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Ford Falcon
Manufactured: 1964
Engine: 4700cc Gurney-Westlake, V8
Configuration: front engine, rear wheel drive
Driver: Tony Strawson
Class: Special saloons
Date: 1972-3
This car was one of 16 Ford Falcons shipped to this country in 1964 for competition use. It passed into the hands of Roy Pierpoint who used it to walk away with the 1967 Touring Car Championship. Over the next few years John Myercroft and David Howes drove it before it passed into the hands of Tate of Leeds, driven for them by Chris Meek. Midway through the 1972 season Tony bought the car and swapped the old Ford V8 for a Gurney-Westlake unit, the swap producing three outright wins from the last three races of the season. During the winter of 72-73, Chas Beattie lightened and strengthened the car with steel tubing. The engine was moved back 16 inches to distribute the weight more evenly, resulting in it protruding halfway into the cabin, restricting the driver’s access to the pedals. The standard front suspension was retained with revised pick up points, rose joints and a 1-inch (2.5cms) diameter roll bar. At the rear, the axel was located with trailing arms and a Watts linkage. Brakes were straight from a GT40 as were the 9.5-inch wide front wheels, at the rear, 13.5-inch wide, BRM F1 wheels and tyres were used. The Ford based 415bhp, Gurney-Westlake engine featured aluminium alloy heads, forged pistons and four 48 IDA Webers carburetors.
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