GTHO Fastest 4 - door

[MexicanBatman]

i've always wanted one of these

the german alternative

not as wild as a ho, but it was automatic and had airbag suspension and came out in 1968!

it'd have to be a close race in the top speed stakes!!

it also has racing history, amg tuned it to 420hp and came 2nd @ spa 24hr

Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3

6.3 litre V8 with fuel injection, 250 PS (184 kW; 247 hp),300 HP SAE
Performance
0-62 mph (100 km/h): 6.3 seconds
0-100 mph (160 km/h) : 14.6 seconds
Standing 1/4 mile (~400 m) : 14.2 seconds
Top Speed : 229 km/h (142.3 mph)†

[BENT_8]

I just cant believe this has made it to 5 pages, and some of the people who've bothered to bite.

C'mon, this is the first post by the OP, on a Ford forum and he takes a swipe at the second most desired Aussie Ford in history.

Must be a slow week....

[Bushbasher]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

C'mon, this is the first post by the OP, on a Ford forum and he takes a swipe at the second most desired Aussie Ford in history.

Must be a slow week....

Ok, so what do you consider the MOST desirable ?


Bushbasher

[Falcon Coupe]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

C'mon, this is the first post by the OP, on a Ford forum and he takes a swipe at the second most desired Aussie Ford in history.

Must be a slow week....

Interesting how he started such an emotional topic and has not been seen since...

[Revolver]

Does Falcon coupe smell a troller?

[BOSHOG]

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

Interesting how he started such an emotional topic and has not been seen since...

have a look at the other post he made. youll see what kind of person he is

2 posts, both looking to start fights

[smoo]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

It was based on top speed. From memory, somewhere between 228 to 234 kmh, which was proven by Wheels at the time to be faster than any other 4 door at the time, Jags, Mercs, Astons etc.

No one really bothered with fast 4 doors at the time, everything truly fast was 2 door.

Looks like it just scraped in ahead of this thing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_300SEL_6.3

I can forgive the original poster with casting a doubt, especially when it comes to Wheels magazine. When the VN came out they claimed the VN V8 (red Calais as cover car) was the quckest 4 door in the world. I use to own a 1988 Mercedes 560SEC 300hp which would walk any VN short of a Grp A. Wheels compared the VN against slower sedans except the 300hp 750i BMW and Mercedes 560SEL, which were a good half second quicker than the standard 165kw VN V8. Typical sensationalist media crap to up the sales.

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by BOSHOG

have a look at the other post he made. youll see what kind of person he is

2 posts, both looking to start fights

J.A.W.....

Just A ......

Sorry i could not help myself, feel free to deleat.....

[irish2]

LC GTR XU-1 Standing 1/4: 16.1 sec

LJ GTR XU-1 standing 1/4: 16.1 sec

Phase 3 HO standing 1/4: 14.2 sec

E49 charger standing 1/4: 14.4 sec

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

That was never an "official" claim.. It might have been the fastest accelerating 6cyl car.... or 0-60 but watch the tapes from Bathurst in 71 and 72, the HO's ACCELERATE past the XU1's and Chargers down Conrod like they're standing still.
The HO's had taller gearing which meant they didnt start hauling till 60mph where the others were already on the boil, but run out of puff earlier... They simply didnt have the sheer grunt of the H3 to run taller gearing.

And that's discounting the fact it had a factory option short ratio diff, so it had the acceleration bit covered too, if needed.

[Elks]

Well done Smoo..

The Mercedes Benz 300SEL 6.3 built from 1968 ~ 1971, is the only other contender for the title.

Fords claim that the HO was the Fastest 4 door sedan in the world was made in 1971 so why are people bring up F6's and Panamera's?

In the end there are 2 contenders. for 1971 4 door fast cars.

XY Phase 3 GTHO qtr mile 14.4 and top speed 144mph
300SEL 6.3 qtr mile 14.2 top speed 142mph.

but to my maths 144 is more than 142. Game over.

Mind you both are blindingly fast for the times. Funny you can buy a nice 6.3 for $30k..

My dream garage would have one of each..

T

[JC807]

Originally Posted by kypez

The Australian spec Evo X (from what we were told by Mitsubishi) has reduced power (366kw VS 412ish rest of the world) as we get the 10 year drive train warranty that isnt offered anywhere else, making it more reliable.

you mean 366Nm, the evo x is 217kw.

