Ford Falcon GT351
For "Total Performance" fans, Ford's big news was a new "XR-GT" offered in advance of 1967's Production Series event at Bathurst.
This 500-mile thriller consisted of 130 laps up, down (a total drop of 450 ft.), and around the 3.9 mile road-course. Since 1963, when the Armstrong-sponsored race first took up residence, Bathurst had come to be known as the fastest, most-watched automotive racing on the continent.
The carmakers, many of whom had run there since the 1950's, recognized the race's growing popularity as a promotional opportunity. Accordingly, the new GT was specifically designed to win the 500.
Ford had already seen great success there, with factory-team Cortinas winning three of the last four years' races. The 1967 race would see the new sponsor - Irish cigarette maker, Gallaher - make the first offer of prize money ($5000) for an "official" winner overall. With stakes so high and increased publicity, Falcon GT would be expected to continue Ford's winning ways at Bathurst. oh yeh, remember the Silver XR GT Gallagher cars, mmmm.
No matter how you look at it, with all due respect to Chrysler and Holden fans, the Ford was King of the Moutain, nothing compares to the Ford Falcon GT Phase 3, the pinnacle of Australian Muscle Cars, pity we did not see the Phase IV come to production.
