No Reserve XY GT Heads Shannons Winter Sale

MELBOURNE – May 11, 2011: A low mileage 1971 Falcon XY GT that has been owned by the same family since almost new will have Ford hearts racing at Shannons Melbourne Winter Auction on Monday May 23 when it is offered for sale with no reserve price.

The Bronze Wine Metallic with black trim GT was sold new through Melbourne’s Melford Motors in March 1971 factory optioned with Ford’s 3-speed automatic transmission, the Bathurst 36-gallon fuel tank and an eight track stereo.

It was purchased second hand by the current family owners in October 1973 and is now in the custody of the owner's two sons.

The February 1971-built XY GT Falcon is indicating just 38,138 miles on its odometer – believed by the vendors to be correct – and has led a sheltered life for the past 38 years.

The sons tell a story of their father's later years where he would ask his wife to remain in the GT while he took it to the shops and to Shannons auction previews so that no-one could take it!

The vehicle is still very original and largely untouched, still with its trademark ‘Shaker’ bonnet scoop, distinctive ‘Super Roo’ decals and slotted steel disc wheels.

The XY GT and its Bathurst brother, the ‘Phase III’ GT HO, remain the most desirable of all Ford GTs following the HO’s total domination of the 1971 Bathurst race in which they won and filled all but one of the top six places.

Shannons expect the XY GT to sell in the $65,000-$85,000 price range.

The XY GT is one of five sought-after Australian 1970s Muscle Cars in the Shannons May 23 auction.

Also being offered with no reserve is a Mint Julip Green 1976 four-speed manual Holden LX Torana SL/R 5000 sedan, which Shannons expect to sell in the $18,000-$24,000 range.

Like the Falcon GT, the 5.0-litre V8-engined SL/R 5000 was the foundation of Holden’s Bathurst campaign with Peter Brock and Jim Richards dominating The Great Race in 1978/9 in examples fitted with the A9X Bathurst option kit.

Monaro fanciers are also spoilt for choice with three GTS V8 models on offer.

Pride of placed goes to a restored and beautifully presented Bronze metallic 1970-model HT GTS Monaro 350 4-speed manual coupe ($90,000-$110,000), while there is also a very rare and striking March 17 Green 1972 HQ GTS 350 four-speed manual coupe ($55,000-$65,000) and a white 1973 HQ GTS 308 automatic sedan ($26,000-$32,000).