I live about 10 mins walking distance to the Holden factory. Still really sad that Australia no longer has a car manufacturing industry and almost certainly never will again. The good old days of Ford vs Holden are well and truly in the past, unfortunately.
The Ford vs Holden saga will continue long into the future. Coz let's face it, Aussies need as many reasons as possible to banter with mates 😂😂 we'll be driving space ships while still arguing drunk about what's better 😂😂
@@baabaabaa2293 My grandparents still have a original newspaper article framed on their wall of lou bandt and his ute . There's even a bridge named after him in Victoria.
@@joshuatravis2626 Your related Josh? It's a shame how it ended for him mate.. But l like the idea they named something after him. I had an old car mag about him being reunited with the ute & rebuilding it.. As long as some of us remember him... the man started an Aussie tradition! Cheers for the reply mate!
"The space for big gas guzzling utes is rapidly diminishing" Unfortunately utes have been replaced with even bigger gas guzzling pick-up trucks, which are often less practical than the utes they replace. Although the V8 ute was quite popular in Australia, most Holden and Ford Utes built were 6 cylinders.
It’s a good topic , clearly the other bloke telling the ozzy Ute story was very one sided Holden , the big three , Holden, ford, Chrysler all had utes in various specs through the decades , which where the common local models , but there where a plethora of other brand utes as well , i can remember ( vaguely) , there where other American utes like single spinner/customline in the early days , although in far less numbers. Ford and Holden did not give the cab chassis option with the local drivelines until the early 70’s with the Holden one tonner , and somewhat later in the falcon range iirc, although I think ford had the little 4 cylinder cab chassis( I forget the name)also we had everything from Suzuki mighty boys to f series fords , dodge commercial and a bunch of commercial Japanese cab chassis utes. The v8 power race probably started with the 1967 falcon mustang v8 powered XR GT , because the local sedan models shared drivelines with the sedans , and the power race was on , Holden responded the next year , it was only a matter of time before the utes got the hot rod treatment from owners which eventually filtered down to the dealers with soft mods and sticker packs until some years later with Holden special vehicles and ford performance vehicles , we where getting some cars with serious ponies with supercharged V8 S in the falcons , and not long after Holden also went down this path , ford with the falcon sedans and utes also had the ball tearing 4.0 litre long stroke turbo straight six which more often than not embarrassed the v8 models . We could also mention the local panel vans , which technically where the brothers to the utes , Holden, ford and Chrysler all had some nice vans or shag gin wagons 😊, I think Holden went the extra mile with the sporty interiors and sticker packs . One thing about Australia and it’s car culture , is that we have had such a huge variety of vehicles not only from our local makers when we had them , but from all around the world. Some of these dudes that are Holden buffs seem to think Holden was the only car brand in oz 😀, I worked in a ford dealer many years ago in Melbourne that opened up in 1917 . I miss our local car industry and it’s cars. Re: the Tesla Ute/cyber wanky thing , I think it’s bloody horrible too mate.
@@mikldude9376 Did you know before FORD built a factory in Australia Holden assembled some Ford's in it's factory. Studebaker's Dodge and few other brands. Holden even used other brand chassis and stuck it's own body on them called F.H.HT or something. like a old 1920's truck looking thing boxed back and model T looking cab front.
@@nedkelly9688 no I didn’t know that Ned , thank you mate, now you mention the old studebaker , yes we had those too , I had a mate that was a mad stude boy with a bit of a collection . It saddens me still to this day our politicians policy’s for decades basically where responsible for the demise of our car manufacturing among other industries, you could see it coming a mile off . It’s a pretty horrendous record , that every car manufacturer in Australia either went broke or left the country for greener pastures , and other industries too.
My first car in 1984 was a 1948 Austin A40 ute. My brother bought it for $200 bucks and he and dad painted it flame-orange and gave it to me on my 16th birthday. It certainly turned some heads. I currently own a classic red/white 1970 El Camino SS with a big ol' 402 cube big block, badged by Chevy as a 396 to save their customers a few bucks on road tax. There are a lot of classic cars in the Barossa Valley where I hail from, but mine seems to be a big fave with the locals when I bring it out. Probably because it's such a rarity in Aus. In the past I've had Holden utes, Hiluxes and Ford utes, and I built up a $120K+ monster V8 Landcruiser ute for chasing pigs around far north QLD. But my favourite was probably my green XG XR6. Damn that thing went hard. Fun fact. The Holden ute was exported to South Africa as the El Camino.
