Australia,s Rarest muscle cars

[PlukaDuck]

According to Australian Muscle Cars the FORD LANDAU COUPE
is one of Australia,s rarest muscle cars.

http://www.australian-musclecars.com/Ford-Landau

1973-76 Ford Landau

The Ford Landau is one of Australia's rarest muscle cars. With emphasise on luxury, the Landau embodies the U.S.A and Australia culture like no other muscle car. The Ford Landau possessed the ground breaking four-wheel disc brakes which helped Ford win Bathurst in 1973.

The 1973 Landau was the first luxury coupe concept ever produced in Australia. It was this model that set a high standard for the local luxury Coupe, with elaborate exterior and interior styling.

Local Fords had to be designed to fit within a maximum length, which forced designers to balance wheelbase, overhangs and cabin space. Whilst American Fords were shaped around a specific wheelbase with no limits on length, which encouraged designers to indulge in huge overhangs to distinguish a particular model.

Running Changes

A key change was the power window switch design, which went from a raised switch with a finger recess to a flusher button design.

Seat belt buckles also changed from the early lavish chrome items to a more basic plastic style, while the inside door handles switched from a chrome surround to a black one.

Mid 1975 saw the first round of emissions requirements, hence the sealed petrol tank and charcoal canister for fuel vapour which prompted some re-arranging in the engine bay.

The addition of a remote boot release.

There were also five colours specific to the Landau including Port Wine, Deep Ivy, Stratosphere Grey, Grecian Gold and Nightmist Blue. Having said that any of the Ford's colour scheme could be specified.

The introduction of the upmarket padded Vinyl roof, which came in black, white, dark blue, dark brown and dark green.

The hardtop body itself was a work in progress with many changes in the way it was built, based around strength and rust pockets.

The padded vinyl roof ensures that any area that becomes wet, stays wet. Thats why there isn't many Landau left due to the problem with rust.

The stock wheel was a steel 15-inch item with a baggy 70-series tyre, usually an Olympic Reflex textile radial that provided reasonable grip. The original spoked-type conical wheel covers are virtually impossible to source locally.

The Landau model code is 26317.

The small-port 2V heads and four-barrel carburettor were a magic local combination, when it turned the big Cleveland into a much smoother and more tractable engine perfectly suited to the Landau application.

Dual exhaust tail pipes are a common upgrade, but some would argue that the single exhaust was more in keeping with the original Landau approach.

The rear bucket seats are gold and so is the vinyl/ fabric combination fitted as standard.

Price Range

Incomplete examples, no matter how well presented or restored, pull up well under $20,000 depending on whats missing. Factory original examples are rare and are consequently rising in value as the Landau becomes more appreciated. The upper price range still seems to be $35-45,000.

1973 Ford Landau 2 Door Hardtop Specifications.

Engine- Cleveland V8, pushrod overhead valves, cast iron block and 2V heads, four barrel Autolite 4300 downdraught carburetor.

Compression Ratio- 9:4:1

Max Power- 290 bhp/ 216kW/5000rpm

Max Torque- 380lb/ft/515Nm/3200 rpm

Transmission- 3-speed C4 automatic.

Brakes- Front 11.25-inch ventilated disc Rear solid disc

Drive- 2.75:1 LSD

Max Speed- 200 km/h

0-100km/h- 8.4 seconds

Standing 400m- 17.1 seconds
1973-76 Ford Landau

The Ford Landau is one of Australia's rarest muscle cars. With emphasise on luxury, the Landau embodies the U.S.A and Australia culture like no other muscle car. The Ford Landau possessed the ground breaking four-wheel disc brakes which helped Ford win Bathurst in 1973.

The 1973 Landau was the first luxury coupe concept ever produced in Australia. It was this model that set a high standard for the local luxury Coupe, with elaborate exterior and interior styling.

Local Fords had to be designed to fit within a maximum length, which forced designers to balance wheelbase, overhangs and cabin space. Whilst American Fords were shaped around a specific wheelbase with no limits on length, which encouraged designers to indulge in huge overhangs to distinguish a particular model.

