Pictures of a Playboy themed XC Hardtop

[Johnny GT]

Gday all,

I'm hoping the pub section will reach the largest audience but we'll have to see about that.

My question is, does anyone remember seeing / has any photos of a black XC hardtop with playboy bunnies on the front guards? (They may not even be on the front guards).

Said car had silver highlights similar to a XB GT on the bonnet, black vinyl roof and cobra trim. The rumour is that it appeared at the 1977 Melbourne Motorshow. Ive done a lot of searching and it appears a lot of people have memories of seeing the car so theres a good chance it did exist.

Apparently it also appeared in an old magazine most likely in 77, 78.

Thanks for any info legends.
John

[Fairlane 500]

I did a couple of searches to find out but it looks like it was a proposal that never went into production.
On Wikipedia it gives some information on the proposal where it says........

"When final production of the XC Hardtop at the Broadmeadows Assembly plant was ending in March 1978, more than 400 body shells were left unsold and Ford Australia faced a dilemma of how to shift them, rather than scrap them. When an original proposal to turn these cars into black and gold Playboy-themed cars (complete with "bunny" decals) was rejected as sending the wrong image for a family car company"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Falcon_Cobra

Hard to imagine that they had so much trouble getting rid of the coupes back then?

[FairmontGS]

Yes, I do remember that car. I'm fairly sure I have a photo of it in an old motoring magazine but they're all boxed up in the garage. What's your interest?

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by Fairlane 5OO

Hard to imagine that they had so much trouble getting rid of the coupes back then?

Locally made coupes and hard tops have traditionally always been slow sellers once the initial few years of excitement have passed.

[Sprint XR8]

XC Playboy Hardtop design proposal by Ford Australia designer Herb Grasse.

[v8ltd]

This was up for sale on ebay not too long ago, there is a very high chance that this is a Playboy Special XC, it also has widened rear wheel tubs:

[Johnny GT]

Originally Posted by Fairlane 5OO

I did a couple of searches to find out but it looks like it was a proposal that never went into production.
On Wikipedia it gives some information on the proposal where it says........

"When final production of the XC Hardtop at the Broadmeadows Assembly plant was ending in March 1978, more than 400 body shells were left unsold and Ford Australia faced a dilemma of how to shift them, rather than scrap them. When an original proposal to turn these cars into black and gold Playboy-themed cars (complete with "bunny" decals) was rejected as sending the wrong image for a family car company"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Falcon_Cobra

Hard to imagine that they had so much trouble getting rid of the coupes back then?

Yeah, it is well known that Ford did flirt with the idea of doing the playboy theme for the last XC hardtops and apparently one prototype was made.

[Johnny GT]

Originally Posted by v8ltd

This was up for sale on ebay not too long ago, there is a very high chance that this is a Playboy Special XC, it also has widened rear wheel tubs:

image

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image

image

image

image

image

image

image

Ah yes, I did see this car for sale last year and yes apparently the playboy XC was a factory tubbed shell, same as the Bathurst option 97 Cobra's, homologation XC's & race shells. Definitely a large chance that car was the one.

[Johnny GT]

Originally Posted by FairmontGS

Yes, I do remember that car. I'm fairly sure I have a photo of it in an old motoring magazine but they're all boxed up in the garage. What's your interest?

Pm'd you mate =)

[Johnny GT]

Originally Posted by Sprint XR8

XC Playboy Hardtop design proposal by Ford Australia designer Herb Grasse.
image

I actually forgot to write in my first post that the car was said to be designed by Herb. Not sure if the real car actually looked like this or not.

[FairmontGS]

Originally Posted by Johnny GT

Pm'd you mate =)

IIRC the photo I'm thinking of was B&W and the car was on a stand/carousel at a motor show?

[CyberWasp]

Is that even repairable and how much did it go for?

[stock1991]

that poor coupe looks like it has been robbed

[Johnny GT]

Originally Posted by FairmontGS

IIRC the photo I'm thinking of was B&W and the car was on a stand/carousel at a motor show?

Ah nice. That description does sounds like the pic ive been told about. Never seen it though.

[Johnny GT]

Just giving this thread a quick bump.

Still on the lookout for any pictures or info

Cheers

[FairmontGS]

Hi John, I did go looking and didn't locate the photo I was looking for. May well have been lost the last time we moved and I chucked stuff Sorry.

