XA Falcon GT

The XA – the third all-new bodied Falcon – may have been the first wholly Australian-designed big Ford, but it became one of the low points of the series after the XY highs.

The modish '70s “Coke-bottle” styling dated quickly and seriously curtailed vision, non-power steered models were hopelessly heavy to manoeuvre, space efficiency for the size of the car was poor and quality control took a nosedive.

Sales were strong though, buoyed by the XA’s unexpectedly good road manners and widely perceived size suitability against the softer and seemingly smaller Holden HQ as well as the VH Valiant’s vastness.

The GTs were watered down by power cuts and weight increases, the upshot of the “supercar scare” of 1972 that put the fear of blame in the collective hearts of Ford, Holden and Chrysler Australia.

From August ’72 a two-door Falcon returned. Dubbed Hardtop, it suffered from its low seating and high window line, seriously affecting vision and thus putting buyers off.

As Holden also found out with the stunningly pretty HQ Monaro two-door, Aussie interest in two-doors was flailing fast – with the exception of the muscular-looking Chrysler Charger.

In either sedan or Hardtop guise, the GT’s power output was 224kW and 515Nm.