Running Changes

A key change was the power window switch design, which went from a raised switch with a finger recess to a flusher button design.

Seat belt buckles also changed from the early lavish chrome items to a more basic plastic style, while the inside door handles switched from a chrome surround to a black one.

Mid 1975 saw the first round of emissions requirements, hence the sealed petrol tank and charcoal canister for fuel vapour which prompted some re-arranging in the engine bay.

The addition of a remote boot release.

There were also five colours specific to the Landau including Port Wine, Deep Ivy, Stratosphere Grey, Grecian Gold and Nightmist Blue. Having said that any of the Ford's colour scheme could be specified.

The introduction of the upmarket padded Vinyl roof, which came in black, white, dark blue, dark brown and dark green.

The hardtop body itself was a work in progress with many changes in the way it was built, based around strength and rust pockets.

The padded vinyl roof ensures that any area that becomes wet, stays wet. Thats why there isn't many Landau left due to the problem with rust.

The stock wheel was a steel 15-inch item with a baggy 70-series tyre, usually an Olympic Reflex textile radial that provided reasonable grip. The original spoked-type conical wheel covers are virtually impossible to source locally.

The Landau model code is 26317.

The small-port 2V heads and four-barrel carburettor were a magic local combination, when it turned the big Cleveland into a much smoother and more tractable engine perfectly suited to the Landau application.

Dual exhaust tail pipes are a common upgrade, but some would argue that the single exhaust was more in keeping with the original Landau approach.

The rear bucket seats are gold and so is the vinyl/ fabric combination fitted as standard.

Price Range

Incomplete examples, no matter how well presented or restored, pull up well under $20,000 depending on whats missing. Factory original examples are rare and are consequently rising in value as the Landau becomes more appreciated. The upper price range still seems to be $35-45,000.

1973 Ford Landau 2 Door Hardtop Specifications.

Engine- Cleveland V8, pushrod overhead valves, cast iron block and 2V heads, four barrel Autolite 4300 downdraught carburetor.

Compression Ratio- 9:4:1

Max Power- 290 bhp/ 216kW/5000rpm

Max Torque- 380lb/ft/515Nm/3200 rpm

Transmission- 3-speed C4 automatic.

Brakes- Front 11.25-inch ventilated disc Rear solid disc

Drive- 2.75:1 LSD

Max Speed- 200 km/h

0-100km/h- 8.4 seconds

Standing 400m- 17.1 seconds

[blackf6]

You can say that again

[Qwik6]

Whats a Muscle car?
Modern era would maybe be EB SS? Only 10 I think made.

[SSVPom]

The BF Mk2 Fairmont Ghia 5.4V8 is one of the rarest, only 129 made.

[LyleXR8]

surely someone has to say phase 4?

[nuthin' fancy]

We need to set the definition before we start the argument. The EB SS and the Phase 4 were not intended for road use, they were race cars that found their way to the streets. Having said that, the EB SS was a car where performance, not comfort was the key. To me, that defines a muscle car.

The Landau was luxury performance. I'm not questioning rarity, just purpose.

If you expand the definition to be luxury and performance, the Bill Bourke special wins, hands down, the sole example of a factory produced big block falcon in Australia's history.

What a good topic

[Madaya]

I look way back, my older brother had a Yellow HQ, 2 door Monaro with the 253, 4 speed (manual of course) and black stripes. My youngest brother had a pretty warm VH Charger 770. The Ford Hardtop would have filled out the big three. Sorry, didn't get round to it - life and marriage

[PlukaDuck]

Originally Posted by SSVPom

The BF Mk2 Fairmont Ghia 5.4V8 is one of the rarest, only 129 made.

I can only assume because it was a Vechile in its own right.
Not a Falcon with Fairmont options or not a Fairmont with Ghia options.
Or a falcon with GT options.ie.... Falcon GT
Therefore there are 10,s of thousands optioned up falcons and fairmonts, escorts , cortinas blah blah etc, etc

[jamies]

What about the rumoured Holden XU2.