The ute holds a special place in many Australian's hearts, after all our husbands, sons, father's left every morning whilst backing out of the driveway in his ute. Mum and the kids waving goodbye and how many families watched for that ute every evening for their loved ones to return from a hard day's work. Utes are part of the Australian psyche, what would a ute muster be without the Aussie ute.
@@esmeraldagreengate4354 for a very old, long rusted out vehicle that was never a holden, or a ford, and certainly wasnt ever orange, you’re funny! “esmeralda” - the original “esmeralda” was far more than any of you clowns could have driven!
Nothing more Aussie than being in the country and seeing an old Holden Ute with it's trademark Australian Kelpie or Cattle dogs leaping into the back proud like they own it 😂 Ian, I agree with you...The Tesla Cybertruck is "butt ugly" lol it belongs on Mars ! they are marked to roll out sometime in 2023. Depending on the model it will be between $50 to $60 thousand. They'd have to pay me to drive around in that 😅 I own an old Holden one tonner and had an old Holden panel van but alas no ute 🤗
What separates the ‘UTE’ from contemporary commercial vehicles is that it drives like a traditional car, low centre of gravity therefore much safer and in later years as luxurious as you wish, all Aussie’s understand this, in the USA the trucks as they have always been described ie:RAM ++++ are powerful, luxurious but sadly will always drive like a truck and with a high centre of gravity are unsafe. The ‘Aussie Ute’ drives like a high quality luxury European vehicle and you can still the take 6 pigs to market, + 2x fishing rods + 2 sets of golf clubs + plus the family dog to guard the vehicle and the golf clubs whilst your fishing!!!! now that’ living. Now it has to be said , She’s a real beauty mate just like my Sheila waiting for me back at the farm. The ‘Aussie UTE’ will always be the most versatile mass produced vehicle ever made. Cheer’s from Bourke NSW to all me old mates out there.🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
In Australia, any cab chassis style light vehicle was called a "ute" and it was pretty well interchangeable with the full body ute for most purposes except style. Most of them were actually six cylinder vehicles (straight six at that) and then later four cylinder as the power of four cylinders was improved and the price of fuel started to go through the roof. I still drive a 2006 Mazda Bravo B2600, maybe one of the last ever made. It's never given one day of trouble, and from that point of view is probably the best vehicle I have ever owned. Australians never really understood the American "truck" designation. To us a truck was something that was used for hauling freight or heavy machinery. You certainly wouldn't go to church in one (not that the vast majority of Australians actually go to church except to get married). Even the Toyota Hilux was a 'ute', and even if it was the 4x4 version. I had one of those too. Calling it a 'truck' was borderline offensive and they also made a 2x4 light version of it for people who just wanted something for work (builders, plumbers etc) and a wagon style for recreation (forunner as it was). Fast forward to the 2000's and the emphasis started to move away from a light vehicle that could go to church or market, to a vehicle that was more suited to recreational use - rough terrain and larger carrying and towing capacities. Even the much loved Hilux is now an overly large and expensive American style "truck" in every sense of the word. It's the end of a era I guess, but it's now much harder to find a vehicle that fits between the wanker status symbol SUV and the 2+ ton penis extension of the heavy gas guzzling American style "truck".
I actually had to read that twice, just to appreciate the beauty of truth of those three paragraphs. This just exemplifies the minor yet major issues of “social discourse” between different countries & cultures. But even as an aussie, in australia, I still call my old ranger ute a “truck” some days, just because in comparison to my other car, ‘she’ is a truck. Appreciating the variations of ‘words in context’ in different societies, is relevant and relative to a basic comprehension of any ‘comparison’ or ‘reaction’ someone else makes!
So true. Everything sensible and practical is slowly disappearing from the car market. There aren't many station wagons left. And most of the ones you *can* get are expensive Euro ones (good cars, but not affordable like we used to have). Why did people believe the car companies when they told us we wanted SUVs (or cross overs or whatever you want to call the current family car)? Most people who buy one now would be perfectly happy with a sedan or station wagon if they could buy one.
