Chicken Coupe: From Rust to Ready – The Journey of a Rare XA GT-351 RPO83

Описание: The ‘Chicken Coupe’ — a rare 1972 Ford Falcon XA GT-351 RPO83 — has undergone a thorough and exacting body restoration at Finch Restorations, prepared to concours-level standards. From its arrival in a heavily corroded state to its current form at the final rub-down stage, this project represents the very essence of what we do: precision craftsmanship, deep technical knowledge, and an unwavering commitment to authenticity.

Almost every square inch of this body has been shaped, repaired, and perfected by hand. Rusted sections were cut out and repaired, often remade from scratch from new steel. Surfaces were levelled, straightened and finished to the exacting standards required for GT Nationals judging — one of the most demanding concours events in the Australian muscle-car world.

Now just days away from colour, the car is poised for the final transformation — paint. What you’re seeing here is the result after the completion of metalwork and prepping work for world-class restoration: the many hours of labour and skill that make award-winning finishes possible.

At Finch Restorations, we believe in delivering projects as a complete, integrated service. That means more than bodywork and paint — it means in-house capability for mechanical, electrical, coachbuilding, fabrication, 3D scanning/design, motor-trimming, finishing, and assembly. When all those trades work together under one roof, the result is more than a restored car — it’s a faithfully reborn and documented piece of automotive history.

This is the story behind the Chicken Coupe. The steel tells the story — and every panel carries the mark of the craftsmen who brought it back to life.

🔧 Chapters (to be adjusted based on actual times):

00:00 – Arrival and initial assessment
00:35 – Rust removal and structural repairs
02:46 – Panel reshaping and alignment
03:40 – Final body preparation and surface refinement
04:35 – Ready for colour

📍 About Finch Restorations
Founded in 1965, Finch Restorations is Australia’s longest-established classic vehicle restoration company. With specialist trades under one roof — from bodywork and paint to mechanical, electrical, 3D scanning/design and interior trimming — we deliver restorations to world-class standards for collectors, enthusiasts, and concours competition.

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