[kcodezd]

Is it possible that the molested coupe above was Wayne Draper’s JPS inspired XC coupe? Or at least the inspiration for playboy coupe.
https://www.google.com.au/search?cli...OlUBkrm3oeZjM:

[Johnny GT]

Originally Posted by FairmontGS

Hi John, I did go looking and didn't locate the photo I was looking for. May well have been lost the last time we moved and I chucked stuff Sorry.

Ah bugga. Cheers for looking tho mate.

[Johnny GT]

Originally Posted by kcodezd

Is it possible that the molested coupe above was Wayne Draper’s JPS inspired XC coupe? Or at least the inspiration for playboy coupe.
https://www.google.com.au/search?cli...OlUBkrm3oeZjM:

I understood the JPS coupe was a factory XB GT with the 427 dropped. They do look similar but not the same car.

[wodahs]

Originally Posted by kcodezd

Is it possible that the molested coupe above was Wayne Draper’s JPS inspired XC coupe? Or at least the inspiration for playboy coupe.
https://www.google.com.au/search?cli...OlUBkrm3oeZjM:

possible but wasn't Drapers JPS a FE427 motor ??
and that molested coupe looks suspiciously like a clevo

[kcodezd]

If Drapers was a Gt then that’s a No then. I still wonder if he and Peter Acadipane had something to do with the playboy graphics.

[CJR09]

Originally Posted by Johnny GT

Ah yes, I did see this car for sale last year and yes apparently the playboy XC was a factory tubbed shell, same as the Bathurst option 97 Cobra's, homologation XC's & race shells. Definitely a large chance that car was the one.

AFAIK the pre cobra cobras were all JG65TE vins - the one linked above is a JG65TM vinned chassis so some 6months prior to the pre cobra cobras and close to 12 months ahead of the rpo97 cobras - i guess anything is possible but i dont think the time frames line up unless it was a pre pre cobra cobra?

[FairmontGS]

Originally Posted by kcodezd

If Drapers was a Gt then that’s a No then. I still wonder if he and Peter Acadipane had something to do with the playboy graphics.

Draper and Arcadipane cars were GS Falcon/Fairmont, not GT coupes.

[au350hp]

Originally Posted by Johnny GT

Just giving this thread a quick bump.

Still on the lookout for any pictures or info

Cheers

Send an email to uniquecars@bauertrader.com.au Address it to Dave Morley and tell him what you know. They might know or publish your letter. Good luck.

[HardtopHub]

Any luck so far Johnny? I've been in contact with a relative of Peter Arcadipane hoping to get some more info on the car. I have ZERO doubt that the ebay car is the one and only Playboy prototype, there is no other rational explanation for that car, it's mods or it's extensive options list.

Can not believe it didn't sell instantly for the price. I've been kicking myself for missing it back when it was for sale a few years ago, even more so this time around. Definitely, the rarest XC hardtop ever built, if not the rarest hardtop of all, a true 1 off factory special prototype.

[Johnny GT]

Originally Posted by HardtopHub

Any luck so far Johnny? I've been in contact with a relative of Peter Arcadipane hoping to get some more info on the car. I have ZERO doubt that the ebay car is the one and only Playboy prototype, there is no other rational explanation for that car, it's mods or it's extensive options list.

Can not believe it didn't sell instantly for the price. I've been kicking myself for missing it back when it was for sale a few years ago, even more so this time around. Definitely, the rarest XC hardtop ever built, if not the rarest hardtop of all, a true 1 off factory special prototype.

Unfortunately not yet. Have spoken to many people and feel im close. Contacted Ford a few time now but they have no clue. I was told the archives department is now closed down which is such a shame.

Any luck with Peters relative? There is bound to be info somewhere on the car. Like you said, very unique car. An odd ball interms of its month built and options.

Cheers
John

[kcodezd]

I’ve just read Morley’s workshop in issue 421 of unique cars. Nice plug for AFF John. It’s a shame he hasn’t a lot to add to your search. Hopefully with a different audience, you get something new.

[Johnny GT]

Originally Posted by kcodezd

I’ve just read Morley’s workshop in issue 421 of unique cars. Nice plug for AFF John. It’s a shame he hasn’t a lot to add to your search. Hopefully with a different audience, you get something new.

Cheers for the heads up mate. Grabbed a copy this morning. Yeah hopefully a reader out there can shed some light. Will get there one day

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

Is that even repairable and how much did it go for?

Some bunny purchased it.

[roKWiz]

Been looking through old car mags I have for this XC but only found a picture of a newly released Ford Bronco at a 1977 motor show in Playboy livery in CV&T magazine.
Can post it here if you want ?