One of One XY GTHO

The iconic Falcon GT HO created a legacy of fast four-doors that will never be forgotten. Peaking with the XY GT HO Phase III, the world's fastest four-door production car at the time and for many years after, this lineage was cut short by the infamous supercar scare.

For many, the XY represents the pinnacle of Aussie Muscle. Between June and October 1971, 300 examples of GT HO perfection rolled off Ford's production line and of those remaining, every single one would pull a pretty penny if you could somehow convince the owner to part ways with their piece of performance past.

One of these lucky fellows is Eric Watson and to be honest, his particular Phase III makes him a far sight luckier than most. With such a limited run, factory options greatly set these Falcons apart and Eric's HO has it all. Supposedly built for the 1971 Sydney Motor Show, it came equipped with all the good stuff like an 8-track player, left-hand door mirror and wind-back sunroof. This in itself makes it a pretty rare example but there is something more important that sets this bad boy apart from the crowd.

According to production figures, only 9 XY GTs left the factory sprayed in Onyx Black, with Eric's the only 'Handling Option' model to bare the colour. You see back in 1971, Ford were pretty reluctant to sell their cars in black as they were not confident of the body and paint finish they could achieve. With a black car coming down the line so close to the date of the Sydney Motor Show, it seems likely that the opportunity was taken to create a demonstration of Ford's talents, and what better car to do it than a Phase III GT HO.

After the Motor Show, this rare road-going race car was passed on to Thompson Ford at Parramatta where it was quickly snapped up by it's first owner. From here the car changed hands twice more within Sydney before Eric finally came across it and whisked it off down to Melbourne for a makeover.

Initially the plan was to just tidy a couple of things up but as has happened to the best of us, Eric got carried away. This GT HO has been completely stripped and taken back to bare metal before being meticulously restored to a concourse quality finish.

The factory interior remains not only intact but immaculate and despite the car's rarity, Eric spends countless hours cruising in this comfortable environment.

With over 370hp from the factory, there was no need for any improvements under the bonnet. The iconic 351ci 4V Cleveland was given a freshen up to factory specs by Dandy Engines, with forged pistons, 'moly rings and a high-volume oil pump thrown in for peace of mind.

For a closer look at this one-of-a-kind wonder, check out the upcoming issue of Street Fords below.