GT and GTHO go up in shed fire

[R0BD0G]

local toowoomba chronicle from today

Fire destroys iconic cars
June 20, 2008
By Louise O'Keeffe

FOREST Hill resident Stephen Taylor is shattered after losing two iconic Australian cars worth an estimated $900,000 in a fire.

The cars were lost when fire gutted a storage shed on his property on Wednesday evening.

Mr Taylor lost a 1971 Ford Falcon XY GTHO Phase III, one of the most expensive muscle cars in Australia.

There were only 300 GTHOs made and it is estimated that only 100 are left today. Just last year, a GTHO sold for a massive $750,000.

Mr Taylor bought his car in 1981 for $8500 from a friend who had bought it in Inverell in New South Wales.

The car was an original and unrestored model in yellow ochre with black trim. Only 37 cars were released in that particular colour.

Mr Taylor said the second Falcon was a 1971 XY GT and was valued at $150,000. He had bought it in 1979.

"I am just gutted," Mr Taylor said.

"I had to go to Ipswich Hospital on Monday with a kidney stone problem.

"My wife Marion had picked me up and we were driving home when my neighbours called me to say the garage was on fire.

"I couldn't believe how much damage there was to the cars and shed."

Police investigated the fire which it is thought was caused by an electrical fault. While both cars and the shed were insured, Mr Taylor said the cars were priceless to him.

"I had many offers to sell the HO, but I was never interested in the money," he said. "I don't know if I will buy another Phase III. But I am sure I will get another XY."

Mr Taylor said he treasured the help from his neighbours who rushed to the shed in Tarantall Road.

"Brett and Joel Anderson and Philip and Michaela Hannants were just so wonderful," he said.

[blackers10]

OUCH!!
lets hope he was insured...
but still another HO lost

[WindsorXR]

Holy crap is all I can say.
I think the guy may wanna call the suicide hotline. Poor fella!!
I don't think I'm far off either. That is so damn bad.

[Rock ape]

Its a sad day today.

[DJM83]

Wonder what the insurance premium is on a GTHO of that value is, pity though my historic cars gone.

[Kryton]

on a brighter note, a Forrest Hill resident is now $800000 richer than he would have been if this happened 5 years ago.

[Whitey-AMG]

I doubt the Insurance will pay out to the sum we all think.........

I Think there is a limit for these cars. I remember hearing somewhere that Shannons would only insure up to 200K or thereabouts ???..........If that's true, this guy will be bleeding.......BIG TIME.

What people are prepared to pay at Auctions is sometimes at odds with insurance interpretation of "market value".......

[tweeked]

And every other Phase 3 owner a bit richer also. I know how i feel if i scratch my BA, cant imagine how he would feel :(

[bob 351]

Originally Posted by davway

on a brighter note, a Forrest Hill resident is now $800000 richer than he would have been if this happened 5 years ago.

I FEEL SAD FOR THE POOR BLOKE I REALY THINK THE MONEY DOES NOT MATTER THAT MUCH I THINK HE WOULD RATHER HIS CARS

[WindsorXR]

Maybe it's a big hoax???? He might have stashed the GT's away and bought two cheap XY's?? Insurance payout here we go!!!

[4Vman]

Tragic news, but they'll most likely be able to rebuild them as restored cars....

[prydey]

the guy said selling them was never an option regardless of what price they may bring so i'm tipping he'll be pretty beat up for a while. they may be insured but money can't replace those sort of cars.

[R0BD0G]

local gossip says hes already tracked down another GT

[RegSpec]

That is absolutely tragic....no other word for it :

[F6T]

That is the worst thing I have read in a long time. poor bastard. such a bloody shame. I just can't believe it.

[Nath_xr]

This is tragic, I know the guy and the cars, they were immaculate and very well looked after it's such a shame. Still can't believe it

[zx10]

Poor fella, I really feel for him. Tragic, just tragic.

[Trek]

This day is a contender for the worst day of the year, first the news about the XA GT coupe replica, now this... :/ Gotta feel sorry for these people and their hard-earned losses.

And yes, as tweeked said, it has consequently increased the values of every other Phase III owner's car out there. We didn't need this to happen at all though, really.

[uranium_death]

Originally Posted by blackers10

lets hope he was insured...

Originally Posted by The Article

While both cars and the shed were insured, Mr Taylor said the cars were priceless to him.

A genuine tragedy.
It sucks when just when he and his wife are at the hospital, the electrical fault just happens to occur then!

Tragic luck...

[Falc'man]

It's alright, as long as no one was hurt.

[R0BD0G]

except the feelings of many ford boys and girls everywhere and mr taylor

[XCSEDAN]

i would be watching where those cars go.... its gotta go to the auctions right? repairable write off or something?

even though im sure it would cost less then $400,000 to restore BOTH cars...

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Tragic news, but they'll most likely be able to rebuild them as restored cars....

Yep, if the P3 was insured for say 2 or 3 hundred K, I'm sure the insurance company could just deliver the shell to Grand Tourer Restos and get the thing rebuilt... most of the time everything gets rebuilt or replaced anyway.

