First Flight: Ford Falcon XA GT, by OzWheels

If there’s one thing you need to know about me, it’s my passion for Australian cars, the Ford Falcon in particular. I grew up in the backseat of a Ford Falcon XW GTHO. Weekends were spent at car shows, car club cruises, and swap meets. My school books were adorned with pictures of Ford Falcons. There was always a Falcon in the shed or in the driveway. They were an ever-present fixture of my life growing up, and now that I’m an adult, I have a Ford Falcon of my own in my garage. They are undeniably part of my DNA. So when my passion for Ford Falcons intersects with my passion for little toy cars, it’s pretty significant.

Admittedly, I’m predominantly a Hot Wheels collector. It’s in my Instagram screen name: Aussie Hot Wheels Collector. But occasionally, I’ll branch out into other brands if something special catches my eye. Such was the case when I found this Ford Falcon XA GT Coupe made by OzWheels.

I’ve had my eye on OzWheels since they burst onto the market in early 2024. Their Series 1 cars consisted of a Holden Kingswood (which was covered by fellow Lamley writer Alex) and a Holden Sandman Panel Van, both in a wide spread of different colors and decos. They were pretty cool, but the $15 price tag and the fact that they were Holdens didn’t persuade me too greatly to hunt them down. It wasn’t until Series 2 dropped that my attention was really piqued.

I wasn’t the only one who was captivated. There have been a few niche diecast manufacturers which specialised in Aussie cars over the years. However, none generated the buzz that OzWheels Series 2 did.

Maybe it’s the time we’re living in. I know from my own anecdotal observations that diecast car collecting is at an all-time high. My local diecast swap meet used to be in a tiny cramped hall with only a dozen or so vendors, now it fills an entire auditorium and overflows into the carpark. It’s a rare occurrence to be able to look through the Hot Wheels pegs without bumping shoulders with another collector. There are more diecast collectors now than there ever have been. And when the Hot Wheels Holden Monaro was released, it was chaos here in Australia. OzWheels saw all of this, the rise of diecast collecting in general and the strong demand for Aussie cars, and they capitalized on that gap in the market. The response from collectors was probably exactly what they’d hoped for.

When OzWheels Series 2 was released, collectors went wild. The cars flew off the pegs. Fully stocked up in the morning, empty by the afternoon. I’ve never seen anything like it. And unlike Series 1, Series 2 had both Holdens and Fords, of all different types. So many of the cars that collectors had been asking to be made by Hot Wheels, were now being made by OzWheels. For a new brand to come from literally nowhere and create such a buzz, establish a presence in the market, and build a strong fanbase all in less than a year is phenomenal.

For months, thousands of collectors, including myself, have been on the hunt for them. Luckily, I was able to find one out of the handful that I was looking for, the Ford Falcon XA GT Coupe. If you’re unfamiliar with the Ford Falcon XA, as the name suggests, it is the predecessor to the Ford Falcon XB which Hot Wheels made back in 2010 and was made famous by the Mad Max film series.

The Ford Falcon XA was manufactured from 1972 to the end of 1973 and was the debut of the two-door hardtop body style for the Australian Falcon. The GT was the top of the line performance trim level, powered by a 351ci Cleveland V8. It’s gone on to become one of the most desirable Ford Falcon models with particular examples commanding over $300k at auction. It was very successful on the racetrack too, winning the prestigious Bathurst 1000 two years in a row. The XA GT Hardtop was a great choice as one of the first Falcons made by OzWheels.

I was impressed by the quality of the casting. It’s nicely proportioned and captures the curves and wide hips of the real car. The blackouts really pop against the ‘Red Pepper’ paint. It’s detailed on all six sides, featuring badges, lights, door handles, window trim, bonnet pins, and the XA’s trademark front guard scoops. It has detailed ‘Globe’ wheels, accurate to the real car, riding on red-walled rubber tires which roll surprisingly well. It’s also weighty, due to its metal body / metal base construction. Speaking of the base, it’s quite nice as well, complete with a detailed driveline, suspension, floor pan, and exhaust.

As someone who has grown up around these cars, I could point out a handful of minor inaccuracies, but frankly, it wouldn’t matter to most people and I don’t want to detract from how nice the model is.

But for all the excellent details, there are unfortunately two factors that might deter the most scrupulous of collectors. The lack of side mirrors and the opaque black windows which hide the missing interior. Thankfully, these issues won’t be a deal breaker for most, and once the car is in a display case or on a shelf, it’s hardly noticeable. Maybe after OzWheels have some more time in the business they can add interiors to their cars, but everyone has to start somewhere, right?

I am beyond thrilled to add this OzWheels Ford Falcon XA GT to my collection. OzWheels have filled a very necessary niche, and the collector response to the brand is a testament to the appreciation for these Australian automotive icons, and to the quality and authenticity of the models. I’m still competing with many other collectors in my search for OzWheels cars, and I am waiting in eager anticipation for what they have in store for us next!

Search for OzWheels on eBay!