1972 Ford Fairmont XY V8 Sedan

The XY range of Falcons and Fairmonts were introduced in October 1970, becoming the final incarnation and most developed member of the XR-XY family. With revamped front and rear sheet metal, Ford created what many regard as the best looking Falcon of all. Sold in either six-cylinder or V8 form, the XY offered more performance than ever, was better built and - with improvements to the seats, handling and ride - was a well rounded package that found favour with the press and public alike. The Fairmont remained a more luxurious, better-equipped version of the Falcon and could also be had with the new range of Aussie six-cylinder engines, either in 200-cid or 250-cid guise. For buyers seeking more grunt, Ford offered the 302-cid or 351-cid V8s, also found in the legendary GT. Regarded by many pundits as Australia's greatest muscle car, the XY GT certainly looked the business, with a new bonnet scoop nicknamed "The Shaker", blacked out body panels and "Super Roo" decals. The Falcon GTs cleaned up at Bathurst in 1971, with Alan Moffat taking the overall win, and the homologation special (known as the GT-HO Phase 3) is now the most coveted of all GT variants by collectors. With demand pushing prices for genuine GTs into the stratosphere in recent years, there has been an increasing acceptance for well-executed clones using V8 Fairmonts as a base. For anyone who wishes to experience the thrill of driving an XY GT without the costs associated (and risks involved) with genuine cars, these clones make perfect sense.