[XR Martin]

10 year warranty doesnt apply to the Evo anyway.

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by Bushbasher

Ok, so what do you consider the MOST desirable ?


Bushbasher

Ph4....

[XDV800]

Just for some more enlightenment (or another ignition source, because I read this in Wheels back in the 90's) these are some reliable claims i've heard over the years.

The XY PH3 was dubbed as the fastest four door production sedan in the WORLD, for almost 20 years! 140+mph.
The Lotus Carlton was heralded as the heir to the throne in 1990! 176mph.
Although I believe Ford Sapphire Cosworths were produced earlier and and were good for 150+mph
The VK Brock Director manual was claimed by GM to sprint to 248 km/h, (154 mph) but they also claimed the PH3 only reached 224Km/h!

Discuss...

[MexicanBatman]

That Mercedes was 500kg heavier than the ho

but also 5x the price in 1971!!!

Aren't there more contenders a quick search says the 1970 Jag double 6 (V12) did 147mph making it faster still!

Edit nope it's 1972 not 70

just IMHO forgetting values I'd prefer the merc.

Sure it'd be slower in a drag and around the mountain in 1970 but it'd be so much more refined and comfortable to drive. When it's going anyway

[Boosh Brus]

Originally Posted by Elks

In the end there are 2 contenders. for 1971 4 door fast cars.

XY Phase 3 GTHO qtr mile 14.4 and top speed 144mph
300SEL 6.3 qtr mile 14.2 top speed 142mph.

but to my maths 144 is more than 142. Game over.

Honestly I couldnt care what the fastest car was in 1971 but based on the wiki, Wheels tested the GTHO and hit 141.5 mph. The figure I heard before was 142 mph. If this is the case then the Merc was faster at 142.3.

Again I couldn't care less but I am curious to know where the 144mph figure came from.

[mik]

in sports car world magazine the quarter mile for the phase 3 is listed 14.4 average run, 14.0 best run in all of my mags from the 70`s the ho3 was listed at either 141 mph or 144 mph at ignition cut out 6150 revs, bathurst cars would be ungoverned.
its interesting to read recent magazines that have copied data and over the years the figures have changed, mostly got slower

The Phase III was quite successful in the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC). 1973 ATCC winner Allan Moffat drove a Phase III.

This particular example was driven to a number of victories by Moffat:

1st 1971 Hardie-Ferodo 500, Bathurst
1st 1972 TAA 1 Hour Race, Calder Park
1st 1972 Australian Manufacturers' Championship, Round 4, Phillip Island
1st 1972 Australian Manufacturers' Championship, Round 5, Surfers Paradise
1st 1973 Australian Touring Car Championship, Round 1, Symmons Plains
1st 1973 Australian Touring Car Championship, Round 2, Calder Park
1st 1973 Australian Touring Car Championship, Round 3, Sandown Park
1st 1973 Australian Touring Car Championship, Round 4, Wanneroo Park
1st 1973 Australian Touring Car Championship, Round 7, Oran Park

[pottery beige]

its still a record breaker.. the most overpriced 40yo 4door car in the world.......

[Maggot]

I dont know about it holding the mantle for 20 years.. there was a merc 6.9L v8 with dry sump and so on .. that could do 150mph . not sure whether it was in a 4 door though. Will have a look.

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by gtxb67

the weight was not the issue - the rain on the day was the issue when one of the cars was much lighter. similar thing i know, but the year before the lightweight pos could not get anywhere near the phase 3. nor the phase 2 the year before that


all race cars are built to race in dry conditions. in dry the little pos did not stand a chance against the greatest car australia has produced. it needed mother nature to turn her hand to give the pos a chance

What do you expect when one car had a much more powerful 5.8L V8, and the other had a considerably less powerful N/A 3.3L 6? I think it's fair to say the XU1 was not made to be fast down the 1/4 like the GTHO was. Its strength came from its light, and nimble body/chassis. Whether it needed mother nature is completely irrelevent. Does this mean everytime a Ford won throughout the 60s, 70s, and 80s in the rain it only won, because of mother nature since every car was built to race in the dry?

