of the Aussie-made BTR four-speed auto. “They
did the usual little mods to allow it to survive the
power it has.”
The strut front suspension conversion, rack-
and-pinion steering and the three-link coil-sprung
rear end are all RRS conversion pieces too. The
coil-over/strut front tightens the roadholding by
ridding the Falcon of its sometimes wayward front
upper control arms, while the rear suspension is
particularly interesting as it has a long girder-like
link beginning at the nine-inch diff and reaching
forward to the gearbox.
Inside, Steve grabbed another two XR8 buckets
to be installed in the rear, and there’s plenty of
smarts in employing components such as the BA
XR8’s shifter unit. The stitching of the black leather
is the work of Steve’s mate Gavin Lockwood.
On its Summernats debut in 2016, Steve’s
Falcon drove straight into the Top 20. But despite
the high standard, this is one trophy-grade
Falcon that wears its ‘street machine’ title with
pride. It’s regularly driven: “It’s generally Sunday
afternoons,” Steve says. “But I have no qualms
about taking it down to the coast – Batemans
Bay, everywhere. I think in the first year I had it, I
drove it 7000 miles.
“It was a lot of time and effort,” he concludes,
“but I haven’t had to touch it since I finished it.” s
STEVE SANTOS
1971 FORD XY
FALCON SEDAN
Paint: Sikkens Silver
ENGINE
Brand: Ford/ FPV
Capacity: 5.4L
Induction: Vortech
centrifugal supercharger
ECU: Ford/ FPV
Heads: Standard DOHC
four-valve
Internals: Standard
Ford/ FPV
Fuel system: Aeromotive
in-tank pump
Cooling: XR8 thermo fans
on alloy radiator
Exhaust: RRS four-into-
one conversion headers,
fabricated dual 3in exhaust
TRANSMISSION
Gearbox: Ford/ BTR four-
speed auto ‘sport shift’
Converter: 2500rpm
Diff: Ford 9in, 31-spline
SUSPENSION &
BRAKES
Front suspension: RRS/
Lovells springs, RRS/ QA1
coil-overs
Rear suspension: RRS/
Lovells springs, RRS/ QA1
coil-overs
Brakes: Six-pot calipers
and 355mm discs (f),
six-pot calipers and
330mm discs (r)
Master cylinder: RRS
relocated under dash
WHEELS & TYRES
Rims: Simmons
FR22; 22x8 (f),
22x10 (r)
Rubber: 235/30 (f),
295/25 (r)
THANKS
Roberto ‘Tito’
Contreras – my right-
hand man on this project;
Greg Stevenson at Kelley
Body Works – one of
my best mates; Gavin
Lockwood for the trim;
Tony and the boys at
Audiotech; Jake Edwards
of Jake’s Performance;
Jason Stevenson for
the paint
DESPITE THE HIGH STANDARD, THIS IS ONE TROPHY-GRADE
FALCON THAT WEARS ITS ‘STREET MACHINE’ TITLE WITH PRIDE
INTERIOR
Four leather-trimmed XR8
seats, complete with electrics
but sans headrests, dominate
an interior that nicely blends
then and now. “They’re Auto
Meters,” says Steve of the
gauges. “I reckon they have
the right look for the car.”
He’s right, you know!