Ford Falcon XA GTHO sets new price record for an Australian production car
Discreet Sydney sale reportedly fetches $1.75m for unique 1972 Ford Falcon XA GTHO Phase IVAn uber-rare 1972 Ford Falcon XA GTHO Phase IV has set a new price record for an Australian-made production car after recently changing hands for a reported $1.75 million.
Specialist car broker Australian Muscle Car Sales has revealed via its website that the prized Phase IV – one of only four famously built to continue Ford’s winning ways at Bathurst – changed hands “for just under $2m” in recent months and will remain in Sydney at its undisclosed new home.
“Several months ago AMCS was approached by a discreet but determined collector and asked to obtain what is considered to be one of the most prized motor cars ever made in Australia,” the broker’s website says.
“AMCS entered into discussions with the owner of this factory racer for the last 20 years, Paul Carthew of Sydney.”
The broker worked behind the scenes with both parties during negotiations, before arriving at the staggering final sum.
If the $1.75 million sale price is indeed true, the Phase IV surpasses the previous Aussie road car record of $1.15m, set by an immaculate 1971 Ford Falcon XY GTHO Phase III that was purchased by art collector and philanthropist Judith Neilson – a car we saw in the metal at its new gallery home in April.
While the iconic XY Phase III was limited 300 examples and is considered a poster car to a generation of Australians, the XA Phase IV is even more sought-after – hand-built by Ford midway through 1972 as the blue oval brand secretly sought to continue the success it enjoyed with Allan Moffatt at Mount Panorama in 1970 and 1971.
Ford’s development of the Phase IV ended abruptly in June of the same year when the Sun Herald ran a “supercar scare” front-page splash that put the intentions of Australian car-makers and their superlative (at the time) performance sedans under the spotlight – against the back-drop of a rising road toll.
The report ultimately halted the development of the Phase IV after Ford bowed to government and public pressure. It meant the three prototype road cars and one race car weren’t developed further.
“All three cars were in various stages of completion when the pin was suddenly pulled on their development and over time went on to lead very different lives,” AMCS says.
“One is now a prominent showpiece in the Bowden Collection, one known as the rally car was ultimately destroyed in an accident, and this gem you see here remains in time-warp unrestored condition – perhaps the most amazing Day One Australian muscle car in existence.”
The car in question was claimed to have fetched $2 million at a Lloyds auction in 2018, however, behind the scenes of the glitzy auction the negotiations reportedly broke down.
“Today this time capsule race ready road car has covered a mere 4,698 miles from new and remains a stunning, living tribute to the efforts of Ford Lot 6,” AMCS says.
“It is the only unrestored Phase 4 remaining and is an incredible time-warp example of originality from the era. Original paint, original interior, it even wears its original factory tyres on original Bathurst Globe wheels.”
The car is complete with magnetic signage – giving you an idea of what it might have looked like if it ever made it to Bathurst. Although it was intended as a race car and comes complete with roll cage, it was never raced.
The $1.75m figure beats the previous auction record for an Aussie road car, set last month by a one-of-four 2017 HSV Maloo GTSR W1 ute at $1.05m, and the previous record for a production Falcon set in June 2018 – $1.03m for a Phase III once owned by cricketer Jeff Thomson.
But while COVID-related demand and stock shortages continue to drive record used-car prices – especially for homegrown V8 Holdens and Fords – the gob-smacking price still falls short of the $2.1m paid for a two-time Bathurst 1000-winning, ex-Peter Brock VH Holden Commodore SS in October 2018.
The same month, the Ford Falcon XA GTHO Phase IV you see here was actually reported as sold by Lloyds at auction for a cool $2m, but the deal never actually went through and the car was retained by its owner – until now.
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