Top Tips for Buying a Used Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop

    Cliff Chambers31 July, 2024

    ford_falcon_500_hardtop

    Image: wheelsage.org

    Having watched as Holden’s two-door Monaro pinched the limelight and lots of sales, Ford could only wait until 1972 for its XA Falcon Hardtop to be ready for sale.

    There was a GT version of course, with a 5.8-litre 351 cubic inch engine that developed 224kW. That figure is based on cars with a 600cfm (cubic feet per minute) carburettor and standard exhaust. If you come across one of the scarce RPO83 versions with a 780cfm carb, special manifold and extractor exhaust, output would be an estimated at 246kW.   

    ford_falcon_gt_hardto

    Image: wheelsage.org

    A four-speed manual transmission was standard in the GT but a lot of owners were buying for the show rather than go and opted for the three-speed automatic.

    Two-door Falcons were similar in size to the four-door sedans but the hardtop design cut headroom by 30mm and rear passenger leg-room by 122mm. The doors and rear body pressings were all new, as was the glass, tail-lamp panel, boot-lid and internal bodywork. 

    Although they look big and bulky, two-door Fords of this age weren't especially heavy.  With standard manual gearing they managed 203km/h and mid-range performance was strong; 80-110km/h taking just over four seconds. Fuel consumption in a manual will range from 18-26L/100km. 

    Three Bathurst 1000 victories and various other trophies confirmed that the two-door GT and its derivatives ranked as a competition success. Winning the sales race was a more difficult though, with only 893 of the two-door XA GT sold and 949 of the mildly restyled XB version.

    ford_falcon_351

    image: wheelsage.org

    Hardtops with their big windscreen and shallow rear window were regarded as a mid-summer hotbox and cars with working air-conditioning offer an attractive alternative to Ford's struggling ventilation system. 

    When considering an XA of any kind, rare colours, manual transmission in preference to automatic and period accessories all help bolster values. The cars in greatest demand will have all-original components and their history fully documented.

    ford-falcon-xa-dash

    Ford Falcon XA dash - Image: wheelsage.org

    Ford Falcon XA GTs in average condition currently cost $130-150,000, with excellent cars above $200,000. Verified examples of the RPO83 will add at least 30 percent to the price of a basic car in similar condition. 

    Things To Watch Out for When Buying a Used Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop

    • Body rust, especially in the roof and rear quarters

    • Worn hinges making doors hard to close

    • Noisy valve train with oil smoke on start-up

    • Gears hard to select in the manual

    • Creaking front suspension

    • Oversized tyres rubbing on bodywork

    • Dash cracks

    • Noisy starter motor 

    Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop Valuation Timeline (1985-2024) 

    🛠️ Timeline

    1985
    $12,500
    1995
    $13,500
    +8.00%
    2005
    $32,500
    +140.74%
    2010
    $70,000
    +115.38%
    2014
    $67,000
    -4.29%
    2019
    $155,000
    +131.34%
    2024
    $180,000
    +16.13%
    XA GT Sedan

    Investment Rating

    7 / 10

    Cliff Chambers

    Writer & Head Valuer

    At age 14, surrounded by stacks of motoring magazines from the local junk shop, Cliff Chambers was warned by a concerned mother that he would ‘Never get anywhere knowing a lot about old cars.’  Seventeen years later when his definitive book, Making Money From Collectable Cars was published, she was proud to be proven wrong.

    That was in 1987, but Cliff’s life was already revolving around all things automotive. From working part time in a panel shop while at university, he moved to motor industry consultancy roles and managing a Championship winning rally team.

    During the 1990s he joined the classic vehicle insurance industry, at the same time becoming a prolific writer for magazines and motoring websites. Then came his ongoing contribution as one of the country’s leading vehicle valuers.

    Away from work, automotive events and objects remain prominent in Cliff’s world. He has owned more than 40 cars now considered ‘classic’ and within his collection of motor-related items there remain some of those magazines acquired as a fact hungry teen.

    Cliff brings to Retro Rides a blend of unique industry skills and a love of vehicles that will become more obvious with every contribution he makes to the site.

    More inBuyers Guides

    Ford Fairmont Sedan Grand Sport Rally Pack XA

    Top Tips for Buying a Used Ford Falcon/Fairmont XA-XC (1972-79)

    Ford Falcon XA-XC values have improved significantly, but these cars still don’t match the popularity of earlier XW-XY versions. Basic cars still don't generate enough money to justify high-value restorations and can often be stripped for any usable parts.

    1965 Holden HD Premier

    Top Tips for Buying a Used Holden HD-HR (1965-68)

    Prices for Special and Standard versions of the HD and HR begin below $20,000, with utes costing around the same as sedans, but panel vans are scarce and 30 percent more expensive than passenger versions.

    Datsun 1600 Sedan

    Top Tips for Buying a Used Datsun 1600 (1968-72)

    When it arrived in the late ’60s, the Datsun 1600 boasted strong levels of standard equipment, a grunty four-pot engine, front disc brakes and independent rear suspension, positioning it closer to a BMW on paper than any of its Japanese contemporaries.

    More inAussie

    1962 Volvo P1800

    March 2025 Auction Report: Plenty to Like, But Some Prices Decline

    Retro Rides’ Market Analyst Cliff Chambers has plucked the best from roughly 300 car and motorbike lots during March 2025, finding that while there was plenty to like, the value of some models has declined quite noticeably.

    Nissan Patrol G60 and Y62

    This is how the Nissan Patrol has left its mark on Australia after 64 years and 250,000 sales

    From the first motorised crossing of the Simpson Desert in 1962 to posting record sales figures today, the Nissan Patrol has left its mark on Australia, and Australia has left its mark on it in turn.

    Modern Classic Cars Foundation

    How the Modern Classic Cars Foundation is addressing the classic car skills shortage

    As the automotive industry looks to include more technology and computer-controlled systems in cars than ever before, the nature of mechanics’ jobs is changing. As a result, the skills required to work on old cars are at risk of dying out, although one Sydney-based charity is looking to change that.

    Get The Latest

    Sign up for the latest in retro rides, from stories of restoration to community happenings.

    By clicking Sign Up you're confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions.