Factory K-Code 351 Cleveland Ute: Original engine and auto, with certification
While it’s the GTs and HOs that have always been the stars of the XY Range, they were hugely expensive in their day; and social scrutiny at the time towards high-powered sports car drew heavy attention from police, insurance companies, and even car thieves.
But deep in Ford’s options list was a solution for ambitious young drivers, or anyone, who wanted GT-like performance in a package that flew under the radar.
The K-Code engine option was available for non-GT Falcons, and saw them receive a two-barrel 351 Cleveland mated to either an automatic or manual gearbox.
In Falcon 500 specification, they were almost $1500 cheaper than the brand new XY GT at the time.
Few survive these days, as you can imagine many young drivers fuelled the diabolical attrition rates for these big V8 sleepers; coupled with the countless clean examples that were converted into GT or GT-HO clones over the decades see original K-code Falcons are a serious rarity these days.
It may not have ever won Bathurst, nor did it match the ‘fastest four-door in the world’ tagline, but in the face of surging interest in standard-spec Aussie family cars, these K-Code Falcons remain a truly interesting (and far more affordable) alternative to its more famous GT-badged siblings.
This XY Falcon ute on sale here has the K-Code 351 Cleveland, and is also said to be a GS Rally Pack car.
It was originally delivered in Yellow Glow but has been resprayed by the previous owner in Vermillion fire.
It’s got the original 351 engine and plates, and automatic gearbox. There are no interior or engine bay photos attached to the listing, but overall the car looks to be in very good nick – and might be well worth investigating if you’re after a neat and interesting collectible XY. The seller states that certification will be supplied along with the sale.
The car is based in Western Australia, and is listed for $48,000.
Check out the full listing here!
Classic Australian Family Car Value Guide home page
Muscle Car Value Guide home page
Japanese Classic Car Value Guide home page