When Murray Simpson bought his GTHO Phase III Ford Falcon for $6,000 in 1971, he was completely unaware that one day it would become one of the most sought-after collector vehicles in Australia.
With only 120 of these cars left in the country, the top price of an untouched original has sky-rocketed to the $1 million mark.
After fielding off numerous offers to buy his beloved GT, Mr Simpson is determined to keep it in the family and pass the vehicle on to the next generation.
Locked away on the farm
Mr Simpson lives on his family's sheep farm in Western Australia's Great Southern region.
Tucked away in his shed under lock and key sits one of Australia's iconic 70s muscle cars, in pristine condition thanks to many years of care and protection.
Nowadays, the vehicle only comes out for car shows and GT Club runs but it was once the everyday runabout for Mr Simpson.
"I always wanted a GTHO but when I got around to buying one, they had stopped making them," he said.
"One day I saw one on a stand outside a car yard in Perth and enquired about it.
"I thought it was too expensive so I left it but kept thinking about it for months after.
"I rang them back and they said it was still there, so I made a trade.
"I never thought it would get to the value it is today."
Mr Simpson's GT has seen its fair share of hard work, even being used to muster sheep at one stage.
After getting married, he thought about selling it, but thanks his lucky stars every day that it did not eventuate.
Fastest in the world
When the GTHO Phase III was released in 1971 it was the fastest four-door production car in the world.
"They were way ahead of their time," Mr Simpson said.
"It's a wonder the vehicle is still going and I am still here because its very fast and very powerful.
"I have never had an accident, just hit one kangaroo."
Mr Simpson developed his love of fast cars racing at Speedway tracks throughout WA's south.
He became heavily involved in his local GT Club and hosted regular meet-ups on the farm.
While he has added a 21st century GT to his collection, Mr Simpson remains deeply appreciative of his 47-year-old ride.
"They were built a lot stronger than a modern day car," he said.
"With no power steering, they are quite heavy to drive but they make a good V8 sound.
"There is still a bit of hoon in me now, even though I am quite elderly."
The pinnacle of Aussie muscle
Unique Cars magazine editor Guy Allen agrees that Mr Simpson's car could be worth somewhere around the $1 million mark.
"GT HO Falcon Phase III's are seen as a pinnacle of locally available muscle cars," he said.
"There has been a huge uplift in the market for them in recent years.
"If it's in very good original condition, that's absolutely what collectors prize."
Mr Allen said that while you could rebuild and restore anything, depending on how deep your pockets were, a vehicle in its original condition was the holy grail.
"To collectors at the moment, this is worldwide not just Australia, having something that hasn't been touched but just been kept as a good honest runner since it left the showroom a few decades ago, is worth a great deal of money," he said.
There is a lot of speculation on how many Phase III's are left across the country, but Mr Allen believes it to be somewhere in the vicinity of 120.
"There were 300 built initially," he said.
"They were never a big production car to start with, really designed to be raced.
"They were victorious at Bathurst, which is the pinnacle of local motor racing and has been for decades
"That's very much why people want to have them. They're a big, muscly, 70's hero car."
Staying in the family
Despite having cheques from persistent buyers thrust in his face over the years, Mr Simpson is committed to leaving his car to his daughters.
His son Luke is happy to receive the farm one day while daughter Tara Simpson is looking forward to sharing ownership of the GT.
"We will keep it in the family," she said.
"As kids, we followed mum and dad around car shows and we are now involved in the GT Club as well.
"It is nice to know there are so many still around and watching the cars get passed down through families is amazing.
"We appreciate them as vehicles and what this car has been through. It has a lot of history with us so there is no point selling it on."
