From the classifieds: 2001 Ford Falcon 300+ Coupe

Few people have actually seen the Ford Falcon 300+ coupe that wowed the crowds at the 2001 Melbourne motor show. In fact only one was built and now that car is up for sale.

When it unveiled the Falcon 300+ concept coupe at the 2001 Melbourne motor show, Ford Australia showed every promise it would have a challenger for Holden's upcoming new-generation CV8 and CV6 Monaro.

Although it was not really Ford's work, the svelte two-door Falcon coupe was well-credentialed with its unique bodywork and its Sprintex-supercharged, SVT-spec 4.6-litre Cobra V8 that produced no less than 370kW and 660Nm of torque.

Claimed 0-100km/h acceleration took 4.6 seconds - a rapid time even by today's measure.

The quad-camshaft Cobra V8 was supported by a six-speed Tremec manual transmission, the braking was all-Brembo with four-piston callipers at the front (two-piston at the rear) and a set of asymmetrical 245/35 ZR19 and 275/30 ZR19 tyres attending to road grip.

With its unique roofline and boot, plus the extended front doors, the 300+ coupe was a nicely integrated design that would have matched the new-generation Monaros stylistically and mechanically.

The coupe was the work of Perth-based Advanced Engine Components Limited (AEC) and Millard Design in Victoria, helped along at arm's length via collaboration with Ford, which sanctioned the project to the extent of having then Ford Motorsport boss, the late Howard Marsden, oversee the project while also committing to selling, servicing and providing warranty.

Built by Millard at a reported cost of A$1 million with the intention of being the precursor to an initial 100-car production run, the Falcon TE50-based coupe drew big crowds at the 2001 Melbourne motor show and is said to have attracted 15 firm orders. This was all nine months or so ahead of Holden's introduction of the CV series Monaros in December the same year.

Despite plans to offer, like Holden, other two-door variants below the Cobra-powered range-topper to assist the viability of ongoing production, the project stalled when Ford withdrew, reportedly to focus on its upcoming 2002 AU Falcon range.

In the end, only one Falcon coupe, the car that appeared at the Melbourne motor show, was built.

Now, that car is up for sale at a Perth dealership, street registered and tagged at $115,000. This is well below the sticker price of $250,000 placed on the car when previously offered for sale in 2006.

For a special Falcon coupe that few people have actually seen, that sounds like a bargain.