NEW Ford Falcon GTHO

[Gilesie]

Originally Posted by FALCONSR

HO stood for High Output wasnt it

soon to be edited

[les7918]

i do believe they should build or develop a 40th anniversary GT, but as was said, it would NEED to cream all commers to be called a GTHO. not just a sticker and some stripes on a BF falcon. to be honoured with the HO name, ford needs to take a long hard look at themselves. i mean, i remember hearing a V8, and without even seeing it would know the maker(351 clevo, 302 windsor, holden 253, 308, 350 chev). now that soul stirring rumble is all but camryfied(quietened). it needs to be a car which holden owners will sell their cars to have. also i agree with sleekism, ford Needs a hardtop V8 version, with thin pipes right through at either side of boot like XR - XY.

[RAREV8]

Well, not only would it have to be the worlds fastest production sedan by a fair margin but it would also have to be relatively affordable to emulate its original namesake. Morover, it would also have to be able to win Bathurst straight off the showroom floor........it isn't going to happen.

[sleekism]

All you naysayers are forgetting something: this is Ford Motor Company.

As Jeremy Clarkson said Ford will be just an ordinary car maker most of the time but every now and then they go crazy and build something like a sierra cosworth or a gt40.

If it wasn't for a few people who said "why not" than we wouldn't have a gt falcon in the first place.

The declining large car market gives Ford Oz an even greater reason to build a HO it was the crappy sales of the au that resulted in the stroked ts50, xr6 turbo and the revival of the gt as a regular production car I think Ford always performs best under pressure.

[335JET]

leave the HO alone, I want a COBRA

[octanebfgt2]

Originally Posted by sleekism

The declining large car market gives Ford Oz an even greater reason to build a HO it was the crappy sales of the au that resulted in the stroked ts50, xr6 turbo and the revival of the gt as a regular production car I think Ford always performs best under pressure.

Agree !!

I think there is no doubt that the family large car market is declining. I think the performance large car market however is booming at least here in WA. I have been down to Titan's heaps in the past six or so weeks and I have seen at least a dozen FPV cars come and go (and they are just the ones I noticed).

From talking to a couple of Holden dealers I know they are selling Clubsports like there is no tomorrow and HSV is posting record sales figures.

My point is that Ford may see a market for HO even if it was priced around 90 K. Look at they way the 40th Anniversary GTs went out and they were nothing special at all.

Some High Performance specials may be a great way of keeping the BF volumes up until Orion arrives. Whether or not it is called a HO is another question I guess.

I was watching Top Gear on YouTube and Vauxhall ran out the last of the Monaros with a Supercharger on them before the arrival of the VXR (VE based car) :eclipsee_

[Green X]

**** of ya twerp, The topic is GTHO and a 351 Clevo was the engine fitted, it was not used in any other car in that spec level and was Australian built like the falcon, thus it would be good to see a updated version of that same engine powering a new HO somthing to link the 2 together, that’s it, So NO let’s not stick a clevo in everything.

I love all the guys who come into a thread just to rag out on it, If ya don’t like the topic heading, don’t open the thread.

[XRtowcar]

Funny how Ford USA can do a Shelby Mustang with 500hp.
FPV cant get over 290kw's from there 5.4L.

[nitroman]

If Ford was to build another GTHO to totally dominate the production series they will need at least 350-400 kw to make it happen. Ford could do it but I'm sure they would uncover some nanny law to stop it. It is unfortunate because it would bring Ford's image up to what they had in the early 1970's if they win races like in the early 1970's.

[chevypower]

Its surprising nobody wants to bring a legendary name back like GTHO in case someone else makes a faster car one day. THere are plenty cars out there faster than the Phase III. Imagine if BMW stopped making M5s fearing that one day somebody else will make something faster. It doesnt have to be the fastest thing on the planet or the biggest lump of iron under the hood, what the GTHO should be is Ford Australias pinancle of engineering development and ultimate height in technology where people will pay for it, allowing the technology to trickle down to the lesser models afterwards. It should be their fastest model and most expensive, without trying to reach Porsche price tags. Engineering and technology should be their aim with it, not how to compensate for drivers personal inadequacy problems.