Yeah a whole section of the market is gone. Since 2002 I've owned a VX Commodore, AU Falcon and BA Falcon but now I drive a Triton because you just can't get that type of car anymore.
It's a shame that the old tray back light utes aren't available anymore the big tanks with oversized gas guzzling engines trays that are at shoulder height as just totally impractical
Utes mate, had a 4 door monaro as 1st car, fucking beauty of a car, but since then it has been nothing but wagons or utes, love how I can just chuck shit in the back and just go, wagons are a bit more secure but nothing beats a ute full of campin, fishin gear or a motorbike blocking the rear view mirror
Hi Ian. Love all of your stuff including Bathurst, family unboxing and the dude of dudes Pedro. Australian ute culture, having owned and built several, is about the two seater sports car, just you and the babe hitting the road for adventure and fun in a fast set of wheels and room for the gear in the back. Surf board and tent, skis and sleeping gear, and of course work through the week carrying all your tools and equipment. It is the car of cars for Aussie boys having fun. Jeff
Wow that was a great reaction video. It is a real shame that we don't have anymore traditional utes rolling off any production lines. The origins of the ute were spot on by that guy.
Indeed. It's our loss and a true failure of successive governments that we can't even import cars that are practical for our land let alone make them for ourselves. With the loss of the ute also goes any dream of ever seeing a PV again.
It's a shame that there aren't any cars manufactured in Australia now. I bought a new VY One Tonner S (V8) , and while it's not perfect I still have it 20 years later. Having said that I have a pre-order for a Cybertruck and I commute to work on a Livewire.
I think the beauty of utes is that up front in the cabin they have all the comfort, features and seating position of the sedans that they are based on with similar ride and handling, and thus also navigate through heavy traffic and tight parking lots just like cars. Large body-on-frame pick-up trucks, while often having a larger load & towing capacity than utes, generally feel, handle and perform like, well, trucks and drink fuel accordingly too. I recently bought a boat and needed something cheap and reliable to tow it with as my fancy daily driver isn't suitable for the task, so I picked up a cheap 2005 Ford Falcon ute and couldn't be happier (not the fancy lowered V8 sports one with the mag wheels & body kit but the regular tradie model with the heavy duty rear suspension and big & torquey inline 6). Tows the boat with ease with plenty of room in the tray for fuel tanks, trolling motors, fenders and other assorted boating stuff but it is also a comfortable highway cruiser in its own right and makes a great daily driver around the congested streets of Sydney where I live, so my [former] regular "daily driver" now more often than not now just sits in the garage gathering dust.
well germany had ute in the 80´s and 90´s from vw that was pretty popular worldwide...the rabbit pickup or as its called in germany the vw caddy...and america had a pretty nice ute aswell, the el camino...many brands in the 70´s, 80´s and 90´s actually built small pickups on sedan plattforms...unfortunatlity the popularity of utes sunk worldwide and made way for full size pick ups, suvs, stationwagons, and vans that are built more specific for certain demands...utes where more a niche vehicle that could do alot of things but nothing particulary well...but nice to see that australia is keeping the ute spirit alive!
Ford always had Falcon V8 utes along with the sedan. In the 70's they didn't have a GT version like the sedan, but you could option a GS which came with the same V8 as the GT, but had the standard port heads compared to the too big for the street 4V port heads that were fitted so the cars could be raced (think Bathurst). In the 90's when ford started making V8 falcons again (they stopped in '83 because of new emissions rules/unleaded fuel) along with the sedans you could get XR6 (3.9 SOHC) and XR8 (302 Windsor) utes. When the Barra 6 started to be fitted to Falcons, like the sedan you could get an XR6 Turbo ute. FPV (Ford Performance Vehicles) produced the Falcon pursuit ute with an upgraded Barra turbo and super pursuit with a modular based 5.4 V8 and later the supercharged Coyote. V8 Falcon utes continued to be available until Falcon production ceased.
