Phase IV

[Rob 18]

Can anybody tell me how many Phase IV's were built?? The last figure I heard was 4 1/2.

One Calypso Green road car

3 racing cars built by John Wynne at Ford Special Vechicles of which one went to John Goss & the other 2 were used by rally drivers.

The 1/2 car was actually a 2 door for Bib Stillwell with all the Phase 4 running gear.

And is Bowdens XA one of the two rally cars??

Can anyone add anything further to this??

 

[Bigcol]

OK Rob here goes
There were 3 prototypes being built for the factory works team at the highly secret lot 6 Mahoneys rd.
XA #1 was to be Moffats race car it was complete and ready to go
This car was sold out the back door to Keith Goodall in Townsville.David Bowden then bought this car and for other reasons he sold and then bought it back and still owns it to this day.
XA #2 Was originally going to be the Fred Gibson car.This car was in a semi completed state when it was sold off once again through the back door to Fords rally ace Bruce Hodgson.Hodgson was Fords equivelent of Moffat in rallying.The car ran reasonably well through the forests during the 73 ARC season for such a large car.Hodgson ran 5 rounds for a 5th and a 6th and some dnf's.In 74 the car competed mainly at Catalina Park in mostly rallycross events.Hodgson sold the car in 85 on the proviso that it would do over 140 MPH.At 140 mph the top control arm snapped from the stress of years of rallying.However it survived and was eventually written off in an accident invloving an out of control caravan.
XA #3 Is now owned by Paul Carthew. This is the most standard of all the XA's the original four bolt main engine was fitted to the Hodgson car.John Goss built a standard 351 for this car even though it had the winged sump and extractors from the phase 4
The Calypso Green XAGTHO was the pre-production run car.This car has GTHO stamped on the compliance plate. In June 72 it was sent down the production line as a systems check for the HO manufacturing process. It had a white interior , electric windows, sunroof,close ratio gearbox and a 36 gallon fuel tank as well as obviously the hot engine.
Ther were no Phase 4 2 doors.
There was however an XA hardtop ordered by Bib Stilwell that had every thing a PH 4 had on it. The only reason this car saw light of day was Stilwell's power as a large Ford dealer and the fact that Ford was having a garage sale with the PH4 bit's
A lot of people get confused with the RPO(regular production order)83.
It was available in 2 and 4 door. This was the hot car that you could buy through Ford after the supercar scare.This was Fords way of homologating parts without the need of building specials like the PH4.It was also Fords way of getting rid of all the PH4 engine bits.RPO 83's had the big holley with a choke where the V8 badge was, extractors and the winged sump.Some actually had solid lifters and the large harmonic balancer as fitted to the PH3 and PH4.This is where people get confused. They think that because a particular car has all the PH4 bits , it must be a PH4. But it's actually an RPO 83
So to answer your question Rob there were 3 race cars and one pre- production car. The half car you speak about is just another XA 2 door with a lot of fast parts on it

 

[Rob 18]

Cheers for that Col, it's pretty hard to get info on the Phase 4 & the only piece I had was when Moff had his first drive in the XA back in 2000 at Lakeside. The info I had wasn't to far off then going by your obvious vast knowledge on the the famous Ford.

When you look back at some of Moff's old GTHO's Col, they have some history didn't they. I think it was the Ph 2 XW that, when it's racing life was over passed into the hands of a Ford employee & used as a road car!! Untill it was traded in at Pete Geoghean's Car yard in Sydney.. That was the 1970 Bathurst winner..

 

[Henry]

As an aside, the green pilot build car is the only one with a GTHO compliance plate... there was a sketchy plan that the next generation of homologation special would be the XA Tudor coupe... Phase V.

There wasn't any set option list for RPO83, hence some examples have everything, others have some of the bits. Hell, there would be Fairlanes out there with 4-bolt main Clevo's and winged sumps!

 

[Rob 18]

Actually now you mention it Henry, I'm sure I remember a bloke who had a Fairlane or a Landau with a few of the left over fast bits..

