Australian Car Spotters Guide - 1968

While the Bolwell Mk V was designed for general consumption, the Bolwell brothers' set about designing a race special, the resultant Mk VI (SR6) being a mid-engined masterpiece that was raced very successfully in various Australian sports car events – and is still around today! It’s only fault came in the excessive cost and complexity of manufacture, so much so that only one was ever produced! To quote from the book “Great Australian Sports Cars” by Mike McCarthy, "Yes, there was a Mk 6. The one and only of its kind, the Mk 6 was an open two seater sort of an enlarged Lotus 23 but using Holden parts including Australia’s own six-cylinder engine sitting behind the cockpit where it was adapted to a back-to-front. It first raced on 22/11/69 fitted with a Repco Holden engine and a modified VW transaxle, then later with a red 202 Holden and a Mark 5 Hewland transaxle The SR6 is now generally in its 1976 format."

In all there were 18 different VE model variations available, each receiving some common improvements over the outgoing VC model, such as the introduction of a 64 liter (14 gallon) fuel tank, shorter gear lever throw on the manual gearbox, relocation of the dipswitch from under the brake pedal to the high left of the firewall and the windscreen wipers were finally located on the engine side of the firewall - greatly reducing their noise, while the vacuum type windscreen washer system was replaced with an all electric version.

While Ford may have owned the Escort name for many years, first being used on the Estate version of the Popular, it was the wonderful iteration that was developed as a replacement for the Anglia that most associate with the name. The car was initially considered too conventional and backward thinking for production in Germany, Ford of Europe management persisting with a dual production set up. Perhaps this was in part due to the fact that, under the skin, the Escort differed little from the 1950’s engineered Anglia.

In 1968 the XR model began the legend that was to be the GT. This family car muscled out 225 bhp thanks to the 289 Windsor V8. Understated in style, the original XR Falcon GT's were only sold in one color - Gold. Apart from the color, it was somewhat difficult to tell it apart from the lesser sedans.

The XT Falcon was a mild restyle of the previous model, with a barely altered grille, but distinctive new tail lamps, circular lamps still, but cut by large rectangular indicator lenses. The V8 engine increased in size to the 302ci (4.9 liter) version and there were minor mechanical revisions as Ford placed its Falcon squarely up against it competitors in the marketplace.

When the XT GT arrived in May, 1968, it was obviously a continuation of the theme - although it was available in a greater range of colors, and introduced driving lights to the grille, a feature that was to become a trademark for all subsequent GTs. Speculation had been rife as to what shape or form the 1968 XT Falcon GT would take after the release of the XT Falcon models earlier that year. There was talk of Ford introducing the massive 390 cu. in. engine, but this was dismissed by most people on the grounds of understeer.

The HK Holden was the most influential Holden model to date, bringing a large array of options and mechanical features - most importantly of which was the imported Chevrolet V8 engine. Another important milestone for Holden was the introduction of the now infamous 'Kingswood'name for the volume selling model.

The sleek, pillarless two-door was introduced six months after the rest of the HK range and soon took pride of place in Holden dealer showrooms across the country. Its 'boy racer' appeal was universal - a tribute to the foresight of the then GMH Managing Director Max Wilson, who was instrumental in the development of the Monaro design and engineering concept and who recognised its long-term potential.