[1sikxt]

we should make the day a pubic holiday poor guy must be feel crushed

[Gammaboy]

Originally Posted by XCSEDAN

i would be watching where those cars go.... its gotta go to the auctions right? repairable write off or something?

Any insurance policy worth having sees you keeping the wreck - ie you get paid out + the remains. Not sure you've ever really looked at what fire does to a car, but there's a pretty good chance the shells are done for.

All the seam sealer is gone - Sound deadner too. Once you get that bitumen lit it burns pretty well, and burns pretty hot.
All the panels wind up warped from the heat.
*Everything* winds up trashed - aluminium components tend to go too - there goes the chassis plate.

Cars that are lost in shed fires (and bush fires) are a different world of hurt to "Oh, it had an engine fire and insurance wrote it off - its at fowles now". They're more like "Its a total loss and gone to Sims metal".

Having said that, its amazing the messes that wind up getting restored these days.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by Stefan

Yep, if the P3 was insured for say 2 or 3 hundred K, I'm sure the insurance company could just deliver the shell to Grand Tourer Restos and get the thing rebuilt... most of the time everything gets rebuilt or replaced anyway.

Exactly.. You could do a ground up resto/rebuild from a twisted rusty shell for about 100-120K.... it will be far cheaper for the insurance company to repair it than write it off.... the car is "worth" far more than its repair cost even if its a smouldering crumpled mess.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by Gammaboy

Any insurance policy worth having sees you keeping the wreck - ie you get paid out + the remains. Not sure you've ever really looked at what fire does to a car, but there's a pretty good chance the shells are done for.

All the seam sealer is gone - Sound deadner too. Once you get that bitumen lit it burns pretty well, and burns pretty hot.
All the panels wind up warped from the heat.
*Everything* winds up trashed - aluminium components tend to go too - there goes the chassis plate.

Cars that are lost in shed fires (and bush fires) are a different world of hurt to "Oh, it had an engine fire and insurance wrote it off - its at fowles now". They're more like "Its a total loss and gone to Sims metal".

Having said that, its amazing the messes that wind up getting restored these days.

Yep, fire = stuffed, very big job to restore a burnt out car, impossible in some cases.

Sad new this is, the owner would be devistated, you dont just own these cars, you marry them!

Lets just hope its a phonex...

[Zed7fiddy]

Posted on Boostcruising:

Thought i would post this now, as the GTHO is gone forever It was my uncles but tragically it is now in car heaven. Info on what happened to it can be found here just scroll through comments for more detail.

http://www.boostcruising.com/forums/...owtopic=308874

These were taken March this year the reason for them being late is the GTHO is worth $850,000 nower days and i have without a doubt in my mind that some no hopers on this site would try and hunt it down to theive it since they cant afford to buy one let alone buy a tyre. Now that it is gone i can post it up without the worry.

Enjoy

Ford Falcon Phase III GT-HO

Engine:
The engine was basically a pulled down and reworked 351 4V out of the crate .
Carby was a 780 Vac Secondary Holley specially made for Ford.
Intake manifold was standard cast iron dual plane 4V type with 2 modifications.
The two front venturis were opened out slightly and the exhaust gas heat exchanger holes were blocked off with grub screws.
Distributor was a modified Autolite dual diaphragm.
Heads were machined to take screw in studs and 3/8 inch pushrod guide plates.
Single groove valves and locks were used in place of the triple grooved ones.
Different spring and damper combination was fitted all ready to take the solid stick.
Cam was available in 2 types . One with a theoretical lift of .494 inch and the other with .524 inches.
Water pump had a .750 inch diameter dual ball bearing race assembly fitted to improve load carrying ability.
Block had 2 bolt crank caps and not 4 bolt as a lot of people seem to think, as it was just a pulled down.
Bottom end was balanced along with the new Boss 351 harmonic balancer .
Standard capacity sump had one mod. It had a 'crank scraper' type windage tray spot welded at the rear.

Exhaust:
Head Mod headers were used and these were of a tuned length type through a 2.25 inch exhaust to a special sports muffler at the rear, then 2 inch tailpipes as in the GT

Suspension:
Six leaf - 4 under main spring and one upside down on top of main spring.
Front springs longer than the GT to suit the later model type XA stub axle and upper control arm.
Upper control arm XA type with 3 stud ball joint not 4 as in XR - XY and shorter length for better handling.
Front sway bar that was 1 inch and a rear sway bar that was 3/4 inch thick.

Wheels:
15" x 7" Bathurst Globe Mags

Modifications:
Ummm are you kidding, maybe new battery and tyres

Stereo Audio / Visual:
Whatever the 1970's had

Estimated Power:
280hp to 300hp

07 Ford Falcon FPV GT
Engine:
5.4ltr V8

Exhaust:
Stocko Twins

Suspension:
stoooock

Wheels:
19" sotckos

Modifications:
Zero, its my mums car

Stereo:
stock

Estimated Power:
290kw

















More Pics:

http://www.boostcruising.com/forums/...owtopic=308932

[Zed7fiddy]

Dayum that car was in good condition!

[FlipXW]

Oh man, My heart is breaking :(.