1967 - 1969 FORD XR-XT GT
BODY & CHASSIS
A lot of GT restorations took place at a time when these cars weren’t especially valuable and corners were cut. Buyers now looking at six-digit asking prices want to feel they are getting the best available car and inspection by a restoration specialist is an absolute must. Before spending that money though, look for body filler or rust re-appearing around wheel-arches. in the sills, lower front mudguards or between the boot aperture and rear window. Reproduction parts are available but you don’t want to pay top money for a car and then have to spend more. Equally serious are kinked chassis rails, rust in the firewall and around rear spring hangers. Full sets of body rubbers cost around $2000. Replacement lenses are available and reproduction XR-XT bumpers have been seen at $1500 per pair
ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
If your GT has managed for half a century to retain its original engine then new owners need to do everything possible to preserve the car’s ‘matching number’ status. Documents confirming the engine is original if ever it has been rebuilt are useful. Age and neglect result in leaks, rattles and exhaust smoke, none of which are particularly costly or difficult to rectify. New, genuine pistons cost $500 a set and water pumps have been seen in original packaging at $250. The original Ford differential wasn’t especially reliable and may have already been replaced by a nine-inch limited slip diff. Both the Fordomatic auto (optional in XTs) and the four-speed manual transmission are durable.
Vital Stats
NUMBER BUILT: 559 (XR) 1415 (X T) BODY STYLE : all steel, integrated body /chassis four-door sedan ENGINE : 4724cc or 4 9 42cc V8 with overhead valves and single four-barrel carburet tor POWER & TORQUE: 172kW @ 4 800rpm, 418Nm @ 3200rpm (X T) PERFORMANCE: 0-96km /h 8.5 seconds 0-4 0 0 metres 16.3 seconds (X T manual) TRANSMISSION: four-speed manual, three-speed automatic SUSPENSION: Independent with wishbones, coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers and anti-roll bar (f) Live axle with semi-elliptic springs and telescopic shock absorbers (r) BRAKES: disc (f) drum (r) power assisted TYRES: 185SR14 radial
SUSPENSION & BRAKES
If the front suspension has been lowered or sagged far enough for tyres to foul the wheel-arches, the GT you’re considering will need suspension work. Factory spec springs are still available and with correct shock absorbers will return the car’s ride/handling balance. Creaking at low speeds is typical of worn balljoints and/or worn bushings but neither are expensive. Rear spring leaves flatten and suffer cracking so be wary of cars that droop at the rear. Brake parts are available and easily replaced, with new rotors costing $300 a pair and reconditioned power boosters below $500.
INTERIOR & ELECTRICS
Components including carpets, door trims and seat vinyl needed to renovate a worn GT aren’t easy to source but some items are available from repro suppliers. Larger trim items including new centre consoles at $500 are available, with door-trims $300 each and armrests (sold separately) at around $100 each. Correct knobs and gauges can be tricky to find and replacing the GT steering wheel will be costly. Noisy starter motors, failed heater fans and indicators that won’t work are common electrical faults but easy to rectify. New starters cost less than $200, new alternators around $350.