FORD FALCON XA GT
A LOYAL FRIEND
Aussie muscle cars are among the most desirable and collectable cars of today; in particular, the GT versions of the Falcon, which are undoubtedly the most famous of the breed. One word, ‘Bathurst’, instantly conjures up images of decades of nail-biting battles between the two Aussie arch-rivals, Ford and Holden, battling for supremacy. In fact, Bathurst was the inspiration behind Ford producing a car as celebrated as the GT Falcon.
During the early years of the ‘Great Race’, the annual 500-mile (805km) event at the mountain road course, Mount Panorama, Bathurst attracted countless entrants driving virtually every known variety of foreign and domestic car, including the very first purpose-built local Ford ‘race’ car, the Cortina GT500. In 1967, however, Ford, who was keen to promote its current Falcon XR model (which was the first Australian Falcon with a V8 engine), set about planning something different. The rest is history, as they say. The mighty GT Falcons reigned supreme at ‘the Mountain’ during the ensuing years and were involved in some of the most hard-fought tussles in the event’s history. Between 1969 and 1973, these mighty machines had a huge impact on the Australian touring car scene when a young upand-coming driver, Allan Moffatt, got behind the wheel of the Phase I, II, and III GT-HOS, and fired up the imagination of Ford fans throughout Australasia, winning at Bathurst in 1970 and 1971.
Today, some of these rare beasts — namely, the Falcon XY GT-HO Phase III — are highly sought after and regarded as Australia’s greatestever muscle cars.
Introduced in March 1972, the Falcon XA GT was actually the first Australian-designed Ford, and the GT version was a much more refined car than its tarmac-shredding predecessors, which were designed primarily as road-going race cars rather than true grand tourers. It also marked the return of the Falcon hardtop, and the streamlined bulging shape of the Falcon made this coupé the sexiest Australian car ever. The XA was the largest Falcon to roll out of the Broadmeadows plant, sporting, arguably, the boldest styling yet, with its uniquely vented (albeit non-functional) front guards and twin bonnet scoops — unlike any other GT. Unfortunately for Ford, the XA GT had shed some of the basic, unrefined appeal that had endeared the earlier XR–XY GT models to the public. It wasn’t as if the XA GT was any less potent in terms of straight-out muscle; on the contrary, the XA GTS were unquestionably good cars. Although they were fitted with the same intoxicating 351-cubic-inch (5.8-litre) Cleveland V8, they appeared not to be as fast.
However, Ford had Plan B on the back-burner in the form of the four-door XA Phase IV. Sadly for Ford and its passionate fans, a surge of negative media hysteria over 160mph (257kph) supercars and party-pooping politicians who merely saw it as a road-rage weapon, led to the cancellation of Ford’s new missile. Interestingly enough, regardless of the public’s perception of the XA GT’S performance, in racing hardtop guise, it remains the only Falcon to have won twice at Bathurst.
In 1973, Ford replaced the discontinued Phase VI GT-HO Falcon (of which only four vehicles existed) with the XA GT RPO 083, producing only 131 sedans and 129 coupés. Surprisingly, these cars came on to the market without fuss or controversial advertising claims, and only those people in the know were aware of its existence. Not so now, of course. An XA GT RPO 083 is the next best
The story of our feature car begins in 1970, when Peter and Mary Heremaia crossed paths with their very first GT Falcon. “We immediately took a liking to it, especially with the grunty rumble, and it looked great in Diamond White and black-with-gold hockeystick striping”
thing to any astute collector to have parked beside that Phase III XY GT-HO Falcon.
Superoo
The story of our feature car begins in 1970, when Peter and Mary Heremaia crossed paths with their very first GT Falcon. “We immediately took a liking to it, especially with the grunty rumble, and it looked great in Diamond White and black-with-gold hockey-stick striping. It also brandished a colourful ‘Superoo’ Kangaroo on the front guards. This is what we called a car, but it wasn’t until 1973 before we could afford to own one.”
Mary and Peter had been well and truly bitten by the Falcon bug. In early May of 1973, they went down to see Don Colquhoun, who owned Hillview Motors in Levin. After some discussion, they left the dealership having placed an order for a 1973 XA GT in Polar White with black trim. The anxious wait for the delivery of their beloved new car then began. While the Heremaias’ XA was being readied, Don offered to lend them a ’72 Cosmic Blue XA GT, with some provisos — something that wouldn’t happen in this day and age.
In late May, a few months after placing their order, they received a telegram from Melbourne to explain that there was an engine shortage but they could expect the building of their car to happen towards the end of May. “Needless to say, my husband Peter did one of his hakas at receiving such news,” Mary recalls. While the Heremaias waited with bated breath for news that the car was complete, the dealership changed hands to Ken Mcbrierty, who changed the business name to ‘Kenden Motors’.
“He was a true gentleman,” Mary recalls, and he continued the plight to complete their pending XA GT. Finally, on 11 September 1973, the Heremaias received the telegram they had been waiting for: “Mcbrierty please advise Pete Heremaia his Falcon GT arrives in Wellington tomorrow.”
