1971 Ford XY Fairmont GS 302 V8 Sedan

Introduced in October 1970, Ford’s XY range of Falcons and Fairmonts marked the final and most refined iteration of the successful XR-XY family. By revamping the front and rear sheet metal, Ford created what many regard as the best looking Falcon of all, while advances in build quality, performance and equipment levels put the Blue Oval further ahead of its rivals. Sold in either six-cylinder (with a new range of Aussie-made engines) or V8 guises, improvements to the seats, handling and ride helped the XY find favour with the press and public alike. For buyers seeking more grunt, Ford offered the 302-cid V8 or the same 351-cid V8 found in the legendary GT. Alongside the more prosaic Falcons and Futuras, Ford continued to market the Fairmont as a better-equipped, more luxurious model, while the GS Rally Pack (already seen on the previous XW range) enabled customers to dress their new Ford with some the GT’s special features without the high price tag. The brochure proclaimed “Add the GS Option Package and exciting things happen” and the $145 option added special pinstriping, badges and chrome dress rims, along with the GT dash and steering wheel, plus a long list of options including bucket seats, a centre console, power steering, air conditioning, a vinyl roof, Radial Ply tyres and front disc brakes. The GS could be ordered with any Falcon, Futura or Fairmont and it was up to the customer to specify his or her choice of drivetrain, with every combination of six or V8 technically available. An XY Fairmont GS equipped with a 302-cid V8 and Toploader manual made for a particularly sweet driver’s car and survivors, particularly those with documented history, are now sought after by Ford enthusiasts and collectors.