Freed from its barn… by air

• 

A lovely story comes from Australia about the rediscovery of a Ford Falcon XA GT that was hidden in a barn for decades. 

With just 1,868 XA GTs made this car is quite rare. This one, a former demonstrator, was bought in 1972 by a man named Pat Pugliese, at that time a motor mechanic at College Auto service station in South Yarra (Victoria). Pat ordered it with the optional left-hand racing mirror, Superfringe radio, front spoiler and adjustable rear decklid spoiler. And when it arrived he added an alloy inlet manifold, a larger Holley carburettor, magnesium-alloy wheels and a rear stabiliser bar plus a set of air horns that played ‘La Cucaracha’.

Pat sold the car in 1984, with only some 28,000 miles on the clock, to his mate Mick, a house painter and race-freak who collected fines for speeding — so many in fact that in 1987 he was forced to sell it to another mate, Neil! He didn’t drive the car much and put it in storage after two years or so. That’s where the car got its nickname ‘Mothball’ as it took until only early 2018 to come out!

And that didn’t go all too easily either as trees had grown across the narrow pathway. Also, some 25 years ago Neil had an in-ground swimming pool installed in his backyard that blocked  access to the shed. And so, to get the mothballed Falson out, a crane was needed to lift it over the house! But, after having informed the ‘Falcon XA GT Discussion Forum’ this is exactly what he decided to do! Neil, his son and a friend then went on a quest to find the original owner Pat. They eventually succeeded and so, 46 years after taking delivery and 31 years after seeing it for the last time, Pat was reunited with the car. Neil and his mate Dave now plan to restore the car. “The general plan is to revive ‘Mothball’ to retain the Survivor status, and keep her well maintained,” they told Car Guide.

Picture barnfinds
 

Kommentar abgeben...