Grand Sport

The Grand Sport Rally Pack was an factory option available on the XW to XC models that allowed - by the checking of a single box on the order form - the buyer to add several ‘sporty’ features to his new Falcon without going tothe expense of buying the GT.

XW

Available on the Falcon 500, Futura and Fairmont sedan, the GS added the following features; GS Rally stripes that ran from the front indicators to the middle of the rear wing and ended with the GS insignia and full wheel covers that were the same as the stainless steel wheel covers used on the XR and XT GT models. Inside, a three spoke, deep dished wooden rimmed steering wheel with rim squeeze horn and full dash instrumentation were the same as on the GT model.

From there the buyer could then run riot through the normal options list adding; bucket seats and sports console with four speed or T-Bar automatic, a 302ci 220hp V8, power disk brakes, air conditioning, tinted windscreen, vinyl roof; anything, in fact, that was available in the catalogue. Ford advertised the GS as - ‘Make up your own Grand Sport’ - and, while the car did not have the appeal of the GT, it did offer the cost conscious a distinctive alternative.

XW GS

XY

Once again the GS Rally Pack was available on the XY model. In addition to being available on the Falcon 500, Futura and Fairmont sedans, it was also now an option on the Falcon 500 and Fairmont wagon also.

The actual GS options remained the same including the GT dash featuring speedometer, tachometer, odometer, oil pressure, water temperature and fuel gauges, but some other items crept onto the general option list, most notably a sunroof and a stereo radio/tape player. For performance enthusiasts, the most important option was now a 250hp two barrel carburettor equipped Cleveland version of the 351ci V8. It may not have rivalled the 290hp GT, but it really wasn’t too far off now.

This is a lovely XY GS in Onyx Black showing the GS stripe terminating in the GS badge and the chromed XR/XT GT lookalike wheel covers.

Here is a close up of the stylised GS badge.

And a comparison of the wheels.

XY GS wheel cover

XT GT chromed steel wheel

The GS stripe was available in a variety of colours, including orange, as on this Fairmont, which also has GT wheels and front spoiler.

It can be forgotten that the GS package did not necessarily always come with the driving lamps as shown with this lovely Bronze Wine XY with cream vinyl roof.

Or that it could be ordered with ‘plain’ Falcon 500s, and not just Fairmonts.

It is also worth noting that the GS was available on both the 200ci and 250ci six cylinder engines, as well as the 302ci and 351ci V8s.

When the 302ci V8 was fitted, the cars came with the V8 badge.

But when the 351ci V8 was fitted, the displacement was proudly announced, as seen on the black GS above, and the enlargement below.

For some more pictures of the black GS Fairmont, click here.

No matter what was fitted, all came with a GS badged steering wheel.

And the GS Pack was available on wagons too.

XA

Once more the GS Rally Pack appeared on the Australian designed XA. Most of the options remained the same although, while retaining the stripe, they lost any exterior GS badging. The wheels were different too. Instead of wheel covers, the GS models got versions of the 12 slot steel wheels with plain brushed centre caps as used on the early XA GTs.

The stripe got swoopy to follow the body contours.

And, once again, dark cars got lighter stripes.

And from the brochure.

And with the optional XA GT ‘driving lights’ grille.

And, of course, there was now a two door hardtop model.

With swoopy stripe.

Station wagon.

Not only did the GS depart from previous years in having a two door, but Ford also made it available on utes

And vans

Various colours of stripes were available. Four door saloons could have the XA GS stripe in black, gold, silver or orange, and on two door hardtops, in black or gold.

With the availability, in cars but not utes or vans, of a 260hp two barrel version of the 351ci Cleveland V8, the GS again offered an alternative to the GT. Indeed, with the escalating values and appreciation of the GT models, many collectors are turning to the GS, and finding that their predecessors fully appreciated their worth and the fact that with a few simple bolt on parts - manifold and four barrel carburettor - they could be excellent junior GTs.

All of the XA Falcon range could be fitted with the Option 56 ‘driving lights’ grille which was standard on the XA GT. It would seem that the take up of this option on XA GS’s was not as great as that for the same offering on the XB model. However, unlike the XB the XA GT style bonnet was not part of the GS package, nor was it an option on the range.

XB

Once more Ford offered the GS Rally Pack on the XB model and again extended it across the whole range; sedans, hardtops, wagons, utes and vans. The XB model, however, offered the GS buyer the chance - while accepting the 260hp V8 gave away 40 hp to the GT - to buy a car as close to the looks of the GT than before. The twin scoop bonnet was part of the GS package for the XB, but the Option 56 ‘driving light’ grille was a separate factory option as were four wheel disk brakes. It was just a matter of ticking the right boxes on the order form.

After the swoopy XA, the XB Rally stripe returned to a straight line, and in form, with its turned down section at the front, it closely resembled the GT stripe on the XW. The GS badge returned, once more at the rear end of the stripe.

Four doors.

Hardtops.

Station wagons.

Vans and utes.

A close up of the ‘GS’ script on the rear wing.

A close up look at the form of the stripe at the front.

Note also the ‘351’ engine identification.

And a 302ci V8 powered XB Fairmont GS without the displacement badges.

And an XB GS wagon with the 250ci six.

Careful inspection of the GS stripes on the XB at the front reveals some variation in their placement. Some have the stripe right up against the ‘seam’ for the little end cap, like the wagon above, and some have them set back from that. In fact, some cars even have different placement from side to side as in this car, although, there is some evidence that the drivers wing was replaced at some stage. The decal may well not have been re-applied with the same ‘factory care’.

GS stripes were available in many colours. Both four door saloon and two door hardtop could have stripes in; blck, gold, dark gold,silver, orange and dark orange. Examples of the more popular colours are seen above, but here is a photo of the XB GS formerly owned by the mother of Drew, one of our Australian contributors, featuring the rare orange GS stripes.

When is a GS a GS ?

When the original sale receipt tells you it is one. If you suspect that your car is a GS but has no actual GS badges on it there is nothing on the car’s data plate that will tell you that it is a GS, unlike a GT. One giveaway is to check the wiring under the dash as genuine GS cars had the GT wiring loom to allow fitment of the GT dash and its extra instruments. If your car has the extra gauges, but a cut and shut loom, you would suspect it was not original. Unfortunately, the Ford Motor Company of Australia is not, at this time, answering queries about suspected GS cars as it is doing for GTs.

XC

The GS Rally pack offered on the XC range was quite a comprehensive package, including GT style bonnet, blacked out grille and window trims, long range driving lamps if the car was based on the Falcon 500 with the round main headlamps, bumper over-riders, full instrumentation, sports steering wheel, and 12 slot wheels. If the GS was based on the Fairmont with the rectangulat headlights, the long range lamps were not offered. Hardtops were also fitted with the rear wing scoops, similar to XB GT’s. It is interesting to note that these scoops were not offered on XB GS’s or on XC Cobra’s. Nor was there an availability of any stripes.

XC GS hardtop with rear wing scoops.

XC GS four door with GS 12 slot wheels.

Interior with full instrumentation and sports steering wheel.

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