The GTHO Phase III was a modified Ford Falcon muscle car produced by Ford Australia in 1971. Powered by a heavily modified 351 Cleveland motor, with 4 speed top-loader, and Detroit locker 9" differential, the GT-HO was a powerful vehicle. It was also equipped with special brakes and handling package, plus a 36 gallon fuel tank. The Phase 3, as it is referred to by some purists, was very successful in the Australian Touring Car Championship (1973 ATCC winner Allan Moffat drove a Phase 3). It was described by Sports Car World as "...simply one of the best cars in the world, a true GT that could take on Ferraris and Astons on their own terms." EBay Buyer's Guide XY Falcon GTHO Auction This article is about the Australian car model. ... The Pontiac GTO is a classic example of the muscle car. ... Ford Australia is the Australian subsidiary of Ford Motor Company and was founded in Geelong, Victoria in 1926 as an outpost of Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. ... A differential can mean one of several things: Differential (mathematics) Differential (mechanics) Differential signaling is used to carry high speed digital signals. ... For the type of ferns known as brakes, see brake (fern). ... A fuel tank is part of an engine system in which the fuel is stored and released into the engine. ... V8 Supercars in action V8 Supercar is the main motor racing series in Australia. ... Allan George Moffat, OBE, (born November 10, 1939 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada) is an Australian racing driver known for his success in the Australian Touring Car Championship and his four wins at Bathurst. ...

Technical data

The GT-HO 351 Cleveland motor produced over 380 HP (285 kW), and was fitted with a 6,150 rpm rev limiter. With the rev limiter disabled, it would pull 7,000+ rpm, even in 4th gear. The "HO" portion of the name stood for "Handling Option" which meant these specials had stiffer roll bars and springs. The Phase 3 was the world's fastest four door production car for many years, however the Chrysler Valiant E49 Charger held the 1/4 mile record in Australia - and the 3.3L (202) 6-cylinder LJ Torana GTR-XU1 defeated the GTHO to win the 1972 Bathurst over 6 hours in the hands of Peter Brock after brake problems and wet weather put paid to the GTHO challenge. hp, see HP (disambiguation) The horsepower (hp) is the name of several non-metric units of power. ... Kwai Lo is Chinese slang for foreigner or ghost person. ... rpm or RPM may mean: revolutions per minute RPM Package Manager (originally called Red Hat Package Manager) RPM (movie) RPM (band), a Brazilian rock band RPM (magazine), a former Canadian music industry magazine In firearms, Rounds Per Minute: how many shots an automatic weapon can fire in one minute On... A Rev limiter is a device fitted to a petrol internal combustion engine to restrict its maximum rotational speed. ... rpm or RPM may mean: revolutions per minute RPM Package Manager (originally called Red Hat Package Manager) RPM (movie) RPM (band), a Brazilian rock band RPM (magazine), a former Canadian music industry magazine In firearms, Rounds Per Minute: how many shots an automatic weapon can fire in one minute On...

Value

The Phase 3 is in incredibly high demand. Good examples of the Phase 3 sell for in excess of $525,000. [1] Due to this demand, and rarity, there has actually been a flow on effect into values of the lesser XW-XY Falcons, particularly genuine GS and GT models. other models that also benefit from the success of the GTHO include the XA and XB GT hardtops as well as the lesser known Phase 1 and 2 XW GTHO.

On Sunday 25th March 2007 a Falcon GT-HO Phase 3 was sold at auction for A$683,650. The car had just 40,000 km on the clock. The buyer of the car said it will be garaged, and that he won't be driving it; he will be "keeping it as an investment". [2] The sale price set a new auction record for Australian "muscle cars" .[3]

Alternative Names

The name of the car is often abbreviated to 'GT-HO Phase III' or even just 'Phase 3'. It was also known as the 'Shaker' because of the shaker scoop that protruded out of the hood and shook as the powerful Cleveland reved. A shaker scoop (sometimes, inaccurately, called a shaker hood scoop or a shaker hood) is an automobile term for an air intake scoop for combustion air that is mounted directly on top of the engines air cleaner and protrudes through a hole in the hood. ...

Race record

Ford Australia and Allan Moffat had great success with the Phase 3 in the Australian touring car championship where it was piloted to many race wins over its short life. Moffat's car is now owned by Bowden's Own, an Australian car care products company.[4] Allan George Moffat, OBE, (born November 10, 1939 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada) is an Australian racing driver known for his success in the Australian Touring Car Championship and his four wins at Bathurst. ...

1st TAA 1 Hour Race Calder 1972 1st Manufacturers Championship Surfers Paradise 1972 1st Manufacturers Championship Phillip Island 1972 1st Australian Touring Car Championship Symonns Plains 1973 1st Australian Touring Car Championship Calder 1973 1st Australian Touring Car Championship Sandown Park 1973 1st Australian Touring Car Championship Wanneroo Park 1973 1st Australian Touring Car Championship Surfers Paradise 1973 1st Australian Touring Car Championship Oran Park 1973

Successor

In 1972, the XY series Falcon was replaced by the redesigned XA Falcon range. There was the intention of an XA based 1972 Falcon GTHO Phase IV (three prototypes were built), which would have been superior to the Phase III, however its project was cancelled due to the 1972 "Supercar Scare". 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ...

References

• Ebay Australia muscle cars buying guide, retrieved September 11, 2006
• Supercars.net forum, retrieved September 11, 2006
• Bowden's Own, retrieved September 11, 2006
• www.gtho4.com, retrieved 4th May 2007
• Bonham's & Goodman, retrieved 4th May 2007