Info reqd on Bill Bourke

EXECJIM · 19-09-2006, 11:03 PM

I am trying to find some info on Bill Bourke

Are there any websites or books on this Legend

Thanks
Jim

fmc351 · 20-09-2006, 01:30 AM

He had a nice GT.

Im done.

Smoked · 20-09-2006, 01:37 AM

Well, either im dumb

:
Or he aint such a legend, because i got NFI who he is.

normxb · 20-09-2006, 01:57 AM

Is this the "Bill Bourke you're after :-

http://www.ford.com.au/about/newsroo...20050629-2.asp

Ford Australia management went one step further with the launch of the XP Falcon in 1965. In an attempt to convince local fleet buyers of the robustness and durability of the Falcon, Deputy Managing Director Bill Bourke conceived the XP Durability Run.
The bold scheme involved pushing five standard Falcons to the limit around the demanding You Yangs Proving Ground driven by Australia’s top race and rally drivers. The goal was to clock 70,000 miles at an average speed per car of 70 miles per hour. Some of the five cars rolled, but after 8 ½ days driven at the limit, the five cars averaged a speed of 71.3 miles per hour.
That same year, the Falcon was named Wheels Car of the Year.
The following year, the bigger, more powerful XR Falcon was launched with an entirely new shape. The new model incorporated more Australian design input than previous models and featured a V8 engine for the first time. The XR Falcon also was the first model to carry the legendary GT badge.
The XT Falcon saw more powerful V8s, a synchromesh gearbox, dual circuit brakes and a choice of two automatic transmissions. It was followed by the XW and XY, remarkable for the eminently collectable GTHO Phase II and III.
In 1971, with the launch of the XA, the Falcon became a uniquely Australian car. There was no longer a US equivalent, the car was designed specifically for the local market.
Three years earlier, local Ford designers traveled to the US and spent most of the summer of 1968 working on the Falcon clay model. The design impressed Detroit, which soon after gave the go-ahead for a design centre at Broadmeadows, Victoria.
With the XB and XC came four-wheel disc brakes, four-barrel carburettors and an all-time classic Falcon, the Cobra. The XC also brought a famous 1-2 victory for Allan Moffat and Colin Bond at Bathurst in 1977.

another couple
http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au...ord_falcon.htm

http://marathon68.homestead.com/ford.html

I think Bill Bourke was the man who convinced Ford US to build the"Falcon GT"

Rob · 20-09-2006, 06:34 AM

Im pretty sure Bill Bourke had a 429cid XW GT...

normxb · 20-09-2006, 06:53 AM

Found more :-

http://groups.msn.com/falconGT/falconxwgtho.msnw

http://groups.msn.com/falconGT/harryfirth.msnw

http://www.angelfire.com/wy/falcongt/gthistory.html

BLC , Yes mate, he sure did , I saw a few mentions of this car while doing this search . I'll have to look a bit more , I remember one racing at Amaroo Park years ago . Man , it really "thundered".

Pedro · 20-09-2006, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLC

Im pretty sure Bill Bourke had a 429cid XW GT...

Yes he did. Bill was a muscle car freak and he had a one-off build for his own personal transport built at Ford Australia using parts from the US parts bins.

It was a magnificent looking car in black and was for sale in Unique Cars a few years ago in immaculate condition for $35k. It took a long time to sell as the add was repeated a number of times. I was interested but didn't have the money.

aquahead2001 · 20-09-2006, 08:11 AM

429 or 429? I've read that it was a 428 CJ donk. Can anyone confirm or rebuke this?

Didn't Henry Ford II fly into the XP Durability run, take a look around and then tell Bill Burke that they were all crazy!

**Charliewool** · 20-09-2006, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquahead2001

429 or 429? I've read that it was a 428 CJ donk. Can anyone confirm or rebuke this?

Didn't Henry Ford II fly into the XP Durability run, take a look around and then tell Bill Burke that they were all crazy!

Definately a 428 CJ (FE block)

Kapn_Kiwi · 20-09-2006, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedro

Yes he did. Bill was a muscle car freak and he had a one-off build for his own personal transport built at Ford Australia using parts from the US parts bins.

I'm fairly sure the car was shipped to the US after rolling off the line with several delete options (engine, and also no GT stripes, can't remember what else)
The CJ engine got slotted in there, I believe a new interior, and at least new stripes put on, perhaps repainted? I haven't looked at my Aussie Muscle Car mag with it in a while.
Also: did the Bill Bourke XW inspire the GTHO phase 3's shaker?

**El Venom** · 20-09-2006, 10:20 AM

i have a copy of australian muscle car mag wit a huge write up on the 429ci cobra jet powered black gt xw built for bill bourke and it is the only 4 door ford on the planet to have the 'r' code to say it came from the factory with that motor

normxb · 20-09-2006, 11:43 AM

A write up here courtsey of GT Club of SA.

http://www.gtclubsa.com.au/nationals.html

Pete Geogaghen (sp) had an XY falcon at Amaroo in the early 70's & in the program was listed as a 428 , maybe one he had built up .

