1969 Ford Falcon GTHO Phase II
The GT-HO Phase II was the second evolution of the homologated Ford Falcon. It was specifically homologated for the Australian touring car championship.
Changes from the first generation include:
-A Holley 750cfm 4 barrel downdraught carburettor
-Single to Twin point distributor
-9in Daytona, Detroit Locker Differential
-Brake dust shields removed
-Wider & Finned Rear Drums
-5-Slot Chromed Steel Wheels
At their Collectors Motor Cars auction, Bonhams and Goodman offered our feature Phase II. An excerpt of their catalogue follows:
Born out of the desire to beat Holden and Chrysler in what were arguably the halcyon days of the Australian Touring Car Championship the Ford Falcon GT.HOs, be it Phase I, II or III, were little more than race cars on the road, built in small numbers to ensure that homologation rules were not breached. While the whole of the range of Ford Falcon GTs are desirable, it is the GT.HOs that stand out in a crowd and are therefore the most collectable today.
The GT.HO Phase IIs started to roll off the production line in June 1970. They were powered by the latest version of the Cleveland 351 cu.in motor that, breathing through a 780cfm Holley carburetor, produced some 300bhp at 5,400rpm. Further improvements from its GT.HO predecessors could be found in, amongst other areas, the transmission including a close ratio gearbox and a 9-inch Daytona differential with a ratio of 3.50:1. The improvements boosted the already impressive performance of the GT range and with top speeds of around 217kph (135mph) and the ability to cover a standing start 1/4 mile in just over 14 seconds in standard road trim the GT.HO Phase II was a force to be reckoned with.
Only 287 GT.HO Phase IIs were made by the Ford Motor Co. and only a small proportion of these survive to this day. It is interesting to note that the GT.HO Phase IIs were the only GT.HOs never to be defeated at Bathurst.
In Detail
submitted by | Richard Owen |
production | 411 |
engine | 351 Cleveland 351 V8 |
position | Front, Longitudinal |
aspiration | Natural |
valvetrain | Pushrod OHV |
fuel feed | Holley 750CFM 4-Barrel Downdraught Carburettor |
displacement | 5752 cc / 351.0 in³ |
bore | 102 mm / 4.02 in |
stroke | 89 mm / 3.5 in |
compression | 11.0:1 |
power | 223.7 kw / 300 bhp @ 5400 rpm |
specific output | 52.16 bhp per litre |
bhp/weight | 200.0 bhp per tonne |
torque | 515.21 nm / 380 ft lbs @ 3400 rpm |
driven wheels | RWD w/LSD |
front tires | ER70H14 radials |
rear tires | ER70H14 radials |
front brakes | Vented Discs w/Servo Assist |
f brake size | x 286 mm / x 11.3 in |
rear brakes | Drums w/Servo Assist |
r brake size | x 254 mm / x 10.0 in |
front wheels | F 35.6 x 15.2 cm / 14 x 6.0 in |
rear wheels | R 35.6 x 15.2 cm / 14 x 6 in |
steering | Recirculating Ball w/Power Assist |
f suspension | Wishbones w/Spring over Strut-Type Dampers, Anti Roll Bar |
r suspension | Live Axle w/Semi-Elliptic Springs, Telescopic Shock Absorbers, Anti-Roll Bar |
curb weight | 1500 kg / 3307 lbs |
wheelbase | 2819 mm / 111.0 in |
front track | 1496 mm / 58.9 in |
rear track | 1486 mm / 58.5 in |
length | 4689 mm / 184.6 in |
width | 1869 mm / 73.6 in |
height | 1397 mm / 55.0 in |
transmission | 4-Speed Close-Ratio Manual |
gear ratios | 2.32:1, 1.69:1, 1.23:1, 1.00:1, :1 |
final drive | 3.50:1 |
top speed | ~217.3 kph / 135.0 mph |
0 – 60 mph | ~6.3 seconds |
Story by Bonhams & Goodman, Supercars.net