The Official what does you screen name mean thread?

[Classic67]

I'm a 1st generation gal

[AZSonicSnake]

i live in arizona and have a sonic blue cobra.

[Wades GT]

It's my GT.

[FalconGTHO]

Well, my story is a bit long winded, but would you expect anything less from me? Heh. Some (many?) of you may already know the info contained below but for the rest heres some good "car history info".

Falcon GT HO is the name of the most revered automobile in Australia. The fastest domestic to Australia produced car for many years after its release and believed by many to also be the quickest for a similar period of time.

So why did I pick the name of an Australian car? It all began in 80 as a 6th grader when I saw "Mad Max" in the theater.

That movie had a profound impact on me. I became nearly obsessed with Australia, not to mention engaging on a two decade quest to find out about "what the cars were" in the movie. Additionally, the concept of a "switchable blower" and its execution on w/e car I would own in the future never left my mind.

But, that still doesnt get me to "Falcon GT HO". I finally learned everything I wanted to know, and more, about the movie and the cars once I finally got on the net in 2000. A friend, who is by no means the "cult nut" of the films like I am, pointed me to this site, http://www.madmaxmovies.com.

Even before that, however, I had been casually exposed to AU Falcons, with glimpses and mentions in car magazines. I always felt that a Falcon was the most likely choice for the "Max cars" but either way I just knew? (hoped) they had to be Fords. So, once I started learning about the Mad Max cars, I expanded my reach into the rest of "Ford Australias" offerings which led me to the Falcon GT HO. Specifically the 71 Falcon XY GT HO Phase III.

Australian car model designations are a bit odd. Where we simply say 07 Mustang or 84 Escort, AU cars have additional letter designations, whether its Ford, Chrysler Australia or Holden, GMs division in AU. Examples being 76 Falcon XC, 72 Holden LJ Torana, 68 Holden HK Monaro and 71 Chrysler VH Valiant. I dont get why they do that and to me its dumb but thats how it is.

So, whats the story on the Falcon and subsequently the Mad Max cars? Well, from 60 to 63, AU Falcons were simply American Falcons. In 64, trim design was AU grown, causing the Falcons to no longer look like their American counterparts in the front and rear. It wasnt until 71 that the Falcon became a fully designed in AU offering due to the discontinuation of the body in America in 69.

As mentioned, the 71 XY GT HO Phase III was the fastest AU car for several years. It is argued, however, that the 72 Chrysler E49 Charger with a Hemi Six Pack Slant Six was quicker. Bollocks.

In late 71, with the introduction of the all Australian designed and made XA Falcon, Ford AU planned to release the Phase IV. But prior to that, in 71, one of the first Phase IIIs was given a write up in "Wheels" magazine by Mel Nichols. He detailed a 640KM round trip down the Hume Highway. Reaching a rev limited 227KMH, his photographer Uwe Kuessner, took a picture of the speedo "off the clock" (pegged) at 225KMH



so as to not bounce the rev limiter. Once word got out later from a different auto journo who supported the idea of the coming Phase IV and its potential 160MPH top speed, legislators and the press went nuts screaming about the idea of common dolts driving "supercars" cars down city streets. In the name of amity, Ford killed the Phase IV. 4 cars were built. 3 for Fords AU Touring Car Championship campaign and one road car. Yes, FORD (and that article/pic) was responsible for killing high performance in AU.

The link to the full article is here. Its a great read:

http://www.falcongt.com.au/HO-DTH.html

It is suggested that Holden had a hand in "fanning the flames of hysteria" since they knew they would have NO answer for the Phase IV at the critical "Bathurst 1000" Touring Car race. Known there as "The Great Race" its AUs equivalent to our Daytona 500 as far as importanmce and fan following.

So anyway, Falcon GT HO is where I get my screenname. And no, the HO didnt mean "High Output", it meant Handling Option.