It's a no brainer that in raw speed, and power that the GTHO creamed the XU1 easily. As it should've. I understand that it's a Ford forum, and the GTHO is a legend, but some common sense could be used.

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by Ryan

What do you expect when one car had a much more powerful 5.8L V8, and the other had a considerably less powerful N/A 3.3L 6? I think it's fair to say the XU1 was not made to be fast down the 1/4 like the GTHO was. Its strength came from its light, and nimble body/chassis. Whether it needed mother nature is completely irrelevent. Does this mean everytime a Ford won throughout the 60s, 70s, and 80s in the rain it only won, because of mother nature since every car was built to race in the dry?

It's a no brainer that in raw speed, and power that the GTHO creamed the XU1 easily. As it should've. I understand that it's a Ford forum, and the GTHO is a legend, but some common sense could be used.

and a V8 LJ more than likely would have kicked the P4's ***... Flame on.......

[FG XR]

[platinumXR]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

its still a record breaker.. the most overpriced 40yo 4door car in the world.......

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by Ryan

What do you expect when one car had a much more powerful 5.8L V8, and the other had a considerably less powerful N/A 3.3L 6? I think it's fair to say the XU1 was not made to be fast down the 1/4 like the GTHO was. Its strength came from its light, and nimble body/chassis. Whether it needed mother nature is completely irrelevent. Does this mean everytime a Ford won throughout the 60s, 70s, and 80s in the rain it only won, because of mother nature since every car was built to race in the dry?

It's a no brainer that in raw speed, and power that the GTHO creamed the XU1 easily. As it should've. I understand that it's a Ford forum, and the GTHO is a legend, but some common sense could be used.

my reply was in regards to common sense not being used. it was suggested the mighty torana beat the phase 3 at bathurst. never has a series production torana beaten a series production phase 3 in the bathurst 500. in 1972 they were not strictly series production and the rain obviously helped the torana. that is relevant in this case because the thread is about the claim that the phase 3 was the fastest 4 door car ever, at the time of it's release. that has everything to do with outright power and someone else put the spin of the mighty torana beating it, which in the context of the this thread (and reality) meant nothing at all

as always there are people (who should be journalists, with their continually infactual information), that never let the truth get in the way of a good story. my reply was directed at some of those. the original question was not really worth asking in the first place

[MO]

Originally Posted by gtxb67

my reply was in regards to common sense not being used. it was suggested the mighty torana beat the phase 3 at bathurst. never has a series production torana beaten a series production phase 3 in the bathurst 500. in 1972 they were not strictly series production and the rain obviously helped the torana. that is relevant in this case because the thread is about the claim that the phase 3 was the fastest 4 door car ever, at the time of it's release. that has everything to do with outright power and someone else put the spin of the mighty torana beating it, which in the context of the this thread (and reality) meant nothing at all

as always there are people (who should be journalists, with their continually infactual information), that never let the truth get in the way of a good story. my reply was directed at some of those. the original question was not really worth asking in the first place

Well said and on that note I think this topic is done. Perhaps its time for the lockwood.

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by MO

Well said and on that note I think this topic is done. Perhaps its time for the lockwood.

+1....surprised it was still going when i logged on this morning....

[smoo]

Originally Posted by yzfr101

Just for some more enlightenment (or another ignition source, because I read this in Wheels back in the 90's) these are some reliable claims i've heard over the years.

The XY PH3 was dubbed as the fastest four door production sedan in the WORLD, for almost 20 years! 140+mph.

Not quite, in 1974 Mercedes had the 6.9l 450SEL which topped out at just under 250kmh I think.
BMW 750i V12 was launched in 1987 which could do 155mph/250kmh, as was the 560SEL Mercedes in 1988.
In 1989 the E34 M5 first appeared and was limited to 250, who knows what she woulda reached...
The as you say the Lotus Omega and then the Vn Group A in 1991 which could muster 255kmh.

[Bad Bird]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

and a V8 LJ more than likely would have kicked the P4's ***... Flame on.......

Have you driven an LJ with a V8? They are bad handling pigs.

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by Bad Bird

Have you driven an LJ with a V8? They are bad handling pigs.

i haven't but that is my understanding

also, i know i have read stuff to the contrary over the last couple of years, but i was always (and still am) under the impression that the xu2 was going to be the lh type body shell. not the lj