1968 Ford XT Falcon 'Rally Prepared' Sedan

Description

Ford's XR Falcon range was something of a game-changer for the local arm of the Blue Oval, introducing local buyers to a performance-oriented style of family car, with the option of a V8 for the first time. With styling heavily influenced by the American Falcon, itself billed as ?Mustang bred?, the XR was bigger, better looking and a huge success, winning Wheels magazine's Car of the Year award for 1968. This was the dawn of the muscle car era in Australia and Ford's secret weapon was the GT, a high performance derivative powered by the same 289-cid V8 found under the bonnet of just about every sporty Ford, from the Shelby Mustang to the legendary Cobra. The GT helped promote Ford's racing efforts and the new XR won the Bathurst 500 in 1967, the first time a local V8 car had triumphed on the legendary Mount Panorama Circuit.
A face lifted XT range replaced the XR in March 1968, distinguished by a new grille and tail light treatment. The XT also benefited from improved brakes, electric windscreen washers and bigger tyres, while the expanded model range included the Falcon, luxury Fairmont and naturally, the high performance GT. Ford continued its run of success with the XT, scoring outright victory in the 1969 Rothmans 12-Hour race thanks to Bill Gates and Jim Bertram, but arguably the XT's finest moment came in the gruelling 1968 London-Sydney Marathon, placing third, sixth and eighth to secure the team prize for Ford Australia.