Have you ever sat down and listened to the stories your old man has about the car that got away? I’ve got a family full of ’em…my grandfather and his New Yorkers, my father and the 1968 GTO he held in high regard, the cousin who always kicked himself in the ass for getting rid of a hot-rodded 1973 Newport two-door. More often than not, the car has to go to make room or to free up some cash. In the unfortunate situation of this 1973 Ford XA Falcon Superbird, the situation was a bit worse than that. Bought new by Paul Giankos out of a Ford dealership near Melbourne, the Lime Glaze Falcon wasn’t just any other Aussie Ford. One of at best 750 units, RPO 77 got you an Aussie-sourced 302ci Cleveland V8, the sport suspension kit, the full-kit rally gauge pack and rear window louvers, and three color options. In addition to the Lime Glaze/Jewel Green setup on this car, Polar White with Cosmic Blue and Yellow Fire/Walnut Glow could be optioned. The car was the family car…the kids grew up in it, the family took it on trips, and it did daily duty up until Giankos rolled the car in a ditch one night. The car sat for decades, sporting the scars of the accident until 2013, when his son took on the restoration project. He told his folks that the restoration was scheduled to be completed in 2018, but last November drove the car straight up to their front door and presented it to his father, brand new once again.
I never heard of the Aussie Ford Falcon Superbird, I’ve heard of the Superroo though. Beautiful car with a cool story, the look on your father’s face is priceless when he sees it.
Love these cars , awesome resto , for those who love these cars check out love the beast starring Eric Banas Falcon
Superoo was Cleveland powered, 4 barrel not 2 and top loader usually. Bad ass car for the time when I lived in Australia, even for a Ford. The Pacer could out run it at Bathurst and did for 1 year if I remember rightIy.
Superoo was an appearance package – plenty had 2 bbl 302 Clevelands and single rail 4 speeds. I own an XB coupe, same body, next model on but I’ve owned XA’s as well.
Superoo was XY GTHO
Superoo was a 1969 to 1971 Falcon GT which were powered firstly by 351 Windsor then in 1970 by the 351 Cleveland and could be had in 4 speed Toploader or 3 speed Ford FMX Auto . The Pacer had nowhere near the speed of the Falcons at Bathurst , 1971 Bathurst race the Valiant Charger was 5 seconds a lap slower during Qualifying than the Phase 3 GTHO .
What a great story! What a cool car!
Would have been a much cooler story if Dad drove the car and did a giant smoky burnout.
That is a beautiful story! The fact that the car is so cool is just icing on the cake. Makes me want to find a 1969 Ford Torino for my dad. He would want obese big block Ford power. Maybe I will.