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Keep a piece of automotive history in your garage

13 February, 2015

The new Ford Falcon FPV GT F is the most powerful production Falcon GT ever built — the supercharged five-litre quad-cam V8 boasts all-alloy construction and produces 470hp (351kW) and 420lb·ft.

Only 50 GT Fs were built for the New Zealand market, and the very last of these, number 50, will be up for auction on Trade Me for two weeks, from February 16 to March 2. A portion of the auction’s proceeds will go towards Ford NZ’s charity partner of 25 years , Variety — The Children’s Charity.

FPV GT F build number 50 is guaranteed to be a collectable, and includes the personalized plate ‘GTF 50’ and a custom GT F car cover. The car comes in silhouette black with matte-black stripe package, and the supercharged V8 is backed by the popular automatic transmission.

The GT F wears a ‘351’ badge, not just symbolic of the car’s huge 351kW power output, but also reminiscent of the legendary 351ci V8 that made history in the Falcon GTs of the ’60s and ’70s. Just as those superb vehicles are now sought-after collector’s items, so too will the newest version.

Corey Holter, managing director of Ford NZ, says, “Not only will it be a high-performance vehicle that is fantastic to drive, it will also make a very fine and valuable addition to any enthusiast’s collection.”

Head of Trade Me Motors Darren Wiltshire reckons it’s going to be one of their more popular vehicle auctions, saying, “We know lots of Kiwis love their Fords and will get pretty excited once they spot this one. We reckon this will be one of the most popular vehicle auctions on the site so far this year.”

It’s not just a collectable, but an all-round great car — make sure to check the auction out, even if just to see what all the fuss is about. Given that the last GT F built for Australia was put up for auction and sold for over $260,000, there could be a high-stakes bidding war happening on March 2. Could be a touch more exciting than the Baccarat tables at the SkyCity casino.

Lunch with… Jim Palmer

16 April, 2025

In the 1960s, Hamilton’s Jim Palmer won the prestigious ‘Gold Star’ four times and was the first resident New Zealander home in the New Zealand Grand Prix on five consecutive occasions. He shared the podium with Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, Denny Hulme, Jackie Stewart, and Chris Amon. The extent of his domination of the open-wheeler scene in New Zealand will probably never be matched or exceeded. Yet he’s always been modest about his achievements.

NZ Classic Car magazine, May/June 2025 issue 399, on sale now

13 April, 2025

Who would have thought it would become such a worldwide motorsport star when Ford introduced the humble Escort in 1967?
Its popularity, particularly in Mark 1 form, is now of iconic status. Our cover story for this issue is on a 1968 Ford Escort Mark 1, Alan Mann Racing Tribute. We talked with the owner of this very special Escort, finished in tribute also to the owner’s father.
“Most children love speed, and motorsport typically comes courtesy of a parent, and Elliott is no different. His engineer father, Mark, had a love for motorcycles and going fast; however, when children came along, he swapped two wheels for four, in the form of two Ford Escorts.
Little did Mark know it at the time, but the humble Escort was about to weave its way into the family fabric once and for all.
After emigrating from London to New Zealand, Elliott recalled one evening when he was 14 being invited to tag along by his father, helping a friend convert an Escort road car into a racing car. This was the pivotal moment when Elliott remembers the motorsport bug taking over. He knew he had to have his own one.”