[PlukaDuck]

Originally Posted by jamies

What about the rumoured Holden XU2.

I think it was only ever a concept and ended up as the SLR 5000
Regardless it never was a production vechile

[Franco Cozzo]

Why are they so slow to 100 when they've got that much torque and power? Is it because of the 3 speed box?

Surely cars from the 70s wouldn't have been that heavy relative to the cars of today?

[Bushbasher]

How pedantic do you want to be?

The 1 and only true plated P4 HO aside, how about....

The 29 "option 97" XC Cobras

The hand full of the 33 GMP&A race A9X hatchbacks that were converted and put on the road.
(I personally know of one of the #25 HDT John Harvey race cars that was rebuilt into a registered street car)

Or how about the 3 only VJ E49s' Chargers

Or the 1 and only VJ XL E49 Charger

If you really want to get picky you could start naming aftermarket specials sold through dealers like the XE turbos or Brocks HDT Aero with the poleriser etc., the list goes on.

Bushbasher

[Pedro]

I had a Standard 10 ... do they count?

[BENT_8]

T Code ZC Fairlane...

[66GT]

I had a Standard 10 ... do they count? - never been in one, but I thought their performance was compared to walking, & the possibility of overtaking an old guy with one leg on a push bike going up hill - but I could be wrong.

The first Bathurst special was the Ford Cortina GT 500. 110 Harry Firth prepared cars were made - most were road registered. Surely these must rate a spot on the list.

[fte50]

Holden EH S4,

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Why are they so slow to 100 when they've got that much torque and power? Is it because of the 3 speed box?

Surely cars from the 70s wouldn't have been that heavy relative to the cars of today?

The 2 doors still weighed under 1500kg.
So with a supposed 300-odd hp then it should be quicker regardless of the 3 speed auto.
Comparing it to other US muscle cars of that era it should run 15s in the quarter, if the actual power figure is correct.

[MNM96]

What about the V12 GTHO. Absolutely the rarest, with a total of 'no cars' ever built!

They are rarer than hens teeth!

[jamies]

What about the classic Leyland P76... You could fit a 44 gallon drum in the boot, just unsure how'd you'd get it out..

[Jallopy]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Why are they so slow to 100 when they've got that much torque and power? Is it because of the 3 speed box?

Surely cars from the 70s wouldn't have been that heavy relative to the cars of today?

I would take a guess and say most of it is due to the cruiser rear differential ratio of 2.75 :1.

[castellan]

Originally Posted by PlukaDuck

According to Australian Muscle Cars the FORD LANDAU COUPE
is one of Australia,s rarest muscle cars.

http://www.australian-musclecars.com/Ford-Landau

1973-76 Ford Landau

The Ford Landau is one of Australia's rarest muscle cars. With emphasise on luxury, the Landau embodies the U.S.A and Australia culture like no other muscle car. The Ford Landau possessed the ground breaking four-wheel disc brakes which helped Ford win Bathurst in 1973.

The 1973 Landau was the first luxury coupe concept ever produced in Australia. It was this model that set a high standard for the local luxury Coupe, with elaborate exterior and interior styling.

Local Fords had to be designed to fit within a maximum length, which forced designers to balance wheelbase, overhangs and cabin space. Whilst American Fords were shaped around a specific wheelbase with no limits on length, which encouraged designers to indulge in huge overhangs to distinguish a particular model.

Running Changes

A key change was the power window switch design, which went from a raised switch with a finger recess to a flusher button design.

Seat belt buckles also changed from the early lavish chrome items to a more basic plastic style, while the inside door handles switched from a chrome surround to a black one.

Mid 1975 saw the first round of emissions requirements, hence the sealed petrol tank and charcoal canister for fuel vapour which prompted some re-arranging in the engine bay.

The addition of a remote boot release.

There were also five colours specific to the Landau including Port Wine, Deep Ivy, Stratosphere Grey, Grecian Gold and Nightmist Blue. Having said that any of the Ford's colour scheme could be specified.

The introduction of the upmarket padded Vinyl roof, which came in black, white, dark blue, dark brown and dark green.