[Auslandau]

Leave the HO alone! They have the name GT-P so I would way prefer them to play with that and come out with an equivelant to the GT500 (GT-P500). It wasnt that long a go that F6, GT-P and even TS50 meant nothing. Now look!

If a good car is made, it doesnt take long for it to hold its own without dragging names (icons) from the past.

AND if anyone mentions Ph 5 falcon again I think i'll scream! NEVER WAS! It only stands for aftermarket fibreglass!!



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[nitroman]

I suppose it's hard for a car maker to justify producing a vehicle good for 300k in a country with 110k speed limits, but technology must progress. The XR8 that John Bowe drove at bathurst was no faster than Moffat's phase 3 in 1971 with a 2m38s qualifying lap. The new car is more comfortable and economical but why isn't it faster?!
BMW were nowhere back then and look at them now!

[RIPGMH]

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

Its pointless as it will not happen.
The information we do have is in here :
http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=39398

If someone told you a few years ago that Ford would bring out a new GT40 with a 400kw+ supercharged V8 would you have believed it? I'm not saying a modern HO is going to happen but you can't rule anything out.

[Bluehoon]

Where is the 6cylinder turbo motor??

[RIPGMH]

Originally Posted by scottishxc

Well, not only would it have to be the worlds fastest production sedan by a fair margin but it would also have to be relatively affordable to emulate its original namesake. Morover, it would also have to be able to win Bathurst straight off the showroom floor........it isn't going to happen.

How many production cars on earth do you seriously think could win Bathurst off the showroom floor??

[RIPGMH]

Originally Posted by v8motormouth

I think putting the GT's (Ford GT Alloy Block 5.4L supercharged V8 410kw 678nm) engine in a falcon is waaaay over the top. Maybe just a BOSS 302 (Mustang), R-Spec suspension, brembo brakes, Goodyear Eagle tyres would do it good! Maybe put the body on an aluminium diet!

I can't see this being over the top, in the 70's the GTHO wasn't the best handling car but it was the most powerful in Australia. 400hp in 1971 is way more impressive than 410kw in 2007.

[nitroman]

It doesen't matter how much power is there, it's how hard the driver pushes the throttle.....

[Road_Warrior]

As much as I know how much these types of threads are detested, I'm gonna bite.

Any new GTHO has to be special. Just like its predecessor, it has to have stuff in it that cannot be had in any other production Ford. It also needs to have the desirability factor, both as a new car and in 20 years time. It needs to have appeal to the most hardcore of revheads from all manner of 'camps'. It cannot be a typical Ford half assed attempt. For a new GTHO, it needs to be go hard or go home otherwise Ford neednt bother.

It should have a unique engine, and the Shelby Cobra 373kw job will do just fine. Not too over the top. Take, for example, the HSV GTS. All GTS's, up until now, they had an engine that was unique to the GTS, that you couldnt just whack on a set of headers and an ECU tune and get the same out of an SS. This is the example to follow.

It should have a V8 Supercar style sequential shift, and be available in manual only. The starter button should be underneath a flip up cap on the gear knob.

It should have the best Brembos that can realistically be fitted to a Falcon.

It should have a top shelf suspension package.

It should have carbon fibre front and rear bumpers/splitters, and carbon fibre side skirts. It should also have functional, properly designed carbon fibre splitters under the front and rear of the car.

It should have a carbon fibre rear spoiler that can be adjusted on the fly, from inside the car.

Thats all I can think of for now.

[metasaiah]

Rip the fat out. Get the Falcon down to 1650 kg and THEN add a turbo. Forget the satnav and the park sensors - we want a beast! Lumpy idle, stiff ride, race tranny and no sound deadening...

how can it cost so much without all that extra crap?

Bottom line - it DOES need to whip every other car out there (at least at the time). But it's gotta be smart - everyone knows HSV are just gonna fit a new zorst to their 307kW mill in response (as usual). The 427 will be very hard to engineer for emissions etc., so that buys some time. Weight savings will not be high on the priority list for HSV.

