Tyres were becoming a big problem for the Falcons.
Moffat had written off one car at Adelaide when a tyre failed so Marsden enlisted Globe Products in Adelaide to produce a new batch of new wheels to cure the problem.
Suddenly the old 14-inch diameter steel wheels were replaced by beautiful seven inch wide, 15-inch diameter alloy wheels styled like those from the Ferrari Daytona.
Apart from curing the terrible tyre flexing problems which were the root of the Falcon's troubles, the new alloy wheels reduced the unsprung weight, better brake cooling, increased strength and also allowed for the fitting of even wider rubber.
They first appeared at Sandown for the 250 and proved immediately effective. Although Moffat retired from the race with gearbox failure John Goss brought home the goods for Ford with Gibson second and Carter third.
Pit stops for fresh rubber and blow-outs were noticeably rare and the Phase Three was looking good for another Bathurst win. Moffat went three seconds faster than the previous year to score yet another pale position for the Hardie Ferodo and had another three Falcons backing him up at the head of the grid, but race day put a different outlook on things.
For the first time in years the rains came to Bathurst in October and the pendulum seemed to swing in favour of the smaller Holdens.
Ford lost Gibson early in the race when his Falcon rolled at the top of the Mountain while Bond did a similar thing in his Torana. This left Moffat in the lead and Ford's major hope for another victory while Brock headed Holden's hopes.
But things were not to go Ford's way this time around and it started looking bad for Moffat when he spun away his lead. Then he was given a minute penalty when he started the Falcon's engine while it was still being refuelled at the first pit stop.
Then Moffat started to have brake trouble, nearly causing him to lose the Falcon at the end of Conrod, going very close to giving the fence a blow.
At the next pit stop one of the front brakes was disconnected on the Moffat car and, at the same time, another minute penalty was given for starting the engine too early again. His chances were now zero for victory but Moffat continued to drive hard trying to make up some ground, despite his obvious braking disability making every lap an adventure.
That he finished eighth was a superb effort under the conditions as well as driving solo again.