Seton’s 1997 championship-winning Ford heads to auction
A special piece of Supercars history is set to cross the auction block this weekend, with Glenn Seton’s 1997 championship-winning Ford Falcon EL up for sale.
The car that the two-time Australia Touring Car champion regards as the ‘most memorable’ of his career will go under the hammer on Saturday, with current bidding sitting at more than $200,000.
Built in 1996 for the Bathurst 1000, the Ford Credit Falcon took pole position for The Great Race, setting the benchmark of 302km/h on Conrod Straight, a record which stood unbroken until 2014.
The example up for auction is GSR build number seven, out of nine vehicles made.
“It is a very special car, this is out of my history as Glenn Seton Racing and my career, the most memorable car I had,” Seton said.
“Pole position in 1996 at Bathurst when the car was first built, it was only built for Bathurst that year, that was the first time it ever ran.
“Then the following year to come out in 1997 and win the championship with Ford Credit, we won a lot of races that year and up against the dynamite of the Holden Racing Team.
“We were a small six-car team and to come out and be dominant and win the championship that year, going down to the last round between myself John Bowe and Russell Ingall, and we won on the day.
“Also, it was a memorable year to be able to do the burnout in Oran Park.
“A lot of fond memories for me in this car, out of the nine that we built, this is the most memorable this is GSR7.”
Offered in its original condition by Lloyds Auctions, the Ford will be sold with its CAMS logbook, Seton’s 1997 championship helmet, and race suit, all signed by the Supercars Hall of Famer.
Racing for eight years, the Falcon completed 96 races in the V8 Supercars championship between 1996 and 2002.
Driven by Neil Crompton for Glenn Seton Racing in the 1998 and 1999 series, the car was converted from an EF to EL series in 1997 when the facelifted model was release in showrooms.
Retaining its authentic 5.0L Windsor engine and 6-Speed Holinger H-Pattern manual gearbox, the rear-wheel-drive sedan has been restored back to its 1997 Ford Credit livery for sale.
Bidding is expected to increase in the coming days, with the car representing a unique part of Australian motorsport history.
The winning bidder could even expect an offer of a drive from the four-time Bathurst podium finisher himself.
“For its era, of the 1997’s 1998’s, it certainly was the fastest car I had, and to win the championship it has to be the fastest car,” said Seton.
“I would love to see it stay in the state it is in, it’s very original, even the floor, the chips that we put in the floor are still there today.
“It hasn’t been restored in the way that has it’s a complete car that it wasn’t when I was racing it.
“It has been painted back to the existing colours but the hardware, gearbox, engine, differential, and brakes is what we ran back in the day.
“I would like to see it brought out occasionally to show it off and get some fun out of it, it is a really fun car to drive.
“I would like to come back and have a drive of it occasionally with the new owner and maybe take them for a ride if they really want to.
“It’s got a lot of fond memories for me.”
The championship-winning Falcon will go under the hammer from 12pm this Saturday July 31.
For more information, the car listing can be viewed here.
