Adam Lebrese’s Extreme Custom 1978 Ford Falcon XC

This mega-remarkable XC Falcon is a dramatically customized version of the last Ford Falcon Coupe from the late 1970s. You might say it is “X-Ceptional.”

It’s been called “over the top” for its incredible design… an ambitious build which received acknowlegement on two continents… and it continues to wow everyone who sees it as it seems to be morphing into something bigger than it originally was conceived.

This 1978 Ford Falcon XC established a reputation for Austrailian car designer Adam LeBrese as a top custom builder from down under. His XC features suicide doors, all re-fabbed sheet metal and hand crafted tubular chassis. Notice the low, lean look compliments of the full on air ride system and flared front fenders. The unique look incorporates suicide doors and machined alloy and leather interior with tucked bumpers and pumped front guards.
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The big, bad Ford was six years in the making: “The initial plan was to build an XC that was race-inspired, to incorporate a race theme throughout”, said Adam.

This automotive movement is known as ‘pro-touring’, where a classic muscle car’s aesthetics and performance are purposefully upgraded, always with the aim to be driven, rather than just displayed.

The 351 Cleveland (“Clevo” as Adam says) has been stroked to 393 cubic inches with Edelbrock alloy heads, Belle crank and fed with Weber velocity stacks for incredible power. There is nothing quite like the sound of this engine revving with those velocity stacks doing some heavy breathing. LeBrese says the front suspension is all his own original design. It has an air bag system and is backed up with a Tremec 6-speed manual transmission. The rear end is a custom Ford 9″ with a center lever 4-link.

LeBrese was especially proud of the F1 style lever-action suspension which was his own concept. With this center force style system the shocks are mounted in the frame itself. You will see in the video below that he also included a full Air Ride system.

Painted in House of Kolor Orion Silver, Adam’s Falcon appears as if it was hand-carved from a single piece of billet steel. It’s beautifully minimalist, in keeping with its owner-builder’s philosophy of “less is more”.

The spotlight is shone on the vehicle’s inherent design, using customisation to emphasise it, rather than alter it. In Adam’s mind, maintaining a car’s identity and integrity throughout the rebuild process is paramount: “Just because a modification can be done, doesn’t mean it should”.

The car was rebuilt in white in 2012 and took out SMOTY the same year. Adam’s coupe was then sold to Robert Gallo and was given a revamp by Drago Ostric. In this form, it nabbed a spot in the Elite Top Ten at Summernats 29 and seven other trophies. Now, the car is in the hands of Chris Palazzo.