[Full Noise]

I don’t think that I’ve read so much s*** in an AFF thread since the days of Ammo Jammo. All of this talk about new 351 Clevos, lumpy loud V8s on idle, carbon fibre wind deflectors for your windscreen wipers, V 10 supercharged blah blah blah.

Obviously half of the people here are unaware of a little thing called Euro 3.

I’m surprised that this thread has lasted this long.

[Ryan]

Too be honest I would prefer FPV too do something, with the GT/GT-P that they have now, instead of dragging up the past.

The GTHO nameplate should be left with the classics.

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by Ryan

Too be honest I would prefer FPV too do something, with the GT/GT-P that they have now, instead of dragging up the past.

The GTHO nameplate should be left with the classics.

I agree Ryan.

However, if Ford was to make the HO, it should be crazy enough for the government to ban it! Now that'll make it an instant classic!

[ED Classic]

They need to bring such a vehicle out, but whether it should be called HO or not I am slowly fading away from the idea. Why? Because even if it is the best and fastest and most powerfull etc HSV will lift their game and build a competitor then Ford will either have to swollow their pride, Get involved in a power war which we know they wont, or keep updating the vehicle but without any extra go like they have done with the latest anniversary GT which would destroy the HO nameplate. Bring out such a vehicle and call it something GT anniversary something and have it so fast and cost so much but I dont think HO name should be used. Superoo could certainly be used.

[Jayden]

HO should make a comeback. but it should have a new interior of cleaner/lightweight/heritage theme. and the exterior should scream muscle more than any other aussie car has done in awile. I picked the new 6L boss engine as the one id like to see under the bulge. Sure it wont be affordable to mortal man, but we tend to just stare at these cars in pictures and shows anyway and I belive rich aussies are always itching for aussie built V8 muscle cars. The holdens were too luxurious/Mercedes like with there high end monaros. Im talking loud, hippy bashing weekend MUSCLE! bold blackouts and retro colours.

excuse me while I run outside yelling F# yeah!

A coupe would be nice for the umpteenth time

[exrtnz]

Yeah it should definitely make a comeback. I voted the 410kw 678nm engine for the job. We need something to smash HSV in a straight line but also a allround car. They can do it but just need someone with some balls too convince some of the Bosses. Otherwise it will be another missed opportunity

[Tles]

I agree that there needs to be an engine capable of not only matching it with the HSVs and their 6.0 but the Corvettes as well. The Mustang donk would be a good bet. The BFII drivetrain is otherwise up to the job in FPVs R spec. If Orion add in the steering improvements made to Territory and perhaps even the AWD then Ford would be on a big winner.

I do not agree that a stripper special is the way to go, try GTS/Senator style.

Grand Touring Handling Option Rspec Supercharged Evolution -
Ford need more HORSES
and
Grand Touring Whiteline Handling Option Rspec Evolution -
Ford need more Senator competitors

[42 PHASE3]

rods prediction for the next generation gtho is that some enterprising sole will buy up a whole heap of xys, completely strip and rebuild them as new cars with modern mechanicals and creature comforts, they will team up with ford and market these cars as the next generation gtho and possibly even sell them through ford dealerships, this partnership with ford will be necessary to give such a car the right amount of cred as a continuation model, with current prices and interest in these cars i would say there would be a market for at least a 100 cars and asking 300k a pop wouldnt be considered too rude, this would be a much better idea than a half arsed bf gtho that has no relavance to the gtho bloodline anyway.

rod

[RAREV8]

Originally Posted by RIPGMH

How many production cars on earth do you seriously think could win Bathurst off the showroom floor??

Exactly my point. The HO was in an era where this could happen. As others have said, it would be nice to see either a GT-P or a new name used. leave the HO to bask in ist historical glory without being possibly tarnished by a modern take on it.
What I was trying to illustrate was that it would have to be such a special car as the original one was to do the name justice.

[ltd]

HO = Lady of the evening, lady of ill repute.

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by TTonka

.

Grand Touring Handling Option Rspec Supercharged Evolution -
Ford need more HORSES

Yes

The FORD GTHORSE.........The car with the biggest DONG........Sorry DONK