I was lucky enough to have a drive of 002 GT Falcon one of the Harry Firth team cars about 25 years ago after it had come out of storage ...I also owned an XT Fairmont with 302 and Tbar auto...Gold with black vinyl roof...low mileage car...Fantastic car to drive !!! cheers.
Nice review of another Aussie favourite of mine. The XT GT was on track to win the 1968 Bathurst 500, as one of the three works entries prepared by Harry Firth and driven at its limit all day by 1967 winner Fred Gibson and 1965 winner Barry Seton was leading with about 20 laps remaining. However, its radiator was punctured by a rock flicked up by another car, the engine overheated and inevitably failed. It deserved to win that race, having overcome Holden’s more powerful GTS 327 Monaros.
Thanks Mark. I recalled the lead car overheated. That is motor racing as they say, however, it was a shame for the Ford team. Appreciate you adding your expert detail too 👍.
Here is the latest in our episodes of Ford Falcon history in Australia. This episode is for the XT model, released in 1968. Please give the episode a Like 👍. It’s free and it really helps the channel. Please also Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode and turn on the Notifications bell so you are alerted to each new episode. The background sound by the way was the rain. Rain, hail or shine we try to bring you fresh content every week! Thanks for watching. Cheers Mark.
Thanks Gerard. I recall we drove a base model XR or XT Falcon sedan column shift manual over to the south side of Sydney years ago. No syncro on first.
I learnt to drive in a XT Falcon 500, 3 on the tree and drum brakes all round. It was good to drive and reliable too, except for when it was raining or very humid as the brakes had a tendency to grab. It was sold to my late aunt and I always had the dream to buy it back but sadly it was written off in an accident, sigh...
Thanks again for an interesting video. As a nine year old I remember avidly following the news reports of the London Sydney marathon. When Harry Firth's team first arrived in London for the event the British engineers who inspected all the entrants proclaimed the Falcons as 'cattle trucks' and the press generally disregarded them, but not for long!
When I was working at Ford Broadmeadows back in the early 90s, I used to see Ian Vaughan's XT KAG 002 every now and then parked near the main front security gate.
Very cool. I never met Ian although I did meet Howard Marsden once at the Broadmeadows reception. He had just retired and I was walking in with Gordon Barfield and he introduced me to him. A pretty amazing achievement for Ian re the London to Sydney race. 👍
I love the XT GT, my favourite of them all. They were available in 8 colours, Candy Apple Red, GT Gold, GT Silver, Zircon Green, Polar White, Springtime Yellow, Brambles Red and Stratosphere Grey.
Another great video, Mark. Had a surprise at 5:05 -- I've mentioned in other videos our family ZB Fairlane V8 we had (why wasn't the ZB mentioned here???🤔) when I was a lad. It's Victorian number was KAE _ _ _ and in fact is still the number plate that adorns wy wife's car to this very day. The London to Sydney Marathon was a truly incredible adventure. There are many great books written regarding this event, with John Smailes' "Race Across the World" having lots of worthy information on the KAG-001, KAG 002 and KAG 003 Falcon rally cars. One still competes at club level and is one of my very favourite rally cars.
Thanks very much. Glad you liked it. I intentionally didn’t mention Fairlanes as I will do a full series on each Fairlane and later, LTD per this Falcon series - so stay tuned (and subscribed) for those. Yes, the London to Sydney Marathon was a great achievement for what were Australian v8 powered family cars. 👍
I remember when these were a few years old it became a bit of a fad to turn the tail lights so the indicator lens was vertical instead of the factory horizontal. Gave a distinct look at least.
Started with a XP missed the XR and XT ...mate of mine back in the 70's had a 3 speed 302 XT wagon with 500 holly on it his party trick was taking off in top gear and going all the way.