The hardtop body itself was a work in progress with many changes in the way it was built, based around strength and rust pockets.

The padded vinyl roof ensures that any area that becomes wet, stays wet. Thats why there isn't many Landau left due to the problem with rust.

The stock wheel was a steel 15-inch item with a baggy 70-series tyre, usually an Olympic Reflex textile radial that provided reasonable grip. The original spoked-type conical wheel covers are virtually impossible to source locally.

The Landau model code is 26317.

The small-port 2V heads and four-barrel carburettor were a magic local combination, when it turned the big Cleveland into a much smoother and more tractable engine perfectly suited to the Landau application.

Dual exhaust tail pipes are a common upgrade, but some would argue that the single exhaust was more in keeping with the original Landau approach.

The rear bucket seats are gold and so is the vinyl/ fabric combination fitted as standard.

Price Range

Incomplete examples, no matter how well presented or restored, pull up well under $20,000 depending on whats missing. Factory original examples are rare and are consequently rising in value as the Landau becomes more appreciated. The upper price range still seems to be $35-45,000.

1973 Ford Landau 2 Door Hardtop Specifications.

Engine- Cleveland V8, pushrod overhead valves, cast iron block and 2V heads, four barrel Autolite 4300 downdraught carburetor.

Compression Ratio- 9:4:1

Max Power- 290 bhp/ 216kW/5000rpm

Max Torque- 380lb/ft/515Nm/3200 rpm

Transmission- 3-speed C4 automatic.

Brakes- Front 11.25-inch ventilated disc Rear solid disc

Drive- 2.75:1 LSD

Max Speed- 200 km/h

0-100km/h- 8.4 seconds

Standing 400m- 17.1 seconds
1973-76 Ford Landau

The Ford Landau is one of Australia's rarest muscle cars. With emphasise on luxury, the Landau embodies the U.S.A and Australia culture like no other muscle car. The Ford Landau possessed the ground breaking four-wheel disc brakes which helped Ford win Bathurst in 1973.

The 1973 Landau was the first luxury coupe concept ever produced in Australia. It was this model that set a high standard for the local luxury Coupe, with elaborate exterior and interior styling.

Local Fords had to be designed to fit within a maximum length, which forced designers to balance wheelbase, overhangs and cabin space. Whilst American Fords were shaped around a specific wheelbase with no limits on length, which encouraged designers to indulge in huge overhangs to distinguish a particular model.

Running Changes

A key change was the power window switch design, which went from a raised switch with a finger recess to a flusher button design.

Seat belt buckles also changed from the early lavish chrome items to a more basic plastic style, while the inside door handles switched from a chrome surround to a black one.

Mid 1975 saw the first round of emissions requirements, hence the sealed petrol tank and charcoal canister for fuel vapour which prompted some re-arranging in the engine bay.

The addition of a remote boot release.

There were also five colours specific to the Landau including Port Wine, Deep Ivy, Stratosphere Grey, Grecian Gold and Nightmist Blue. Having said that any of the Ford's colour scheme could be specified.

The introduction of the upmarket padded Vinyl roof, which came in black, white, dark blue, dark brown and dark green.

The hardtop body itself was a work in progress with many changes in the way it was built, based around strength and rust pockets.

The padded vinyl roof ensures that any area that becomes wet, stays wet. Thats why there isn't many Landau left due to the problem with rust.

The stock wheel was a steel 15-inch item with a baggy 70-series tyre, usually an Olympic Reflex textile radial that provided reasonable grip. The original spoked-type conical wheel covers are virtually impossible to source locally.

The Landau model code is 26317.

The small-port 2V heads and four-barrel carburettor were a magic local combination, when it turned the big Cleveland into a much smoother and more tractable engine perfectly suited to the Landau application.

Dual exhaust tail pipes are a common upgrade, but some would argue that the single exhaust was more in keeping with the original Landau approach.

The rear bucket seats are gold and so is the vinyl/ fabric combination fitted as standard.

