Big Block Ford

Article from
goatuto.com.au

Author: DAVID HASSALL

FORD Performance Vehicles (FPV) could
soon revive arguably the most iconic Australian
automotive badge of all time – the GTHO.
New FPV boss Rod Barrett made no secret
of his desire to build the ultimate Falcon while
he is at the helm, and says it will live up to the
legend started by the Falcon GTHO Phase 1 in
1969, culminating with the legendary Phase 3
in 1971 and reaching mythical status with the
still-born Phase 4 in 1972.
Original Phase 3 GTHOs are now in great
demand and command huge prices. A mint
example set a new Australian auction record in
March, selling for $683,000.
FPV’s born-again GTHO will even be painted
the famous ‘vermillion fi re’ red colour of the
originals, made famous by Allan Moffat in his
Bathurst 500 victories in the early 1970s.
“I was 12 years old in 1971 when Moffat
won (Bathurst) in the Phase Three and it’s a car
I’ve grown up with,” Mr Barrett told GoAuto.
“Down the line I’d like to produce a vermillion
fi re GTHO. That’s a vision of mine.
“It’s not in the planning stage at the moment,
(but) I’d hate to leave FPV in fi ve to ten years
without having done the HO because I’m
passionate about it. I understand what the car
is, I understand its value in Australian motoring
and motor sport history and I’d love to be the
man who had his stamp on it.
“The GTHO is this iconic car. To bring a
GTHO back, it needs to be the very best car that
we’ve ever made. I’d be very careful with what
I did with an HO and I wouldn’t do it unless it
was absolutely right. That car has to be the top
of the range that we would ever do.”
Maybe an Orion series project, then?
“Maybe,” he smiled.

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Lance
71 429SCJ Mustang