Classic Ford Falcon fetches $414k

A 1970 Ford Falcon has sold for more than $400,000 at an auction of rare cars near Wellington.

The classic vehicle was one of 24 lots, with Rolls-Royces, Porsches, Jaguars and Ferraris among the other listings for the sale at Southward Car Museum in Paraparaumu.

The 1970 Ford XW Falcon GT-HO Phase II was the main attraction of the March 21 event run by Webb’s Auctions and fetched $414,000.

Manufactured in Queensland, the muscle car arrived in New Zealand in 1986 and was registered to an owner Wellington.

Records show that person only kept the vehicle for three months before it moved to Auckland.

Webb’s says the car then passed through the hands of several dealers before being sold in 1990 to a Bay of Plenty man, who had owned it since.

“He has been fortunate that servicing over the intervening years has been undertaken by a local mechanic who worked for a Ford dealer in Australia when this model was released, and thus had a rare degree of knowledge applicable to this particular car,” the company adds.

“A short test run was impressive to say the least – Webb’s are assured that this car is in top mechanical condition, with a similarly excellent interior condition.”

The GT-HO Phase II was the quickest Australian muscle car at the time of its release and could clock 0-100kph in 6.5 seconds and run the standing quarter mile in 14.4 seconds.

Caolan McAleer, from Webb’s, says such vehicles are becoming a “hot commodity” and he predicts the car will likely stay in New Zealand.