‘Shed Find’ XY Falcon GT tops Chicane Auctions’ January auction
Proving that rare, desirable cars are still out there, waiting to be found, an original, unrestored 1970 Ford XY Falcon GT that had been in storage for more than five decades featured in a timed online auction with Chicane Auctions this past January.
Conducted from 16 to 30 January, the auction featured an attractive selection of cars, from an RHD-converted 1956 Ford Thunderbird to a 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC and a pair of 1983 Porsche 911s – a modified SC cabriolet and genuine 930 Turbo. Australian-made cars in the boutique auction included a 1968 HK Monaro GTS 327, 1972 HQ Monaro GTS coupe, 1967 XR Falcon GT, 1972 XA Falcon GT sedan and a 2007 FPV BF Cobra R-Spec sedan.
The history of the auction-topping XY Falcon GT started in an unusual way. Finished in Yellow Ochre with a black vinyl interior, factory-fitted with a radio/8-track player and Golde wind-back sunroof (making it a 1-of-1 specification, according to the supplied ACCHS report), the GT was sold through Wright Ford in Sydney, but the purchaser was from Melbourne. Why Wright Ford was chosen over a local dealership is unclear, but the buyer was a fan of fast cars and Wright Ford were high-performance specialists, as well as stockists for Shelby American, at the time.
Shelby parts fitted to the GT by Wright Ford included valve covers for the 351 V8 and a shifter for the three-speed automatic. It’s unclear if any additional Shelby items, like engine internals, were also fitted, but it seems likely. Air conditioning, chrome wheelarch trim and a rear spoiler were added at the dealership, too.
In this spec, the GT was driven by the purchaser from Sydney to Melbourne, where it was first registered.
Service records supplied with the car show it was used extensively for the first couple of years of ownership, racking up more than 6,000 miles in 18 months. But the owner’s access to other vehicles, combined with work commitments and no need to sell, meant the GT was parked up in 1973 (with only 24,561 miles on the odometer) and hadn’t moved before being consigned for auction, although the engine was turned over regularly for decades after going into storage.
In need of mechanical recommissioning, minor panel repair and refitting of some removed parts, but with the near-flawless black vinyl interior only needing a good clean, this one-owner, ‘shed find’ 1970 XY Falcon GT was offered by Chicane Auctions with no reserve.
Despite a market that has cooled in the past year, even for cars as original and unique as this one, expectations of $200K were easily met, with the hammer finally falling at $236,000. Adding buyer’s premium took the final price for this unique Falcon GT to $251,340. This was the top result amongst all cars offered in the 16-30 January auction.
For more results from this auction, details on upcoming auctions and guidance on how to consign your vehicle with Chicane Auctions, go to: chicaneauctions.com.au
