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.