@@markbehr88 I would imagine if I bought an XT Falcon from Australia, and drove it here in the USA, some people would think that it was an American Ford Falcon, and from the front of the car it may be. They'd have to look inside the car and look at where the steering wheel is compared to where it would be on our Yank car. 🙂
Hi Mark, hope your well, I do love Australian cars and I do like the Falcon XT and XR I have watched them race on You Tube in Bathurst and other racing circuits. Another race I like in Australia is the Mustang's v Mini's. It's a shame we didn't have these Falcon's here in Wales The only big Ford's we had in the 1960's were the Zepher , Zodiac and the Consul which were a 4 cylinder or a strait 6. As always a great video Take care
Thanks Shaun. Glad you liked it. I know there were some limited imports of Australian cars to the UK. I guess they were deemed too large for the local roads? 👍
Thank you for sharing about the motoring history of the Australian Falcon. That car has has so many histories globally as the Australia version was different from the American version and it was different from the Brazilian version. That car lived on for many decades. It almost came back to the United States in recent years, but it did not happen. Great video footage as well.
Thanks very much Olds98. The Falcon has an amazing story as you say, with the various incarnations across the world. The Brazilian ones are interesting in that they kept the first generation style for many years. Our Australian ones took the Falcon nameplate well beyond what the original product planners would ever have imagined. Pretty cool hey? 👍
@@markbehr88 You are correct about the Brazilian version. I have seen videos and photos of it. It was the 160's design with updates. You could still see the basic design. I think that had something to do with how Ford marketed their cars and economies of scale and that targeted market in Brazil. The Australian version has a long and strong history and heritage. Ford Australia developed and made the car a legend there. They stopped it here in the late 1960's and kept coming up with new models. We had a Ford Fairmont too, but it was not like the Australian version. It is interesting how some things translated with time. We almost got that last Falcon. It would have returned to the United States. It was not meant to be.
Would you believe I actually wrote to Ford Brazil as a kid in the 1980’s and they sent me the brochures on the Falcon. Shame that the Falcon did not go to the US towards the end, however, as we saw with Holden , it probably would not have changed it final demise sadly. @@OLDS98
@@markbehr88 Yes, you are correct. That is why Ford backed out. They saw what happened when the Holden Commodore arrived to the United States and went from being a Pontiac G8 to a Chevrolet SS which they did not market. When they saw Chevrolet SS they felt it was too close to the Chevrolet Malibu and it had an expensive price tag. I know dealerships would not put them out front at the dealerships. The enthusiast market knew about the car. I know the Pontiac G8 parts were used on the Holden Commodore too.
The 1968 XT GT Bo Seaton failed to hammer as hard as Harry Firth requested at Mount Panorama was kind of proof that the 230 hp J code US 4V 302 was a lot more fragile than the US A code 225 hp the XR GT used. The 68s were just as fast as the HK GTS 327. The Ford team's win for London to Sydney was Ford Australia's finest International hour. I can think for myself, but I do feel, John Wright nailed it in 1982s Thundering GTs. The XW GTs and HOs exhibited characteristics the beautifully balance XT GT never did. It was such a sweet, sweet car. After Big Al Arrived, Falcon GTs took four years to get toned down again to the smooth, carefree balance of the 73 XB GT, in both four speed, or auto, power steering or unassisted, Coupe or Sedan...the only cars that matched the balance and carefree sweetness of the XT GT.
Ford not optioning the two door in the gen 2 Falcon was a real missed opportunity, especially considering the halo effect the Monaro had for Holden. I think a two door XY GT in particular would have been an amazing looking car, and as the two door had already been engineered by Ford North America it surely wouldn't have cost Ford Oz a huge sum to either import the bodies or build them here.
@markbehr88 true, the 2 door US Falcons were really a 2 door sedan rather than a coupe, and weren't pillarless, but I still think they would've looked great in GT guise.
Gidday mate I have a query and would like to know if you can put my head in the right place. My mate over here in NZ had an XT and I'm sure it had a 600 badge on the glove box door. The 600 wasn't mentioned in your video and I'm now wondering if I had too many trips over the years as the myth of a 600 falcon has been the cause of a few black eyes and broken noses. So my friend am I in right of mind?
@@martydavies7198 Hi there. I am not aware of a 600. Not to say it doesn’t exist but I have never heard of it. Seems a bit unnecessary given the 500 badges would be already made. 👍
@@markbehr88that two dour gt you mentioned which country's did that sell in, and as for ladies comment the add you showed for the two dour seems to have a lady owner
@@johngibson3837 It was never available. The body style was US, where you could get a 289 or 303 V8 but not as a GT. That was a show car made in Australia as a one off and the lady was a publicity model. 👍
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I was lucky enough to have a drive of 002 GT Falcon one of the Harry Firth team cars about 25 years ago after it had come out of storage ...I also owned an XT Fairmont with 302 and Tbar auto...Gold with black vinyl roof...low mileage car...Fantastic car to drive !!! cheers.
