Beschreibung
Engine: GL1471C
Chassis: GL1065C
VIN: 7A86Gthe details below
Current registration and WoF
For sale by auction at Webb's - Auckland, New Zealand on Sunday the 14th of August 2pm New Zealand Time.
Auction estimate - $570, 000 - $650, 000 New Zealand Dollars
The Ford Falcon GT-HO is a homologation special in the finest Bathurst tradition. When Ford launched the facelifted XW Falcon range in 1969, the GT boasted new performance levels thanks to the 351-CID Windsor V8, a single-plate clutch, limited-slip diff, power-assisted front disc brakes and 36-gallon fuel tank, plus a full complement of instruments.
With trademark ‘Super Roo’ stickers and twin driving lights, the Falcon GT was the most severe-looking Falcon; it was the legendary GT-HO variant that Allan Moffat achieved his first Bathurst victory. The abbreviation HO stood for ‘Handling Option’, and it came with a rear anti-roll bar fitted. Some significant changes under the bonnet included a bigger Holley 600 cfm carb, reprofiled camshaft, revised intake manifold and altered valves and lifters. All 1969 GT-HO Falcons (retrospectively tagged Phase I) used the Windsor block before Ford switched to the higher-revving Cleveland block the following year.
This 1969 XW Ford Falcon XW GTHO was delivered new to Genders Motors of Lithgow, NSW, on 2 September 1969. Bob Genders and Joe Butta were drivers and car dealers’ sons. Bob’s father was Basil Genders, the Ford dealer in Lithgow and Joe’s father was Angello Butta, of Austin and Butta Chrysler dealers in Lithgow. The pair had completed the previous year at Bathurst, racing in a Hillman Arrow, finishing in 36th position.
Upon delivery of the new Falcon, the ‘Big Race’ - the 1969 Hardie-Ferodo 500 at Bathurst – was scheduled for 5 October, leaving barely four weeks to prep the car. Conveniently, they did not have far to travel – Lithgow to Bathurst is only an hour’s drive. The pair in the GTHO qualified in at 24th, with the car numbered 63D and finished in 12th overall. Of 260 GT-HO’s built, 14 raced Bathurst; only 9 finished the race. In the D class, 63D finished 9th and was the 6th HO to finish. This was a credible result for what was ostensibly a couple of privateers with minimal corporate backing.
Webb’s understands that Genders is now retired on the central coast of NSW and Butta is also still living in Australia. Butta would later go on to compete in further Bathurst races in a Chrysler and would go on to sell his shares in a mining company, Felix Resources, for a cool AUD$150million.
This XW GTHO was photographed multiple times at the 1969 Bathurst race, with many examples found online and illustrated in our catalogue. To our knowledge, the 1969 Bathurst race was the only event of note that it competed. However, the CAMS logbook has not been sighted to verify any other race history. This book is understood to be in Cairns, and the vendor believes the car was raced until about 1973.
In 1987 the car was purchased in Queensland by our vendor, they had it shipped to New Zealand and it sat in storage for a number of year, first being registered on 8 November 1999. They are the sole New Zealand owner. It is understood that before his purchase, the vehicle sat on blocks under a house in Brisbane for 12 years.
The vendor has spent considerable time and expense recommissioning the car to its factory spec and former glory. This includes a respray in 2008 in ‘Grecian Gold’. The 50/ 50 seats are exceptional in black vinyl and new houndstooth upholstery. New carpet has been fitted and we also believe some of the interior panels have been replaced. The gearbox has recently been reconditioned. The speedometer currently displays 123, 564 miles, approximately 7, 000 since the vendor purchased it in 1987. Evidence of the former roll cage is visible under the carpet and headlining, and we have photographs at hand to illustrate this.
An Australian Classic Car History Services Report comes with the sale that outlines the build specifications as follows;
Build Specifications
Serial Prefix: JG33JG
Serial Number: 28813
SIDO: 879356
Model Code: 18939- XW Falcon GT H. O. 4 Door Sedan
Engine Code: H – 351 CIO High Output
Transmission Code: L- 4 Speed Floor Manual Floor shift
Paint: Y Grecian Gold
Trim: B – Black Vinyl
Options: 03 – Front Seat Belts
Scheduled Ship Month: August 1969
Retailer Dealer: 2442 – Genders Motors, Lithgow NSW
Sale date: Tuesday 2 September 1969
This is 1 of 2 of this model sold by this dealer
Production Statistics
Ford XW Falcon GT H. O 4 Door Sedan
This car was 46th scheduled to be built in this model
This car was:
1 of 260 of this model built
Of these, 1 of 260 with this engine and transmission combination
Of these, 1 of 35 with this paint colour
Of these, 1 of 31 with this paint and trim combination
Of these, it is just 1 of 11 with the same build specification
Ford Falcon GTHOs are now being recognised as blue-chip assets. Australian Muscle cars have climbed in value to dizzying heights in recent decades. On this side of the world, Australasia has started celebrating what is ‘homegrown’ rather than chasing old European stags. Nostalgia, deeper pockets and newfound appreciation are well demonstrated with market results both here and across the Tasman. Webb’s sold a Falcon Phase II for over $400, 000 just 18 months ago. Now, with Bathurst provenance, an opportunity to acquire a piece of Australian racing history with investment potential lies before us. In this instance, all that glitters is GTHO ‘Grecian Gold’.
Engine: 351 Windsor V8
Gearbox: 4 Speed Manual
Brakes: Front Vented Discs, Rear Drums
Power: 300 hp (224 kW)
Odometer: 23, 628 Miles (Displayed)