 

[Bigcol]

Henry it funny you mention four bolt mains and winged sumps on Fairlanes and F100's.
Possibly the most unique car i have ever seen come from the Ford factory was a Fairlane.
I didn't believe this myself until i saw it with my own 2 eyes.
Yes the PH5 was being set up as a 2 door but what i saw in this Fairlane was probably something that could have ended up in a PH5 or PH6
This early 72 ZD Fairlane had an under bonnet super-charger on it and it was factory. The compliance plate had an SVO number and an engine code of H which was the same as the HO's had. Which by the way there is no way known that a Fairlane could have that engine code unless it was something special.Who knows this could have been the engine for the PH5 or PH6. That is until Evan Green took our fun away with his irresponible bit of journalism that started the supercar scare

 

[Racin Jason]

Spot-on bigcol! I think David Bowden has actually owned that car 3 times, however I am not sure.The calypso green car actually spent some time not far from where I live now on the N.S.W. southern highlands at Bowral and was used to commute to Sydney on a daily basis.What a great highway car it would have been too! Wouldn't it be great if the current owner would let us see it in all its restored glory??? On the Fairlane with odd parts story, About 13 years ago I bought a burnt out ZG Fairlane that was a 1 owner with full history, matching chassis and engine numbers,
FMX and 9" Detroit Locker. The most surprising thing though was that it had 4-bolt mains, which the previous owner knew nothing about, as he was not a car enthusiast at all and when I called him to ask him more he said I may as well be talking chinese to him because he didn't understand!!! The FMX and 9" and all the salvagable suspension parts I sold to a guy that was building an XC coupe and the motor I kept for myself. Unfortunately the motor was later stolen from a mates workshop where it was being rebuilt.I would love to get my hands on the bloke that took it!!!!

 

[Bigcol]

David has owned the PH4 twice.When he originally bought he used it as an every day driver. He used to take his son's Dan and Chris to school in it.
David sold the car to fellow GT enthusiaist Rod Mann. While Rod had the car it appeared in the show hosted by Glen Ridge about the GT legend.David then bought it back from Rod and is now part of his priceless collection.
David has owned quite a few PH3's over the years and his comments about the PH4 were it would eat a PH3 for breakfast.

 

[Rob 18]

What could have been Col. Now where's that Evan Green doll & the pin cushion...[}][}][}][}]

Read in Street Machine that the Phase 4 is now worth about 1/2 a Million $$ now.. IMHO you could triple that price it's so valuable..

 

[Bigcol]

Bit late for the Voodoo dolls Rob Evan Green has been dead a few years now.

 

[Seton Fanatic]

I think the late, lamented Evan Green died of cancer.

 

[Henry]

He did. My old boss knew him quite well, and always regards Evan as one of the world's true gentlemen. I enjoyed his writing, and am saving my shekels to launch an attack on ebay the next time that either Journeys with Gelignite Jack or A Bootful of Right Arms appears.

Wheels magazine serialised one of his pieces, centred on Donald Campbells 1964 World Land Speed record campaign at Lake Ayre (sp?) in SA. Although I haven't seen it since I was a snotty high school kid (the magazines were old and tatty then... it was from 1981/2 or something IIRC) but it stands out in memory as a wonderful tribute to DOnald Campbell.

 

[Rob 18]

quote:Originally posted by bigcol

Bit late for the Voodoo dolls Rob Evan Green has been dead a few years now.

Pretty sad when I'm putting **** on dead people isn't it [?][V] Just call me Deeryn Hinch [}][}]

Off to church 4 me on sunday [:0] Gotta be home by 12 though

 

[Henry]

We'll let you off...

 

[Racin Jason]

It is true that Evan Green was responsible for some fantastic writing, however I could never forgive him for depriving us of what could have been some of the worlds greatest ever muscle cars!bigcol I am pretty sure David Bowden sold the phase 4 sometime in the late 70's or early 80's and it was drag raced in Qld.The original block that was fitted to the car at Mahoneys Rd was replaced. David then purchased the car back and partially restored it before selling it to Rod Mann under the condition that he had first option to buy it back.Which he has now done of course.I think remember reading this in a magazine called "Super Ford" which was printed in 1987 before David sold the car to Rod Mann.I will try to find the magazine and double check.It will be interesting to see the old Coca-Cola Racing F-350 transporter when the Bowdens finish it too, I am looking forward to seeing it with Marvin's Mustang on the back!!!

