1973 Ford Falcon 500 XA GS – Today’s Muscle Ute Tempter

By: James Robinson, Unique Cars magazine

Date: 30.05.2017

Right spec makes this ute an enthusiasts dream

The XA Falcon was the first iteration of Ford’s third generation of Aussie-made Falcons. Replacing the XY, the XA was designed by Jack Telnack and was a completely new approach from the ground up.

Chief among these new changes compared to the outgoing XY was the XA’s completely new body, which was designed to be larger and more accommodating.

All-in-all the XA was available in five body styles: 4-door sedan, 5-door wagon, 2-door hardtop coupe, 2-door ute and 2-door panelvan. In addition, wagons, panelvans and utes now featured longer wheelbases than their sedan and hardtop coupe counterparts. 

Customers were really spoiled for choice when it came to choosing what donk and box combo they would bestow upon their new XA. Engine choices included a 3.3lt or 4.1lt straight-6 and a 4.9lt or 5.8lt V8.

The 4.1lt straight-6 and 5.8lt V8 were also available in two different states of tune, with the big six producing either 115kW or 128kW. The stonking great eight pumped out either 194kW or a whopping great 224kW, although the latter power output was produced by a fettled version that was only available for GT models.

Gearboxes choices were either a three-on-the-tree manual, four-on-the-floor manual or three-speed automatic.

These drivetrain choices were for the most part the same offerings as the XAs predecessor, however, all 4.9lt V8s and most 5.8lt V8s were now made in Australia. 

This particular XA is an excellent looking ’73 XA Falcon 500 ute with the optional Grand Sport (GS) Rally Pack.

It has a highly desirable drivetrain combo of 5.8lt V8 and four-speed manual gearbox and is finished in ‘Yellow Glow’ paintwork with a contrasting brown interior.

The seller is asking $50,000 and anyone keen on the yellow muscle ute can view the full listing here. 

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