Can’t believe it’s been 50 years. This is written with the voice type so excuse any spelling mistakes , I’ve got to get a story out while I have it in mind as time is approaching .. Let us go way back 50 years ago ,FORD Falcon GT since May 1967.. What a great year that was? Firstly, no need to go to any further, than to
acknowledge Ford boss Bill Burke who had a dream of creating a Falcon GT? It was not possible or feasible to Manufacturer the GT simply wasn’t cost effective
Timing with let’s rewind The V8 Studebaker Police car era was at an end . Studebaker the supplier of the Highway Patrol cars. Is going out of business ? Victoria Police MTS wanted to look locally with the hope they could develop. Police Interceptor something that is proving to be strong car Victoria Police Highway Patrol had a need for a V8 a fast police pursuit car. Ford had in the past developed a Police PURSUIT 170 engines so a bridge was already there to approach Ford which came to the party. The Victorian Government with financial support for development and testing for the Victoria police force Ford received approval with official orders . It was set so full steam ahead.. The 1965 success of the 70,000 mile Jubilee run to show Australia that he Falcon was stronger led to the approach to choose Ford prior to this the Falcon did not met the HWP requirements for a strong car to handle high speed pursuit . Fast forward in 1967, back on job. March 1967. Two prototype. XR Mustang breed falcon 500's . with Fairmont interiors were developed as prototypes. with 4 on the floor bucket seats. powered by the 289 V8 Mustang bred modified motor. Both cars were rejected one from the wireless patrol who preferred auto transmission and a bench seat, The other went through vigorous testing on the job with the Mobile Traffic Section "Highway Patrol" It also was returned with some positive feedback to improve on both the two prototypes went to the crusher as was the practice and still is today by Ford for racing prototypes The improvement of extra power and stiffer suspension being the main items which Ford boss Bill Burke and Racing expert Harry Firth implemented onto the Police interceptor base car and started production in May 1967 of the Falcon GT This dual process assisted to keep the cost down for The Victoria Police acquiring the cars without the GT trimmings at the same time making it viable to produce what Bill Burke wanted that is a sports sedan that Australia lacked the GT era next model was a 302 V8 the XT the with the 351 V8 the XW the 3rd model which had a HO High Output version in 1969 followed by a HO PHASE 2 then the XY model with a HO PHASE 3 the PEAK was the final evolution in the X FALCON with the HO Phase 4 in 1972 it hit a crisis in NSW with the Supercar scare it created an axing of the BATHURST HO PHASE 4 XA FALCON GT