New arrival
On 12 September 1973, the 4V-headed 351-cubic-inch (5.8-litre) Cleveland V8 H-block Falcon landed on the Wellington docks, and they drove it home to Levin. The four-door sported 300hp (224kw) at 5400rpm and produced 380lb·ft (515Nm) of torque from its frontmounted longitudinal 90-degree V8 with a compression ratio of 11.0:1. Fuel is delivered via a Ford Autolite 4300 605cfm four-barrel downdraught carburettor, and
The four-door sported 300hp (224kw) at 5400rpm and produced 380lb·ft (515Nm) of torque from its front-mounted longitudinal 90-degree V8 with a compression ratio of 11.0:1. Fuel is delivered via a Ford Autolite 4300 605cfm four-barrel downdraught carburettor, and ignition is courtesy of Motorcraft
ignition is courtesy of Motorcraft. While the engine internals provide a beautiful aural note, the cast-iron manifold, which links into a low-restriction twin exhaust, gives off a stately yet pumped-up exhaust note that, when heard, is a silky smooth symphony missing from many modern cars of today. Mary and Peter opted for a manual four-speed all-synchronized gearbox, with a nine-inch removable carriertype limited-slip traction-lock differential. The suspension is independent anglepoised ball joint, with coil springs, shock absorbers, and a live axle up front, while, down the back, Hotchkiss-type with semielliptic leaf springs, shock absorbers, and a live axle, which keeps the ride much like the exhaust note — silky smooth. To finish things off, the shoes on the XA are 6x14 argent-painted 12-slots with GT centres, and are wrapped in BF Goodrich rubber.
‘KC7201’
Ford produced the XA to appeal to a wider audience, with its less aggressive look and creature comforts for those who drove it. It was also the first all-aussie Falcon that rolled off the production line, as, until the XA arrived, Aussie Falcons had all been rehashes of the Us-market cars. With a growing confidence in the Australian team, Detroit had unleashed the locals, giving them a chance to mix their own formula — the XA. The appeal of the car was such that the Heremaias’ ’73 XA became the envy of every company representative in New Zealand, as Peter used it on the road for a few years, travelling far and wide.
The Falcon has not only travelled the country with Peter at the wheel as a company rep, but it’s been equally at home towing the family caravan — measuring in at nearly 7m: “We took the XA and the caravan up to Ninety Mile Beach on three occasions and the XA towed it with ease. People used to get annoyed, as they didn’t have enough power to pass us going up the Mangawekas, as well as the big hill just outside Taihape, which my daughters always thought was great” says Mary.
Throughout the ’80s, Mary was working at the Levin Post Office and kept an eagle-eye out for the plates that the XA currently wears. “7201 was my phone number,” she says, “so I made sure to snatch them up as soon as they became available.” The XA was transformed from ‘HD3076’ to ‘KC7201’, and Mary recalls that the only two people who ever
It was … the first all-aussie Falcon that rolled off the production line, as, until the XA arrived, Aussie Falcons had all been rehashes of the Us-market cars
twigged about the number combination were her mother and a close friend.
Great decision
In 1984, the Heremaias joined the GT Falcon Club of New Zealand, which Mary says was a “great decision”. Their first meeting with the XA was in Taupo, where the couple had a lovely time meeting fabulous people and a raft of equally fabulous GT Falcons. Every year after that, Peter and Mary attended the conventions, until 2012, when Peter passed away. A true testament to the bonds built between members of the club means that Mary still attends the conventions, and the XA GT still makes appearances. “I have only missed three conventions in 34 years of membership, all for genuine reasons, which isn’t bad going,” she says.
Early in their membership, Peter became the delegate for their area and organized a couple of conventions held in Palmerston North. The highlight was undoubtedly getting the cars out on Manfeild Circuit, now known as ‘Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon’. This wasn’t the only time the XA saw the track while Peter and Mary were attending the conventions.
“In 1992, we were at the Taupo GT Falcon convention, which meant that we got three laps of the circuit — we just had to keep things below 100kph,” Mary recalls.
The Heremaias’ daughter was two years and four months old when the XA GT arrived
in the family, and growing up with the car meant that it was an important part of her life of which she has many fond memories.
One must certainly be of her first drive. “While we were at Taupo, a friend of ours asked if he could drive the XA around the track to which my husband quickly declined,” Mary says. “Instead, he allowed our daughter, who was 19, to take her first drive behind the wheel of the XA. She was a bit surprised initially, but with Dad in the passenger seat instructing her on entry and exit lines, she did fine. She even drove us home from Taupo, too, at times probably still thinking she was on the circuit.”
Loyal and trusty
The XA well and truly found its way into the hearts of the Heremaias. It is a loyal and trusty car that has served not only as the go-to for getting from point A to B but also chauffeured high-school students to their school ball and been on wedding duty many times, along with the new addition to the family in 1994 — an XB GT (painted identically to the XA). Such has been the popularity of the duo as wedding cars that two generations of the Heremaias’ friends have used them to get to the church on their wedding days — history repeating itself.
The XA GT has served gallantly in getting the whole family to where they needed to go, and, along the way, aided in establishing new friendships and even inspired a new generation of petrolheads in the form of Mary’s daughters.
An heirloom
So, now it is 2018, and KC7201 has been in Mary’s proud possession for 45 years. Mary even made sure that she drove it to this photo shoot, and, as the Falcon ages like a fine wine, it only turns more and more heads as it elegantly drives through town. It is an heirloom that is certainly going to remain in the family, and it has three family guardians lined up to ensure that it is well kept. The emotional attachment this car has garnered is well founded, too. On top of the initial financial investment in the car, there is, more important, a significant emotional investment. The XA has been there with Mary as new friends were made, children grew up, and through all those pivotal moments of family life. You could almost say that it was the vehicle that made being physically present in those moments possible.
Mary knows that the car will be well looked after by her daughter, son-in-law, and 14-year-old grandson. “He told me that once he has his full license, he will be able to drive the GT. My answer was, ‘No you won’t; your mother was 19 when she first drove it, so you will have to be patient,’” she says. Mary is sure that his reply, made under his breath, was something along the lines of, “old bag”.
The XA GT has served gallantly in getting the whole family to where they needed to go, and, along the way, aided in establishing new friendships and even inspired a new generation of petrolheads in the form of Mary’s daughters