Diecast Detective

On this day: The Final FPV

APEX Replicas Celebrates the Iconic GT-F

Oct 08, 2024

8 October, 2014: On this day 10 years ago, the final Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) car rolled off the production line—a GT-F 351. This model marked the end of FPV’s legacy as Ford’s high-performance division in Australia. The GT-F 351 name honored the iconic Falcon GT of the 1970s, with "F" symbolizing "Final" and "351" referencing the cubic inch capacity of the renowned Windsor and Cleveland V8 engines. This final FPV sedan closed an era of Australian muscle cars.

FPV ceased operations shortly after the release of the GT-F, as Ford Australia restructured in anticipation of the end of local manufacturing in 2016. Around the same time, APEX Replicas launched its range of 1:18 scale GT-F models, perhaps not coincidentally. In total, seven variants were produced, including a Highway Patrol Police car. These models were gradually released over 2016 and 2017, with retail prices ranging from $215 to $250.

All Australian-released models came with numbered Certificates of Authenticity (COAs) in production runs ranging from 300 to 906. An unspecified number of units were produced for overseas markets without COAs.

While the standard GT-F models are highly sought after by Ford enthusiasts, the Highway Patrol variant attracts even broader interest, driven by police memorabilia collectors. Despite its larger production numbers, the police version is plagued by quality issues, including expanding windows and leeching glue, making pristine examples exceedingly rare. Many are beyond restoration, sparking a unique trend among model customisers who reimagine these flawed replicas as vandalised vehicles—further enhancing their niche appeal.

Product Code	Image	Colour	No. Made
BO907		Silhouette with Gold stripes	300
AR81001		Winter White with Black Stripes	360
AR80602		Kinetic with Black Stripes	360
AR80609		Smoke with Silver Stripes	462
AR80607		Victory Gold with Black Stripes	522
AR80604		Octane with Black Stripes	750
AR80603		NSW Highway Patrol "HWP152"	906

Update 1 December, 2024

Currently, the most valuable GT-F according to the Diecast Detective Price is the Highway Patrol edition. While its value has remained stable, the Winter White GT-F recently surged past the $500 mark for 'New.'

In contrast, the Smoke and Octane variants have seen sharp declines, with Smoke dropping 20% after a peak sale of $510 in early October, as multiple sales followed in quick succession, saturating the market.

Similarly, the Octane variant peaked at $549 in January 2024 but has since dropped 33%, with three of the last four sales falling below $300, resulting in a current Diecast Detective Price of $280, making it the least valuable GT-F.

Octane has fallen even more dramatically, down 33% since its January 2024 high sale price of $549, now sitting at $280 for its Diecast Detective Price, making it the least valuable GT-F in the lineup.