Heres a Phase III in either "Aviation Orange" or "Surfer Orange", one of which is the AU equivalent of Grabber Orange:







And heres a Valiant Charger E49





Heres a recent sale for a GT HO. This is a few months old but at the current conversion this is 398850 USD:

http://australianmusclecarsales.com....ho-ford-falcon

So what about the Mad Max cars? His black car is a 73 XB GT. After the first movie, the car was put up for sale by the studio. There was no public interest in it and it was eventually bought by the movie mechanic. The studio bought it back to make the second film. A second car was built for Road Warrior. The second car was used for action shots, while the original was used for close up and interior shots. It is also the second car that gets blown up in Road Warrror. The original car was sold for scrap with some others from Road Warrior. However, it was spared. It eventually ended up in the hands of a collector in AU and restored to Mad Max specs, but retained the twin tanks of Road Warrior. Later on, it was bought by the guy who runs the "Cars of The Stars" museum in England, where until this year it was on display. Its now somehwere in Florida.

The yellow car in Max driven by "Roop" and Charlie, call sign "Big Bopper", is an XB, year unknown. 302 V8 and an ex Victoria state police car.

The one driven by Sarse and Scuttle, call sign "March Hare", is an XA, likely 72, with a straight six. It was previously a taxi. Funny thing is, this car has "Interceptor" on it, like Maxs yellow car, while the other yellow V8 only has "Pursuit" on it. Although the March Hare has dual exhausts, the one side is fake, natch, since its a straight six. The car was pretty worn out by the time it was used in the film and if you pay attention in the opening chase, you can see the oil smoke coming out the right side of the "dual" exhaust.

Maxs yellow car is also an XB, likely 74, and was also an ex Victoria police car. While the other two yellows were destroyed in filming and scrapped/crushed afterward, Maxs car was sold intact. No one is sure where it is, or what happened to it.

While there are over 50 black replicas around the world, there were two that were first and originated in AU. The most important of those two was Gordon Hayes. The reason being is that his replica had the roof spoiler recreated by the guy that did the original custom work on the black movie car. Gordon was eventually forced to sell his replica. Its was here in AZ, not far from me. Bob Hartwig bought it but I dont know if he still has it. I havent seen it, but my brothers seen it twice. Once on the 101 and once at the Pavillions.

Go here to learn all about Gordons replica. http://www.lastinterceptor.info/index.html

I communicated with Gordon in email before he sold it. He gave me an open invitation to visit him and have a ride. After I found out he sold it I emailed him asking why. Cop trouble was just too much for him. The road laws in AU are not consistent and in many cases, silly and ridiculously Draconian. Anyway, Gordon now sells kits or can build turn key replicas. He mentioned to me, in his last email I believe, that the replicas he now makes (with Grant Hodgson) are a much better build quality and more accurate than his since sold original.

This past Cruise On Central I saw a Max replica. It wasnt Bob Hartwig but the owner knew him. I didnt get to chat, however, as he was just cruising and I never saw him parked. Sucks too. Id like to get up close and personal with the car, find out about it and get still shots.

I would love to buy or build a black replica at some point, sooner rather than later. First, however, Id like to own a 73 XB GT. Then Id like to get a 78 XC Cobra.

73 XB. Imagine my excitement and satisfaction when Hot Wheels issued a casting of this last year:







78 XC Cobra, pure sex.





Of course the Falcon continues today in AU, currently designated as "FG". On Jun 28, 2010 it celebrated its 50th Anniversary. In recent history, Falcon has been the V8 Supercar Manufacturer Champion in 03, 05, 06, 08, 09. It has powered the Drivers Champion from 03-05, 08, 09. 03, 04 Champion Marcus Ambrose now drives in NASCAR Sprint Cup and finally got his first Sprint win at Watkins Glen . In 2006 Falcon finally won Bathurst for the first time since 98 and won again the next two years.

Heres the current Falcon FPV GT "BOSS 315".





Heres the FG on track in current V8 Supercar trim.

[03cobrazzz]

i had a 03 cobra and since it was taken i added some zzz and i miss that car too

[ThreeXL]

Its a secret.

[HanksGT]

It's my first new car (still in our garage) 1985 GT 5 speed.

[snprkllr76]

My name comes from the first person shooters I play online. Snprkllr76 - sniper killer and the year I was born.

[IansBAJ]

Do you play Battlefield 3 and if so xbox or ps3 or computer?

[snprkllr76]

Do you play Battlefield 3 and if so xbox or ps3 or computer?

Yes I do play bf3 but only on the PC.