Ford Special Builds: XA RPO83

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Ford Falcon XA GT

The GT Special, which was called RPO (Regular Production Option) 83, featured certain GTHO Phase 4 bits such as the 780 cfm Holley carburetor and the exhaust headers, but it did not have the camshaft and valve gear modifications of the Phase 4, or the special "finned" sump of that car.

The result was a bit of extra power (about 330 bhp at 5400 rpm), most of which came in at the higher rev ranges, but the scope for race development was much greater than the standard GT’s.

Some of the GT Specials featured four-wheel disc brakes, as did the last batch of normal XA GT’s, the advantages of these in racing being obvious.

To achieve homologation of the new brakes, 250 cars had to have them, and Ford argued that their Landau model, a fully optioned and dressed-up hardtop with 351 cu.in motor and four-wheel discs was a variant of the GT Falcon.

The rules stated that if a particular component was to become part of the future standard production car, its incorporation in the race cars was within the regulations. Ford's 1974 Falcon GT was to get four-wheel discs, but Ford built enough XA GT’s with the new brakes just to make sure they were covered.

In all, there were 259 built. The next GT to hit the stratosphere of Aussie Muscle Car collectability - you bet!

Paint Code Paint Name
Sedan
Hardtop
Total
S/Z820

Yellow Glow

20
22
42
X

Red Pepper

23
18
41
3

Polar White

16
16
32

Q

Yellow Fire

16
7
23
T/Z840

Lime Glaze

9
12
21
Z

Wild Violet

8
7
15
I

Jewel Green

7
2
9
J

Calypso Green

5
4
9
8

Cosmic Blue

3
3
6
K/Z838

Wild Plum

2
4
6
7

Walnut Glow

4
1
5
B

Onyx Black

1
4
5
C

Skyview Blue

1
4
5
O/Z841

Summer Gold

3
2
5
Y017

aluminum

2
3
5
E

Pottery Beige

2
1
3
R

Copper Bronze

2
0
2
Y/Z831

Kelly Green

2
0
2
Y157

McRobertsons Old Gold

0
2
2
Y280

Zircon Green

1
1
2
Y045

Corporate Blue

0
1
1
Y083

Repco Green

1
0
1
Y107

Ansett Blue

1
0
1
Y113

Rothmans Blue

0
1
1
Y117

Brambles Red

0
1
1
Y145

Woodsman Green

0
1
1
Y299

Indigo Blue

0
1
1
Y376

Sogo Port Wine

0
1
1
 

Unknown

0
11
11

RP083 Sedans and Hardtops Total:

129
130
259
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