A CAR that is reportedly one of the first GTHO Ford Falcons to take part in the ‘Great Race’ has emerged for auction in New Zealand.
The 1969 Hardie-Ferodo 500 marked a peak of Ford and Holden’s battle for supremacy in the iconic endurance race, with a host of V8-powered Falcons and Monaros facing the starter.
The revered GTHO variant of Ford’s four-door Falcon sedan made its debut in the race with 14 XW-model examples taking part.
According to the listing listing, the Grecian Gold car that is up for auction is the #63D entry that Lithgow racers Bob Genders and Joe Butta drove to 12th place.
“In 1987 the car was purchased in Queensland by our vendor, they had it shipped to New Zealand and it sat in storage for a number of year, first being registered on 8 November 1999,” the listing says.
“They are the sole New Zealand owner. It is understood that before his purchase, the vehicle sat on blocks under a house in Brisbane for 12 years.
“To our knowledge, the 1969 Bathurst race was the only event of note that it competed.
“The CAMS logbook has not been sighted to verify any other race history. This book is understood to be in Cairns, and the vendor believes the car was raced until about 1973.”
The Falcon forms part of a live auction that will take place in Manukau, New Zealand on August 14.
Click HERE for the full listing and a gallery of images on Webb’s.
