Chicken Coupe: From Rust to Ready – The Hard Work Behind a Rare XA GT-351 RPO83
Check out the work here: https://youtu.be/sCER442_1IM
Every once in a while, a project comes through our doors that transcends metal and paint. It becomes a story — a story of heritage, craftsmanship, patience, and passion. The “Chicken Coupe” is one of those stories.
This rare 1972 Ford Falcon XA GT-351 RPO83 is more than just a classic Australian muscle car. It’s a piece of family history, a connection between generations, and a living example of what world-class automotive restoration really looks like.
A Rare Falcon With a Unique Story
The “Chicken Coupe” earned its name affectionately, but its provenance is deeply significant. The car was originally purchased at a deceased estate auction and became a treasured project for its next owner — a young enthusiast whose vision was to see it restored to a concours-level standard worthy of GT Nationals competition.
Tragically, he passed away in his twenties, leaving the car and the dream behind. The vehicle is now in the hands of his family, who remain committed to seeing it completed — a tribute to his passion and a celebration of one of Ford Australia’s most iconic performance models.
The Work No One Sees: Metalwork and Body Perfection
From the moment the Chicken Coupe arrived at Finch Restorations, it was clear that this would be a demanding restoration. Years of corrosion, accident damage, and previous repairs had taken their toll.
Our metalwork and body teams embarked on a painstaking process:
Corrosion was carefully cut out and replaced with freshly fabricated steel.
Complex structural repairs were carried out to return the body to original specifications.
Panels were reshaped, aligned, and corrected by hand to achieve factory-accurate gaps and profiles.
Every square inch of the surface was refined, blocked, and levelled to a standard suitable for the GT Nationals, one of the most competitive and detail-driven judging arenas in Australian motoring.
This level of craftsmanship demands Herculean effort and relentless attention to detail — much of it invisible once the paint is applied — but it’s precisely this work that separates a good restoration from a great one.
Final Rub-Down: The Stage Before Colour
The video above shows the Chicken Coupe at a milestone few outside the trade truly understand: the final rub-down stage.
At this point, the body has been fully prepared and is now just days away from receiving its colour coats. It’s the moment where countless hours of unseen labour come together — the culmination of welding, shaping, filling, blocking, and refining. The panels are laser-straight, the surfaces flawless. Everything is ready for the final transformation that paint will bring.
While the paint stage often gets the spotlight, professionals know that the quality of the finish is determined long before the spray gun is ever lifted. And in this case, the foundation laid by Finch’s team is nothing short of world-class.
More Than Bodywork: A Complete One-Stop Restoration
One of the defining aspects of Finch Restorations is our one-stop shop approach. This project, like many others, has benefited from having every major restoration trade available in-house — bodywork, paint, mechanical, electrical, motor-trimming, fabrication, coachbuilding, and final assembly — all under one roof.
This integrated approach delivers far more than convenience. It ensures precision, continuity, and accountability across every stage of a project. Decisions made in metalwork influence the way mechanical components are installed. Electrical work integrates seamlessly with interior trimming. Every trade communicates, collaborates, and contributes to a unified restoration outcome.
It’s this holistic process that gives restorations like the Chicken Coupe their authenticity, quality, and long-term reliability — and it’s why Finch Restorations has been trusted with some of Australia’s most significant classic vehicles for nearly six decades.
A Tribute to Passion and Craftsmanship
As the Chicken Coupe moves into its next chapter — the paint stage — we reflect on the remarkable journey it’s already taken. This car is more than a rare RPO83. It’s a tribute to a young man’s passion, a testament to his family’s dedication, and a showcase of the craftsmanship that defines everything we do at Finch Restorations.
The hard work has been done. The foundation is set. And soon, the colour will bring this extraordinary project to life.
About Finch Restorations
Founded in 1965, Finch Restorations is Australia’s longest-established classic vehicle restoration company. With expert teams specialising in metalwork, paint, mechanical, electrical, trimming, and assembly, Finch delivers world-class restorations of rare and historically significant vehicles — from concours-winning show cars to heritage automotive icons.
