Ford Falcon GTHO Phase 1 missing link found

Work is commencing on the latest publication from the team that has already brought to market three authoritative histories of the iconic Ford Falcon GTHO.

This new book will focus on the original Falcon to bear the iconic GTHO abbreviation, the Windsor V8-engined Phase 1 XW model of 1969.

As a starting point for ‘The 1969 Ford Falcon XW GTHO Phase 1 Register’ and in circumstances that would meet with the approval of Indiana Jones, official GTHO historian Ross Vasse has managed to assemble the production records for the Phase 1 from unnamed sources.

Consequently, the book will offer GTHO enthusiasts a full description of every Phase 1 vehicle built by Ford Australia in 1969.

The details will include paint colour and trim, and factory options – among them a rare automatic transmission for one particular car.

In addition, the production records reveal the day each car left the production line and the selling dealer to which it was allocated.

A model built specifically to homologate the Falcon with all the right performance parts for touring car racing, the GTHO Phase 1 was a rare bird even in its prime.

Ford Australia manufactured just 260 units, but was encouraged by the success of the car to offer the GTHO in Phase 1½, Phase 2 and (XY) Phase 3 models.

This book will complete the series of GTHO books published by Vasse and, like his previous publications, the Phase 1 Register won’t be limited to manufacturing minutiae.

Vasse also plans for this to be a rich history of the car down through the years, as told by respective owners and illustrated with period pictures.

In fact, current or previous owners of a Phase 1 GTHO Falcon are asked to send images that can be incorporated in the book. Owners will receive a credit in the finished publication for their photos.

As everyone knows, GTHO Falcons are highly collectable, and prices for even the Phase 1 models are beyond the reach of most enthusiasts.

Buying a GTHO is a pursuit for those with deep pockets and the book will provide some analysis of ‘value trends’ for the Phase 1 Falcon as well, covering all bases for investor and speculator as well as the enthusiast.

“This is the most comprehensive work ever completed for this marque, one that tells the story of the fastest four-door production sedan in the world, about the men who created, built, drove and raced them when they were new,” says Vasse.

“This new book represents the complete definitive Bible for the Phase 1 Falcon GTHO and has all of the lost pre-1970 production records, which even Ford Australia no longer have!”

The previous books in the series, covering Phase 3, Phase 2 and Phase 1½ (which may have been called the Phase 1.5 if it had been built three years), have sold out and the publishers expect this new limited-volume book to fly off the shelves at the same rate of knots.

Customers can pre-order the Phase 1 Register for $275 plus postage and handling, with the official release scheduled for November 30 this year.

For more information, contact the publisher via its website.

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