Wow. You were indeed lucky. That Fairmont would be incredible to own today. Similarly, my brother should have kept that GT. Thanks for your comment 👍
These videos are short and sweet, love your work on these.
Thank you 🙏
Nice review of another Aussie favourite of mine. The XT GT was on track to win the 1968 Bathurst 500, as one of the three works entries prepared by Harry Firth and driven at its limit all day by 1967 winner Fred Gibson and 1965 winner Barry Seton was leading with about 20 laps remaining. However, its radiator was punctured by a rock flicked up by another car, the engine overheated and inevitably failed. It deserved to win that race, having overcome Holden’s more powerful GTS 327 Monaros.
Thanks Mark. I recalled the lead car overheated. That is motor racing as they say, however, it was a shame for the Ford team. Appreciate you adding your expert detail too 👍.
Here is the latest in our episodes of Ford Falcon history in Australia. This episode is for the XT model, released in 1968. Please give the episode a Like 👍. It’s free and it really helps the channel. Please also Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode and turn on the Notifications bell so you are alerted to each new episode. The background sound by the way was the rain. Rain, hail or shine we try to bring you fresh content every week! Thanks for watching. Cheers Mark.
Love the XT nice looking car our mustang . Great video thanks mark
Thanks Gerard. I recall we drove a base model XR or XT Falcon sedan column shift manual over to the south side of Sydney years ago. No syncro on first.
I was very young when these cars were made. My grandfather had one & it’s amazing what children remember. The hub caps. I fascinated by them
Yes it is funny what you remember as a kid. 👍
Ok, I followed your advice on the XA Mark, I'm bingeing at 0430. I do admire your persistence very much. A lot of videos.
Persistence beats resistance they say 👍😀
Beautiful car
Yep! 👍
I learnt to drive in a XT Falcon 500, 3 on the tree and drum brakes all round. It was good to drive and reliable too, except for when it was raining or very humid as the brakes had a tendency to grab. It was sold to my late aunt and I always had the dream to buy it back but sadly it was written off in an accident, sigh...
Very cool. My brother had the same spec car and I remember no syncro on first gear. 👍
Thanks again for an interesting video. As a nine year old I remember avidly following the news reports of the London Sydney marathon. When Harry Firth's team first arrived in London for the event the British engineers who inspected all the entrants proclaimed the Falcons as 'cattle trucks' and the press generally disregarded them, but not for long!
Thanks Chris. Glad you enjoyed it. 👍
When I was working at Ford Broadmeadows back in the early 90s, I used to see Ian Vaughan's XT KAG 002 every now and then parked near the main front security gate.
Very cool. I never met Ian although I did meet Howard Marsden once at the Broadmeadows reception. He had just retired and I was walking in with Gordon Barfield and he introduced me to him. A pretty amazing achievement for Ian re the London to Sydney race. 👍
Hi Mark, I really enjoyed your vid on the XT. It’s always fun to see a little bit of history like that. looking forward to your next one. :-)
Thanks very much Andrew. I thought of you when I added the ute image. 👍
😊@@markbehr88
I love the XT GT, my favourite of them all. They were available in 8 colours, Candy Apple Red, GT Gold, GT Silver, Zircon Green, Polar White, Springtime Yellow, Brambles Red and Stratosphere Grey.
Yes, I like them too and it is my brother’s favourite. Very underrated still I reckon. 👍
I just love the old adds at the end
The first car I bought with my own money
Xt Fairmont in a dark maroon metallic $620 😂😂
Me too. I include them to add some period context Your first car sounds like a good one 👍
Another great video, Mark. Had a surprise at 5:05 -- I've mentioned in other videos our family ZB Fairlane V8 we had (why wasn't the ZB mentioned here???🤔) when I was a lad. It's Victorian number was KAE _ _ _ and in fact is still the number plate that adorns wy wife's car to this very day.
