1971 Ford Falcon XY GT

Widely regarded as one of the greatest Australian muscle cars of all time, the XY Falcon GT was launched in November 1970. Ford further enhanced the Cleveland 351 cubic inch (5.8 Litre) V8 by adding a bigger Autolite 600 cfm four-barrel carburetor and raising the compression ratio to 11.0:1. Externally, the XY GT retained the matte black bonnet panels, grille and rear panel and Super Roo decals but introduced the iconic ‘Shaker’ bonnet scoop for the first time. Ford also improved the GT’s braking capabilities by installing bigger Kelsey-Hayes discs up front. The vehicle on display was built in February of 1971 and has had just three owners since new. It has been restored to factory specification of an ‘Electric Blue’ exterior with a black vinyl interior. It was extensively restored by Rodney Plowman Restorations of Adelaide, South Australia.

Did you know?

The XY Falcon GT was fitted with a 351 cubic inch V8, making it one of the most powerful cars in Australia at the time. It was capable of 0-100 km/h in under 8 seconds, which was blistering fast back then!

The GT badge on the XY Falcon was not just a marketing tool. It signified that the car was factory-designed for performance and had a level of refinement that made it one of the best muscle cars in Australia during the 1970s.

The shaker (bonnet scoop) on the Ford XY Falcon GT wasn’t just for looks—it was functional. Positioned above the carburetor, it fed cold air directly into the engine for better performance.

A blue vintage Ford Falcon GT car on display in an indoor showroom with framed pictures on the walls.

A blue vintage Ford Falcon GT car on display in an indoor showroom with framed pictures on the walls.

Close-up of a blue vintage muscle car in a museum, featuring a black hood scoop, racing stripes, round headlights, and chrome accents, with framed classic car posters on the wall behind.

Close-up of a blue vintage muscle car in a museum, featuring a black hood scoop, racing stripes, round headlights, and chrome accents, with framed classic car posters on the wall behind.

A row of vintage cars displayed in a museum, including a blue and black race car with a Falcon badge on the front, and other brightly colored cars in the background.

A row of vintage cars displayed in a museum, including a blue and black race car with a Falcon badge on the front, and other brightly colored cars in the background.

Close-up photo of a car with a black grille, a GT badge, and a Supercar sticker with a cartoon dinosaur on the front.

Close-up photo of a car with a black grille, a GT badge, and a Supercar sticker with a cartoon dinosaur on the front.

Interior of a vintage car showing the dashboard, steering wheel with wood rim, black dashboard with wood accents, and leather seats. Multiple classic cars are visible through the windshield, including red and green cars.

Interior of a vintage car showing the dashboard, steering wheel with wood rim, black dashboard with wood accents, and leather seats. Multiple classic cars are visible through the windshield, including red and green cars.

Close-up of a vintage blue car's front side, including the wheel with a red stripe and the door handle, with orange and brown cars blurred in the background.

Close-up of a vintage blue car's front side, including the wheel with a red stripe and the door handle, with orange and brown cars blurred in the background.

Close-up of a vintage blue Ford Falcon GT car tail end, showing the license plate and tail light with reflections on the shiny surface.

Close-up of a vintage blue Ford Falcon GT car tail end, showing the license plate and tail light with reflections on the shiny surface.

Close-up of the interior of a vintage black muscle car, showing the dashboard, steering wheel, and front seat, with other classic cars visible through the windshield.

Close-up of the interior of a vintage black muscle car, showing the dashboard, steering wheel, and front seat, with other classic cars visible through the windshield.

Front view of a blue classic Ford Falcon car with racing stripes, displayed in a car museum, surrounded by framed vintage car photos and memorabilia.

Front view of a blue classic Ford Falcon car with racing stripes, displayed in a car museum, surrounded by framed vintage car photos and memorabilia.