 

[Seton Fanatic]

Well, at least you apologised straight away, unlike Derryn, who appeared to take his time about it. I'm a Derryn fan by the way.

 

[Bigcol]

Yep sorry slip of the memory there.
Dave originally bought it in 1973 from a guy called Keith Goodall in Townsville( David Bowden had a caravan dealership up there years ago)and then sold it again in 1975.
Got it back in 1980 sold it to Rod Mann had some diffuculties in 1986 and sold it and then bought it back in 1999.
Last time i spoke to David about it he said that he was a very lucky man to be able to get it back after having to sell it a couple of times.

 

[Bigcol]

quote:Originally posted by Rob 18



When you look back at some of Moff's old GTHO's Col, they have some history didn't they. I think it was the Ph 2 XW that, when it's racing life was over passed into the hands of a Ford employee & used as a road car!! Untill it was traded in at Pete Geoghean's Car yard in Sydney.. That was the 1970 Bathurst winner..

Just reading through these posts again and didn't realised i missed this.
Which reminded me of one particular year where all the Falcon GT Clubs on the East coast meet up once year.

All the Hotrod guys will know about Valla Park. It's about 20min South of coffs Harbour and any car club worth it's salt goes there for their yearly get togethers.The Gt clubs have been going there for 22 years. This year will be my 20th
The GT Clubs have been putting on a display and obviously a show and shine in the main street of Nambucca Heads for quite a few years now. The Hotrodders do it as well. It helps the local economy with every one going for a look. One particular year a mates 9 year old made a bet with me that i didn't have the balls to get my ear peirced. So i said you're on thinking that Nambucca heads on a Saturday morning , yeh i'll be right. There won't be anything open to do that.So all the GT's about 120 this time parked in the main street blocking it off as usual. This kid and his mum go in search of a hair dressing salon to do my ear.Was looking pretty good for not getting it done. But at about 11;30 he needs to go to the toilet and the little turd finds the only hair dressing salon open in Nambucca that does it. So i'm in there getting my ear iced and shot with some ear peircing gun and this old lady is sitting there getting her hair done saying that she is walking home the back way so she doesn't have to go past all those lovely cars and how sad it would be to do it. So being a little inquisitive by this stage i ask her why. she then went on to say that it made her sad because her husband Norm and his brother had won bathurst and Norm had died not long before hand. I asked her name she said Norma. I went Norm and Harry Firth?? She said yes.Norma left and then about an hour later re-appeared. with a couple of photo's. She started talking and was telling me about how she drove the Bathurst winning XRGT around for a couple of years until (as she called them)Mr GMH told me it was unacceptable for the wife of one of the heads of their race team to be driving a Ford. Unfortunately this is another on that got away from Ford.Norma then went on to say that people from Ford thought Harry was a dinosaur.(they weren't far from the truth)and that is why they let him go. The rest is history as far as Harry goes.Memory is not as good at once was and the conversation with Norma and all the things she said made for great listening. While we were chatting about 15 other members from QLD listened in, very facinated by it all.
Sad thing about it really is that the 67 winning car that Norma used as an every day driver is no longer around. The one in the meseum is a rebody using the compliance plate of the winning car

 

[Beejay]

That's a great story Col!

For all you GTHO fans, be on the look out for a new book about the GTHOs at Bathurst. The guy who runs Phase Three Posters, Stephen Stathis had a mock-up of the book at Eastern Creek. It can be ordered in either hardback or leather bound forms. He says he has interviewed most of the former racers and mechanics to get the low-down on the golden era of the Hardie Ferodo. Many myths and mis-truths are about to be challenged.

 

[Racin Jason]

I can't wait for that one Beejay!

Thanks bigcol, I cant find the old mag dammit!

What are the chances of being able to own a Ph4 once let alone the same car 3 times? Next time you talk to David Bowden ask him how the F-350 that he purchased from the Attards in Sydney is coming along. This was the transporter used to carry Marvin's Mustang and it later went to John Goss and Bo Seton before the Attards got it. David bought it off the Attards about 18 months ago. I am really looking forward to seeing it finished.