The London to Sydney Marathon was a truly incredible adventure. There are many great books written regarding this event, with John Smailes' "Race Across the World" having lots of worthy information on the KAG-001, KAG 002 and KAG 003 Falcon rally cars. One still competes at club level and is one of my very favourite rally cars.
Thanks very much. Glad you liked it. I intentionally didn’t mention Fairlanes as I will do a full series on each Fairlane and later, LTD per this Falcon series - so stay tuned (and subscribed) for those. Yes, the London to Sydney Marathon was a great achievement for what were Australian v8 powered family cars. 👍
Nice video Mark, thanks. It brought back memories of the 1968 XT GT that I once had many moons ago.
Thanks Peter. I am glad you liked it and hope you enjoy all the other Falcon episodes from XK to XA (and soon XB). 👍
Just kept getting better. I like the taillights on these.
Yes, good looking car but still seems not as popular as XR? The XT is my brother’s favourite model. 👍
@@markbehr88 possibly because of the rocket taillamps? I prefer thy grill on the XT and favour the revised taillamps.
@@jamesfrench7299 I like both. 👍
Dads mate ownes KAG001. Lucky enough to say I’ve been in that car and started it😁
Very cool. A piece of Ford history. 👍
@@markbehr88 definitely, one of my favourite fords, with great history
I remember when these were a few years old it became a bit of a fad to turn the tail lights so the indicator lens was vertical instead of the factory horizontal. Gave a distinct look at least.
Very interesting. I have never heard of that before 👍
Started with a XP missed the XR and XT ...mate of mine back in the 70's had a 3 speed 302 XT wagon with 500 holly on it his party trick was taking off in top gear and going all the way.
Cool. 👍😎
G'day mate. Another awesome video. The Ford XT Falcon looks like our American 1966 Falcon.
Thanks Jason. Yes, like your 66 model at the front. Our back is unique. Glad you liked it 👍👍
@@markbehr88 I would imagine if I bought an XT Falcon from Australia, and drove it here in the USA, some people would think that it was an American Ford Falcon, and from the front of the car it may be. They'd have to look inside the car and look at where the steering wheel is compared to where it would be on our Yank car. 🙂
@@jasoncarpp7742 Yes, for sure. Very similar at the front. Only the rear is quite different but many people would not notice I am sure.
@@markbehr88 Very true.
Hi Mark, hope your well, I do love Australian cars and I do like the Falcon XT and XR I have watched them race on You Tube in Bathurst and other racing circuits. Another race I like in Australia is the Mustang's v Mini's. It's a shame we didn't have these Falcon's here in Wales The only big Ford's we had in the 1960's were the Zepher , Zodiac and the Consul which were a 4 cylinder or a strait 6. As always a great video Take care
Thanks Shaun. Glad you liked it. I know there were some limited imports of Australian cars to the UK. I guess they were deemed too large for the local roads? 👍
Seen a XY wagon in Scotland mid 80s just parked up near a harbour
@@johngibson3837 very cool 👍
It is very similar to the U.S. built models.
Yes, although the rear tail lights on the US model are more like our Fairlane. I also believe the US wagons have more rear overhang too.
Thank you for sharing about the motoring history of the Australian Falcon. That car has has so many histories globally as the Australia version was different from the American version and it was different from the Brazilian version. That car lived on for many decades. It almost came back to the United States in recent years, but it did not happen. Great video footage as well.
Thanks very much Olds98. The Falcon has an amazing story as you say, with the various incarnations across the world. The Brazilian ones are interesting in that they kept the first generation style for many years. Our Australian ones took the Falcon nameplate well beyond what the original product planners would ever have imagined. Pretty cool hey? 👍
@@markbehr88 You are correct about the Brazilian version. I have seen videos and photos of it. It was the 160's design with updates. You could still see the basic design. I think that had something to do with how Ford marketed their cars and economies of scale and that targeted market in Brazil. The Australian version has a long and strong history and heritage. Ford Australia developed and made the car a legend there. They stopped it here in the late 1960's and kept coming up with new models. We had a Ford Fairmont too, but it was not like the Australian version. It is interesting how some things translated with time. We almost got that last Falcon. It would have returned to the United States. It was not meant to be.
