Photos by E. Selman of New Zealand.
The Kiwi's have a racing class known as "Class 65". You may run any auto built before 1966 and equip that vehicle with any speed equipment available for that car marketed before 1966.
The group of auto which the Falcon fits into contains LH series Holdens with the "Blue Fire" Chebbie six that's been round since the 53 Vette (and has plenty of speed equipment) and the Chrysler Valiant with the 170 and 225 slant six. Meaning to say the Falcon six offered in OZ and NZ were outclassed.
You could import an American 64-65 Falcon in order to race a V-8 but that body wasn't offered down under and the cost of repairs would be prohibited.
So why not build an American 63 Falcon from local parts? Here is the result:
Body, XM series circa 1964. The first Aussie/nz Falcon 2-dr. The roof, inner body structure, and chassis platform are the same as the North American Falcons so this car can pass as an American 63.
Well, the XM series had the tail lights mounted in a different place then the North American car, but who cares?
The front guards (fenders) and grille is from a 62-63 XM series. This car should have the "power buldge" hump common to early Falcon hoods, BUT this is a panel beater's car and in this case the skin is aluminum.
Why are the louvers blocked? Class 65 doesn't allow non-factory openings. The louvers are open when the car races under different rules.
overall view:
front w/ hood:
w/o hood:
Looking down on hood:
outside of hood:
My contact didn't mention how the
skin of the hood was formed. The center ridge suggests it came from an XP series but it would be very hard to wrap the XP/Comet hood skin over the front of an early Falcon hood frame.
I am thinking the skin is aluminum (remember this car is owned by a "panel beater"). Non-factory opening are not permited in Class 65 and that's why they are covered. The vehicle also runs under other rules which allows the openings.
