Story
1970 Ford Falcon GT
The regular 1970 XW Falcon GT crossed an important engine transition. The first 258 regular GTs retained the 351 Windsor; the next 1,019 used the 351 Cleveland. Both belong on this model-year family page. GT-HO Phase I, Phase 1.5, and Phase II remain separate homologation identities.
Windsor to Cleveland
Early regular GTs carried the hydraulic-lifter 351 Windsor rated at 290 gross bhp and 385 lb-ft. Around the February-to-March transition, Ford moved to the hydraulic-lifter 351 Cleveland, advertised at 300 gross bhp and 380 lb-ft. The engines share displacement but differ in architecture, induction, air cleaners, castings, dates, and service parts. Build date and Ford records control the claim.
Manual and automatic driveline
Regular GT buyers could select a Toploader four-speed or three-speed floor automatic. The 28-spline Ford nine-inch rear used a 3.25:1 limited-slip differential. Plate code, case and controls, clutch or converter, driveshaft, axle housing, carrier, shafts, ratio, dates, and records should agree. GT-HO close-ratio, 31-spline, Detroit Locker, and race parts are not regular-GT equipment.
Chassis, brakes, and touring equipment
The regular GT used higher-rate front coils, heavy dampers, an enlarged front anti-roll bar, and a leaf-sprung live rear axle. Power-assisted ventilated front discs worked with rear drums. A 36.4-imperial-gallon tank, 14 x 6-inch slotted wheels, 70-series radial tires, full instruments, and Fairmont-grade cabin equipment made the GT a fast touring sedan.
Paint, appearance, and cabin
The XW GT used a black bonnet, scoop and pins, twin grille lamps, side stripe, Super Roo graphics, GT badges, and slotted wheels. Stripe delete was available. Inside were black or Dark Saddle trim, optional cloth inserts, console, woodgrain panels, deep-pile carpet, wood-rim wheel, and full instruments. The paint table includes 15 reviewed codes but mixes timing and model scopes, so the data plate and protected finish control one car.
Production and identity
Reviewed figures report 258 regular 1970 Windsor GTs and 1,019 regular 1970 Cleveland GTs, totaling 1,277. Across May 1969 through October 1970, regular XW GT production was 2,287, separately from 662 XW GT-HOs. Authenticate from JG33 and model code 18938, then reconcile build date, shell, engine, transmission, axle, brakes, suspension, tank, paint, trim, dates, Ford report, and history.
Native Australian values
Period pricing and later sales are denominated in Australian dollars. The current structured pricing contract supports USD and CAD rather than AUD, so those figures remain cited gaps instead of being mislabeled, silently converted, or presented as appraisals.