Would you believe I actually wrote to Ford Brazil as a kid in the 1980’s and they sent me the brochures on the Falcon. Shame that the Falcon did not go to the US towards the end, however, as we saw with Holden , it probably would not have changed it final demise sadly. @@OLDS98
@@markbehr88 Yes, you are correct. That is why Ford backed out. They saw what happened when the Holden Commodore arrived to the United States and went from being a Pontiac G8 to a Chevrolet SS which they did not market. When they saw Chevrolet SS they felt it was too close to the Chevrolet Malibu and it had an expensive price tag. I know dealerships would not put them out front at the dealerships. The enthusiast market knew about the car. I know the Pontiac G8 parts were used on the Holden Commodore too.
@@OLDS98yes and there were some UAW issues too re promoting the Commodore too heavily. Sad.
I have a super Roo t-shirt it's cool
Yes, it is a pretty out there time when we had a bit of fun marketing our cars. 👍
🤠👍
GT perfect daily driver, with 5 sp. manual or 4 sp. auto🤩
More gears to stretch its legs? 🤔
@@markbehr88 3 sp. auto at 100 kph 3000 RPM (fuel and noise)
@@jimclarke1108 A beautiful noise. 🤔
The 1968 XT GT Bo Seaton failed to hammer as hard as Harry Firth requested at Mount Panorama was kind of proof that the 230 hp J code US 4V 302 was a lot more fragile than the US A code 225 hp the XR GT used. The 68s were just as fast as the HK GTS 327. The Ford team's win for London to Sydney was Ford Australia's finest International hour. I can think for myself, but I do feel, John Wright nailed it in 1982s Thundering GTs. The XW GTs and HOs exhibited characteristics the beautifully balance XT GT never did. It was such a sweet, sweet car. After Big Al Arrived, Falcon GTs took four years to get toned down again to the smooth, carefree balance of the 73 XB GT, in both four speed, or auto, power steering or unassisted, Coupe or Sedan...the only cars that matched the balance and carefree sweetness of the XT GT.
Well said. It seems the XT is still a bit of a forgotten car even these days amongst crazy prices etc. It is my brother’s favourite model.
my xt mod 351 9 inch diff green 1990
Nice. Is that Zircon Green? 👍
Ford not optioning the two door in the gen 2 Falcon was a real missed opportunity, especially considering the halo effect the Monaro had for Holden. I think a two door XY GT in particular would have been an amazing looking car, and as the two door had already been engineered by Ford North America it surely wouldn't have cost Ford Oz a huge sum to either import the bodies or build them here.
@@jamiespinks3657 I think the Monaro was a swoopy fastback whereas the Falcon coupe was quite boxy. 👍
@markbehr88 true, the 2 door US Falcons were really a 2 door sedan rather than a coupe, and weren't pillarless, but I still think they would've looked great in GT guise.
@ I think they had a lukewarm response to the XT motor show coupe. 🤔
Gidday mate I have a query and would like to know if you can put my head in the right place. My mate over here in NZ had an XT and I'm sure it had a 600 badge on the glove box door. The 600 wasn't mentioned in your video and I'm now wondering if I had too many trips over the years as the myth of a 600 falcon has been the cause of a few black eyes and broken noses. So my friend am I in right of mind?
@@martydavies7198 Hi there. I am not aware of a 600. Not to say it doesn’t exist but I have never heard of it. Seems a bit unnecessary given the 500 badges would be already made. 👍
My xt falcon had a 200 cubic engine,don't know about a 188?
Standard motor. 👍
@rickford4550 Base engine 188 cubic inch 3.1 litre ,114 BHP , IIRC $ 70 , optional 221 , 3.6 litre 135 BHP .
@@robertmorris6529 Thanks for the info. 👍
Atleast its not a ladies car
In the words of Jerry Seinfeld “thin ice George, very thin ice”.
@@markbehr88that two dour gt you mentioned which country's did that sell in, and as for ladies comment the add you showed for the two dour seems to have a lady owner
@@markbehr88forgot to say that those stripes on the two dour look a lot like ones on XW gt
@@johngibson3837 It was never available. The body style was US, where you could get a 289 or 303 V8 but not as a GT. That was a show car made in Australia as a one off and the lady was a publicity model. 👍
@@johngibson3837 yes as it was a show car, they foretold what was to come, like the shaker and the XW stripe with Super Roo logo. 👍