Price Range

Incomplete examples, no matter how well presented or restored, pull up well under $20,000 depending on whats missing. Factory original examples are rare and are consequently rising in value as the Landau becomes more appreciated. The upper price range still seems to be $35-45,000.

1973 Ford Landau 2 Door Hardtop Specifications.

Engine- Cleveland V8, pushrod overhead valves, cast iron block and 2V heads, four barrel Autolite 4300 downdraught carburetor.

Compression Ratio- 9:4:1

Max Power- 290 bhp/ 216kW/5000rpm

Max Torque- 380lb/ft/515Nm/3200 rpm

Transmission- 3-speed C4 automatic.

Brakes- Front 11.25-inch ventilated disc Rear solid disc

Drive- 2.75:1 LSD

Max Speed- 200 km/h

0-100km/h- 8.4 seconds

Standing 400m- 17.1 seconds

FMX auto not a C4 auto.
C4 auto only came with 351 2 bbl carb.

[XR27]

How many XE 5.8 ESP were made??
Bathurst special cobras would be on the list!!
But the XA p4 would be on top of the list.

I've always thought of the Landau as more of a gentleman's sports car rather than a muscle car.

[jamies]

Originally Posted by XR27

How many XE 5.8 ESP were made??
Bathurst special cobras would be on the list!!
But the XA p4 would be on top of the list.

I've always thought of the Landau as more of a gentleman's sports car rather than a muscle car.

The rarest ESP's are the 302 four speed. From memory there was only 100 made, but where less desirable then the 351.. I had one paid $2,800 for it, great car it was too.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by jamies

What about the classic Leyland P76... You could fit a 44 gallon drum in the boot, just unsure how'd you'd get it out..

Since you brought it up...


There was a handful of P76-based 2-door hatchbacks, called the Force-7 made. This was towards the end of the short life of the humble P76, Hundreds were produced, but all but ten were sent to the crusher (possibly some folk-lore in this part of the tale). The 10 that survived are in private hands.


Then there is the "Targa Florio', the sporty version of the P76...perhaps not a true muscle car, but it was a competitor to the GT's etc, and relative obscurity, small surviving numbers would make it a contender for the rarest muscle car.

[PlukaDuck]

Originally Posted by Jallopy

I would take a guess and say most of it is due to the cruiser rear differential ratio of 2.75 :1.

The Landau was also around 250kg heavier than a coupe

I owned an A9X torana many years ago and they where listed as a torana with the A9X pack option.
It appears the author has catergerised the Landau as rare because it was a LANDAU.And sold as a Landau not a LTD coupe option, not a falcon coupe with GT options. etc etc
It was not an optioned P76, Torana, falcon,charger.

[olds]

SJ Camira "Ya mother will hate ya"

[Oldbugger]

What about the SC5.0 GT-E and F6-E. 151/53 respectively

[Nikked]

T3 TL50...

Only 3 made...

[GTP534]

Originally Posted by Nikked

Since you brought it up...


There was a handful of P76-based 2-door hatchbacks, called the Force-7 made. This was towards the end of the short life of the humble P76, Hundreds were produced, but all but ten were sent to the crusher (possibly some folk-lore in this part of the tale). The 10 that survived are in private hands.

I saw one of these many years ago. It was back in 1972 or 1973; I was walking to Les Vagg Holden at Pennant Hills as I used to wash cars there during school holidays. It was a black colour, maybe a prototype, but it was definitely a Force-7.

[ford71V8]

Originally Posted by Nikked

Since you brought it up...


There was a handful of P76-based 2-door hatchbacks, called the Force-7 made. This was towards the end of the short life of the humble P76, Hundreds were produced, but all but ten were sent to the crusher (possibly some folk-lore in this part of the tale). The 10 that survived are in private hands.


Then there is the "Targa Florio', the sporty version of the P76...perhaps not a true muscle car, but it was a competitor to the GT's etc, and relative obscurity, small surviving numbers would make it a contender for the rarest muscle car.

I saw a P76 wagon yesterday.

Was a little untidy but I cant recall ever seeing one on the road before