HO Phase Autos has enlisted noted race car constructor Gary O’Brien from Bendigo Retro Muscle Cars to build the next chapter of performance offerings.
Formed in 1979 by Wayne Draper and Bob McWilliam, HO Phase Autos played a pivotal part in keeping Ford in touring car racing by aiding in homologating the XD Falcon prior to the 1980 season.
HO Phase Autos also extended to road-going offerings throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s when it produced the Allan Moffat EB HO Falcon.
Since Draper’s passing in 2012, his son Rob has been the custodian and is eager to release a new generation of HO Phase Autos models, with O’Brien working on a new prototype named Trudee.
“We’re still a small operation with big dreams,” said Rob Draper.
“Before Ford gave Dad the HO nameplate, he’d already started all this in secret, in the backyards of Broadmeadows.
“Gary brings the sort of craftsmanship and race-car knowledge we’ve been looking for. He’s also a fantastic communicator and strategist. We’re a few months into our first build together and I’m learning a lot from him.
“We’ve talked a lot about how these cars should drive, and how we want people to feel behind the wheel. My main line of work is in showbiz, where the audience comes first. I’m bringing that same kind of thinking to HO. Entertainment on wheels.”
Trudee is a bespoke Falcon resulting from a collaborative effort between O’Brien, former Ford chief designer Steve Park and HO program manager Josh Hillman.
Featuring an XE-bodied Falcon with the front of an XD, Phase 5 flares, front air dam, bonnet scoop, rear wing and light-gold Rebel One rims.
Underneath the body is a 7.3-litre Ford Godzilla V8 and modern running gear to deliver on the brief a race car for the road.
“Trudee has Dad’s design heritage, Steve’s ideas and Gary’s craftsmanship coming together,” Draper explained.
“Gary still jumps out of bed wanting to get stuck into race cars. That’s the guy you want building yours.
“The other thing I love about Gary is he was a Holden guy until we talked him into coming to the dark side.”
With the launch of a new model, there are changing demographics in the marketplace and these have been considered.
“Those are the sorts of cars we’d like to give a fright,” says Draper.
“The BMW and Mercedes brigade at Phillip Island aren’t expecting an XD-shaped Falcon to turn up and trouble them. That’s what we’re working towards. And for considerably less money.
“They’re still with us. But now we’re also talking to people who own serious sports cars and track cars.
“They want something Australian, with the engineering and workmanship to back it up. We’ll always build for the guys with blue running through their veins. But you don’t have to have grown up on the mountain to appreciate a great Australian car.”
HO Phase Autos relaunch follows that of the Holden equivalent HDT.
“We’re really glad to see HDT’s next chapter,” says Rob Draper. “There’s a dedicated market for limited-run Australian cars with classic styling and modern powertrains and running gear.
“We’ve been building them for years. It’s good to see someone prepared to put serious money behind it.”
New projects are also being worked on alongside Trudee including an AU-based performance variant, an FG Ute and an EB Fairmont.