Meet the owner of this rare one-of-three 70s promo cars
Meet Sal, the owner of the stunning Rothmans Blue promo car you see before you.
His ownership story reads like a fantasy we’d all love to carry out, if we happened to stumble across a time machine.
Sal is a Ford-lifer who first fell in love with the XA after his dad had a 351 GS. Back in 1992, Sal was just 19 and set out looking for his own XA; ideally a Wild Violet/white trim GT (remember this was well before the prices went bonkers).
After scouring the country to no avail for his dream colour combo, he chanced across this one-owner Rothmans Blue example just a few streets away after throttling back on the search for two years.
Sal went to inspect the car, which happened to be sitting at a panel shop. As it turns out, the original owner drove it for a while, but then left it under a cover for 14 years.
As much of a waste as it is, it meant Sal had found himself a highly original and well-kept XA GT of his dreams, made even more special being one-of-three Rothmans Blue (paint code: Y113) XA promo cars.
Rothmans commissioned two sedans and one hardtop: the other sedan is also believed to be housed in Melbourne, while the sole hardtop has long since ceased to exist.
In 1994, Sal and his Ford-crazed dad Leo, began a year-and-a-half long tear down and followed through with a light restoration.
The 27-year old paint is original and in scarcely-believable condition, and these days the car lives its life as a semi-retired weekend toy.
“Getting the car was a big decision when I was 19, but I’ve stuck with it. I’m 47 now” says Sal.
“My son Luke enjoys it now – he’s the one that makes me take it out”.
“Naturally he thinks it’s his car, so I can’t get rid of it!”
Read the full story in the current issue of Unique Cars #435, ON SALE NOW!
Classic Australian Family Car Value Guide home page
Muscle Car Value Guide home page
Japanese Classic Car Value Guide home page