A 1971 Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III sold at auction for more than $1 million AUD this weekend. Business Insider reported it was the first time a car made Down Under topped such a mark. That is about $742,000 in U.S. dollars.
The Falcon – of which fewer than 100 are thought to still exist – is the Holy Grail of Australian-made competition Fords, according to the auction company, Lloyd’s Auctioneers and Valuers.
The seller claimed to have records dating back to the car’s original sale; it was owned for a time by Jeff Thompson, a fast bowler in Australian cricket. It was during his ownership that the car was nicknamed “Big Red.”
After Thompson, the car spent about three decades in the care of a seasoned collector who made no changes to the vehicle, according to Lloyd’s, which added that the GTHO is fully original, including its 351cid Ford Cleveland V8 capable of 300 horsepower. The car is equipped with a 4-speed manual transmission and being a dedicated track car, it was sold unregistered.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sample greatness unaltered by restorations, callous owners and time, the driving experience is arguably better than new,” the auction description read.
I see a lot of similarities between this and US spec Falcon from approximately 1969.
Isn’t "Big Red" Gottleib’s insane, long time distance runner/’69 Camaro? I thought I remembered reading it was trademarked.
Congrats on the sale, tho’- Mad Max is proud!
-R
I wonder why Ford did not take this front end ‘clip’ and market the 2 + 2 headlights in US. Possibly have the same attach points on the ‘Falcon’ body and sell both front grills. with 2 or 4 headlights.