What it is
·
An XY GT- May 1971
·
Factory Fitted Options
T. 351 CID 4V
L. Top Loader 4 speed
O. Yellow Ochre
B. Black Trim
·
Options
16. Black Vinyl Roof
54.Dual Sports Mirrors
64. 36 Gallon Fuel Tank
72. Radio Tape Player
·
Dealer – John McNicol Motors, Cooma NSW
1980
John purchased the car
2004
24 years later…
HISTORY OF CAR/OWNER
First registered in 1971 in ACT – YES 351 Owner not known
Vehicle then was sold to a gentleman in Albion
Park Sydney
John purchased the car in 1980
2011 new owner – ME (Ron)
History of John (known as Taddy) – the Bushman
Taddy first purchased what he believed was a matching
number GT.HO Phase 111 in Parramatta NSW in 1978 which he owned for a short
time before being involved in a major fatal accident where a Holden Panel Van
veered into the back of Taddy’s stationary GT where it then burst into flames –
John & his wife escaped but the driver side passenger was killed
The Aftermath
The memories
After this Taddy purchased a mock up XY GT which he said was a bit of a shitter
He soon moved this on as his passion was to find
a genuine XY GT
Taddy went to Sydney and was told of a nice
genuine GT that was for sale in Albion Park
After looking at the car (he hated the colour) he preceded to look for other GT’s
However he kept coming back to this
particular GT because of it’s immaculate condition
He went back 5 times to
look at the car
The owner said there were other people looking
at the car
Taddy bought the car even though it was not his
choice of colour but it grew on him as it was such a good reliable honest car
The car then spent it’s time travelling from
Bombala to Delegate where he worked as a tree faller
In January 1983, he spent 6 months in hospital in ACT after a bush accident & could no longer work as a timber faller
In January 1983, he spent 6 months in hospital in ACT after a bush accident & could no longer work as a timber faller
He continued to use the GT as an everyday driver
up until 1997 where the paint work and the vinyl roof was deteriorating.
shed for a short period of time and then it was moved to outside underneath a tree next to the house – where it sat from 1997 to 2011
His intention was that he would do the vehicle up one day but because he could not work he did not have the funds
In 2007 he was diagnosed with cancer and given 3 months to live – but typical of a true bushman he is still going strong
In 2011 Taddy contacted me to tell me about his illness and ask whether I was still interested in buying the car as he felt I was meant to have it
Before he would sell it to me he wanted to know what I would do with it, and he let me know there were 3 other parties interested.
Finally Taddy sold it to me because he knew I was passionate about the car & it’s history; not looking at turning it over for financial gain; and wanted to share his life story with this car and with people of similar passions for cars with history
As part of persuading Taddy that I was passionate - I took along my mate who also shares my commitment to preserving the history of these special cars
Recovery
The day came to pick up
It was pouring with rain but it was time for the old girl to move to a new home
Taddy said this vehicle will still go...
(Press play to start video)
Taddy gives me the thumbs up as the old girl fires up for the first time after 15 years
and so he drove it onto the trailer himself
The Exterior
The Interior
The Engine
The Interior
The Engine
Second Chance
Committed to retaining this car’s
identity and originality & in honour of it’s history, little as possible has been done to get the car road
worthy
The car needed
·
Lower door rust sections repaired
·
Rear quarter panel lower section repaired
It also needed
·
Suspension rebushed
·
Tyre rod ends
·
Brake rotors & pads
Otherwise everything in this car passed the
safety roadworthy inspection ( in fact the inspector was amazed at how little
needed to be done)
·
All lights working
·
Radio working
·
Motor gear box & diff – have not been
touched & will not be
The story of this girl is second to none....
Thank you Taddy for sharing this slice of history
...........................................................
Awsome story, Its good to see that you are preserving the cars history as well as sharing the story.
ReplyDeleteawesum, she beautiful
ReplyDeleteGreat story bud and a great score.
ReplyDeleteBut Albion Park is in Wollongong/Illawarra not Sydney!
Great story!! Thanks for sharing that, good on you for leaving her how she is, looks way better with heaps of character.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the biggest question and mystery of all is “the engine” and what was put into that engine to make her fly the way she does. It was said in a recent article that the engine was tweaked closer to Phase III specs, well to be quite candid that is a very mild explanation. I'm sure the new owner wonders and would give if but one of his eyeteeth to have the veil drawn back to reveal what is a mystery concerning the engine or engines to be more precise.
ReplyDeleteThe engine spoken about was removed by myself in 1986 and the genuine engine reinstalled. I should know as I have in storage as a token of appreciation for the rebuild that engine which was actually heard bubbling away evilly under the veranda of the Bendoc Hotel.
Yes it was the very engine the new owner heard from the yellow Ochre Falcon, this engine was the engine out of John's 1st infamous burned out wreck depicted still laying on the hillside of the property in the photos.
The engine that shook the earth that frosty night was a Phase IV Bob Jane Bathurst race motor from his 1st candy apple red Falcon .
Soon after the purchase of the yellow ochre Falcon its original engine was removed at Crouch Motors Bombala and both heads were disassembled, they were just discarded under what thereafter became the base of a rubbish pile in the town mechanics back lot and the yellow ochre Falcon’s genuine engine was replaced with the engine from the burned out wreck.
Years later John had reasons and took me very warily to the grave of the engine guided by Barry Crouch. We tore grass away and off a mound and found under it all still complete the engine together with both the heads and other components laying alongside the block. The engine was recovered but in a very sorry and sad state. I looked at the mess while John mentioned to me that he wished to make the Falcon original again and if I would be so good as to do this for him as a personal favor to him. John offered me the phase IV motor out of the Falcon as an incentive and motivation for the task he trusted to me.
Photos I took of the engine show the condition it was in before and after the restoration. This original engine was restored and reunited with the Falcon in 1986 making it completely original once more. The restored motor was initially so tight it could not be fired up, it required John to snig it with his tractor for us to clutch start it for the initial time. We dragged the Falcon half a lap around the racecourse before it would ignite. I recall taking it from the racecourse and gunned the rabid animal toward Delegate, I gave it a very thorough workout feeling the compression of that engine through the brutal gear changes each one throwing me deeply back into the then pristine drivers seat, it was a very truly awesome animal I had built into that Cleveland and the innards are of some very high performance specs I can assure the new owner. I remember that vehicle had an attitude and a savage message to anyone behind the wheel.
Johns comments to me were just simply, Thank you, & very good.
As I said, I should know all this I had the block machined at a place on Canterbury Rd Sydney, installed new 30 thou oversized pistons / rings, painted the block, inlet, sump, heads “heat resistant Ford blue”, polished and serviced the heads / valves reassembled it and still recall the CROW camshaft profile, lifters, timing chain I put in her!, I have all the pics of the old engine in disrepair with the heads off and rusty bores, rebuilding the engine and story to prove it.
Devastatingly and very sadly a person was killed in the burned out Falcon, but it was not his brother as John did not have a brother, he was the youngest to four sisters.
I offered to put the Falcon under many fresh layers of yellow ochre lacquer and restore the Falcon for free for John after the rebuild but John was always reluctant nominating security reasons and fear of it being stolen while away, so it just never ever eventuated.