1971 FORD FALCON GS
WILD VIOLET - IT’S THE COLOUR THAT SCREAMS SEVENTIES AND THESE DAYS IS IN BIG DEMAND AMONG COLLECTORS
While ever y man, woman and their dog (with some reason) seems to go weak at the knees when they spot examples of the assorted Ford GT-HO Phase I, II and III hero cars, it’s actually refreshing to trip over something that’s a factor y puzzle and a little different to the usually-accepted spec.
Take this XY Falcon 500 GS owned by Peter Chronakis. Built late in the series – in the twelfth month of 1971 – it’s had a host of GT parts thrown in ex-factor y, according to its most recent owners. Why? Well there are a couple of possible explanations : one is it was a special order (most things could be done if you had ‘pull’ with the factor y), and the other possible scenario is, since this was a late build, the plant was in the mood to use up some of the upmarket components sitting on the shelves. Maybe it was a combo of both, particularly if it was for a favoured customer.
When XYs were new, not everyone necessarily wanted a GT with a 351 and ‘shaker’ air cleaner. For some, the
whole idea was much too lair y and they certainly weren’t going to pay extra for it. As a result, you of ten got to see up-specced 500s, Futuras and Fairmonts getting around wit h what seemed like a limitless range of variations in t he f inal vehicle.
Whatever t he explanation, t his car apparently started life wit h a 302 (4.9lt) V8 running a top-loader four-speed manual transmission and nine-inch diff – much of the drivetrain expected in t he upper echelon cars.
Incredibly, t he majorit y of what you see here rolled of f t he assembly line: original spec, paint and interior trim, according to the owner. However Peter has indulged in a warm-up of the powerplant. While keeping it look ing original, t he 302ci interna ls have been stroked for 347ci (5.7lt). Ned Sassine from Hercules Competition Engines in Sydney did the honours, with Chris Baker in Orange refreshing t he heads.
The plot was to go for plent y of torque rat her t han max power, so they ended up with a ver y healthy 620Nm reading on the dyno (up 50 per cent on stock) and horsepower somewhere over 400. Peter is delighted with t he result, say ing it’s a super-strong t hing to drive.
His relationship wit h Wild Violet Fords goes back a long way. “My dad bought me, back in 1971, a Wild Violet X Y. And that got stolen when we went to Melbourne, in Moorabbin.”