4Vman · 20-09-2006, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daendo

i have a copy of australian muscle car mag wit a huge write up on the 429ci cobra jet powered black gt xw built for bill bourke and it is the only 4 door ford on the planet to have the 'r' code to say it came from the factory with that motor

its not a factory R code car, Fords records and the compliance plate say T code 351. the 428 (not 429) was put in by Ford in the stats 6 months after the car was manufactured.
The car went down the production line just like every other XWGT did in 1969 did, a T code 351 windsor was fitted along with auto trans, it was shipped to the states to be modified with the 428, shaker and C6 after it was manufactured.

Rob · 20-09-2006, 04:46 PM

Can you say 'gruntmeister'...

rodderz · 20-09-2006, 04:47 PM

It's Jim wanting to get back into a Ford, he knows he wants to!

Mark351 · 20-09-2006, 05:32 PM

No, Jim already owns a rather special Ford

I'll let him explain, though Felicity @ the Ford Disco Centre dug up some rather interesting info on his car which I suspect is why he might be asking for info on Bill.

EXECJIM · 20-09-2006, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by normxb

Found more :-

http://groups.msn.com/falconGT/falconxwgtho.msnw

http://groups.msn.com/falconGT/harryfirth.msnw

http://www.angelfire.com/wy/falcongt/gthistory.html

BLC , Yes mate, he sure did , I saw a few mentions of this car while doing this search . I'll have to look a bit more , I remember one racing at Amaroo Park years ago . Man , it really "thundered".

Norm, thanks for those web sites

:

Jim

EXECJIM · 20-09-2006, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodderz

It's Jim wanting to get back into a Ford, he knows he wants to!

Rod, if Ford wake up to themselves and put a Clevo or a Big Block in a BF, i may consider it :thebirds:
I dont want a truck motor in my car

:

I had this conversation with Geoff Polites a few years ago, and he said he couldnt do it

EXECJIM · 20-09-2006, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeathXR

No, Jim already owns a rather special Ford

I'll let him explain, though Felicity @ the Ford Disco Centre dug up some rather interesting info on his car which I suspect is why he might be asking for info on Bill.

Yep, Felicity has been very helpfull in regards to my car

:

But i want to know a bit more about Bill himself,

Is he still alive?

Where is he now?

What cars has he owned? is it just Fords?

What other things has he done over the years? before and after Ford Australia?

With all this talk of over priced GTs

: if it wasnt for Bill, and his strange thought of having a 4 door sports car

: what would be the Ford muscle car today that would be worth BIG $$$$$ and where would Ford be today??

Any body know?

Jim

GRNKPR · 21-09-2006, 12:04 AM

is he as old as you JIMBO or have you a crazy fetish for the man i dont think he wears leather chaps like you

aquahead2001 · 21-09-2006, 08:06 AM

I seem to remember that Bill Burke was interviewed for either the Falcon GT 30th anniversary or for the Ford Centenary TV programs. He was pretty old but still had all his faculties…

Bossxr8 · 24-09-2006, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EXECJIM

Yep, Felicity has been very helpfull in regards to my car

:

But i want to know a bit more about Bill himself,

Is he still alive?

Where is he now?

What cars has he owned? is it just Fords?

What other things has he done over the years? before and after Ford Australia?

With all this talk of over priced GTs

: if it wasnt for Bill, and his strange thought of having a 4 door sports car

: what would be the Ford muscle car today that would be worth BIG $$$$$ and where would Ford be today??

Any body know?

Jim

After his time in Australia he served time for Ford US. He was a big muscle car fan and he's now in his late 70's. He was a Ford man till he retired. He joined Ford in 1956. He was General Sales manager at Ford Canada before he came to Oz as assistant managing director before taking over as the sole managing director in 1968 before leaving in 1971.

GT-E · 24-09-2006, 05:22 PM

I remember reading an article in Unique Cars about 18 months ago.
From memory he lives in the USA with his wife.

Mark351 · 24-09-2006, 08:32 PM

Didn't Bill move onto head of Ford Europe after his stint as Ford Oz boss?

EXECJIM · 24-09-2006, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZapXR6T

I remember reading an article in Unique Cars about 18 months ago.
From memory he lives in the USA with his wife.

Would you have the copy of that magazine? or could you tell me the date of that copy so i could try and get a copy??

Thanks for all your help, but i was talking to a well known Ford racing driver last night and he thinks Bill may no longer be with us :newangel:

Does anybody know if he is still around?

Thanks
Jim

GRNKPR · 25-09-2006, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EXECJIM

Would you have the copy of that magazine? or could you tell me the date of that copy so i could try and get a copy??

Thanks for all your help, but i was talking to a well known Ford racing driver last night and he thinks Bill may no longer be with us :newangel:

Does anybody know if he is still around?

Thanks
Jim

you didnt talk to me and you heckled that well known FORD driver didnt you :hihi: but least he came and said goodbye to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Cobalt Blue · 25-09-2006, 10:53 PM

Bill passed away in June 2005. An obituary can be seen here:

Richmond Times-Dispatch June 8, 2005

He certainly injected some excitement into Ford Australia.

fmc351 · 26-09-2006, 02:44 AM

*silent post*

Paull · 26-09-2006, 04:04 AM

I believe that he was also responsible for the Landau as well.

Bucknaked · 26-09-2006, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EXECJIM

Would you have the copy of that magazine? or could you tell me the date of that copy so i could try and get a copy??

I think I have a copy of that somewhere.