this colour, never mind a performance car - or maybe there was some method to that ordering madness - is beyond us ? But here is an XY painted Aviation Orange.



And here is what we believe to be the original one off Aviation Surface Orange XY GT, as it was advertised for sale some years ago.



You wouldn’t miss it, that’s for sure.

Which, we guess, was the whole point.

Corporate colours

Y240, Agfa Orange.

There was one XY GT, built in February, 1971 that was painted Agfa Orange. Another strange ‘commercial’ tie-up ? We have no photos of the car, but Agfa Orange looked like this.



And here is a painted swatch panel of Agfa Orange. In sunlight it turns a slamon pink colour.

Corporate colours

There were, again, three colours offered on XY GT’s that could be considered ‘corporate’ colours: Y099, Shell Yellow; Y269 RAA Yellow; and Y240, Agfa Orange.

Y099, Shell Yellow.

There were three Shell Yellow XY GT-HO Phase3 cars produced in June, 1971, one of which is known to survive.








While there were only three factory painted Y099 cars, there were two others that were subsequently painted Shell Yellow to reflect their sponsors support for racing. One was the ex John French factory Phase 3 race car which was campaigned by long time Holden driver, Norm Beechey, for Ford in 1972. The car was an originally ‘red’ and the Shell Yellow paint was just shot over the top.



The other race car was driven by long time Ford supporter, Murray Carter. He had bought a Phase3 for competition in 1971, and secured sponsorship from Shell. Initially this car was red also, but for the 1973 championship season it was painted Shell Yellow.

Before and After

I'm not sure on the details here, but I think these are before and after shots, as sent to me by email. Note the ribbon on the car - was this a wedding burnout gone wrong?

Off to get the bride

For no other reason than I like the photos\, get a load of this one. This was me off to the wedding the other weekend. I just liked the photo because of the artistic elements. Or something like that.

Spoilers

XYs also copped the front spoiler treatment.

Spoilers

The XY spoiler was also called a "wing". I don't know why...

:)

XY GT Wheels

A rear view showing the rivets.

XY GT Wheels

XY GT’s only had riveted, 6 inch wide, 5 slot wheels of 14 inches diameter, but optional were the Sports Road wheel made by R.O.H. (Australia) which were 6 inches wide and 14 inches in diameter. Hubcaps were plain, flat dishes.

XY Falcon

The XY marked the apogee of the second generation Falcons, superior in performance to its competitors, better built, fitted with a range of locally designed six cylinder engines, and in GT form, producing the ultimate and fastest Falcon of them all. Popular with police forces, rental companies and the public at large, the XY featured a new plastic grille split in the centre and revised tail lamps. Improvements were made to the seating, safety equipment and steps were taken to provide a smoother, quieter ride. The available 351ci (5.7litre) engine, while similar in capacity to that fitted to the previous model, was a completely new engine design, more modern and efficient, and when locally produced, would power the Falcon through the next decade.

The XY was manufactured between October, 1970 and March, 1972. 100,474 were produced.