@GreenCrim “FPV (Ford Performance Vehicles) produced the Falcon pursuit ute with an upgraded Barra turbo” Not quite right the “pursuit” and “super pursuit” were BOTH V8’s. Just different trim levels I believe, with the Super Pursuit costing you a few more $$$. Both came with the Old 5.4L v8 and eventually the 5.0 Miami v8 (coyote) in the later models. The FPV Barra Turbo utes were designated as the “F6 Tornado” in the Ba-bf. Along side the “F6 Typhoons” which were the sedans. As of the release of the FG Falcon’s. FPV dropped the Tornado and Typhoon names and just used the “F6” name for both the utes and sedans. So an FG F6 could be either a sedan or a Ute their was no distinction with just the names. So you’d specify an FG F6 Ute or FG F6 sedan. Since they no longer used the Tornado and Typhoon names to differentiate between them.
A 'true' original Ute is a unibody based on a equivalent sedan/wagon with everything forward of the B pillar essentially the same. Non-unibody with removable tub/tray versions are called cab-chassis. The stuff they sell here in Australia now aren't 'true utes'...generally just cab-chassis or dual cab/crew cab/twin cab 4wd's. Pretty sad :(
The toyota crown ute was a full chassis "non unibody" and still a ute because the tray is integral with the cabin. Same goes all Holden Kingswood utes from HQ-WB. Unibody just means no chassis- nothing to do with ute or not.
I have owned 4 utes, we have horses so it's very handy for picking up bales of hay etc... I owned a 1976 VJ valiant ute with the 265 hemi engine, 1993 VP comodore ute with the 3.8 litre v6 buick engine, a 2001 AU falcon ute with the 4.0 litre straight 6,and now I have a 4 cylinder turbo diesel Nissan Navara ute, all have served me well getting around weather carrying loads like hay etc or camping with a matress in the back. They are great at drive-in theatres on a matress if the weather is good !
I live in Geelong where the Ford factory is and where Lewis Bandt was from... A interesting thing you could look Into involving utes is the b,n,s (Batchelor and Spinster) balls that became the weekly ritual for young farmers to drive hundreds sometimes 1000km to go and party... and they had ute events... show and shine, sound off for loudest exhaust, circlework competition, and very large consumptions of alcohol.. the Deniliquin ute muster is also a good source for ute related stuff
I live in Geelong…the place where Lew Bandt designed the ute. Today was the “All Ford Day” car show. So many beautiful Aussie Fords at one awesome car show. 😚 Oh and my favourite ute would be the last model. The FG X turbo…the mighty Barra is such a smooth, powerful engine. ❤
one comment: its NOT marloo its Maloo (mal-loo) which is the sports version of the ute, the versions you can swap out the rear trays are commonly known as the 1 toner ute, and these also come in dual cab versions (proud aussie), as for the ford utes, the inline 6 cylinder followed all the way through to the BA Barra's (barra as in: barramundi, barracuda but its barra), the inline 6 also sports a turbo version which can pump out alot more power than an RB30 (and sadly last longer), alot of holden guys are swapping the RB motors for the Barra versions (you can pump alot more horsepower and spend less to get the peak out of the barra 6), look at the Ford XT BA XR6 etc, one driver alot of americans know well is Marcus Ambrose he drove alot over here as well before going to the US, the ute is iconic and is still very much an aussie icon.
Love this. My father in law had a shaggin wagon 😂😂 Another kind of car. Oh i miss the Ford v Holden competition. My dad would be so bummed if he knew Ford stopped production. I bought a small ford car. The next car Im getting I told my husband is a ute. My dad learned to drive near bondi beach in his uncles Ford. Please look up the Musk Ute first promotion and he tests the glass if you need a laugh its hilarious
Yes like you say, they came in the variant where the cab was it's own section with a flatbed on the back with exposed chassis. From there you could have fold down metal/wooden sides etc and on some service vehicles cabinets were fitted underneath in that chassis area.
The biggest thing that differentiates the falcons and commodore based Ute’s is the independent rear suspension in the holden vs leaf springs in the ford aside from that they were very similar, the au xr8 seen in the advertisement overtaking the speed run car still had an iron Windsor 5L v8 and leaf rear at the same time holden had the vu ute with all aluminium ls1 5.7 and irs and driving the two cars at the limit was a totally different experience!
I just saw a Regional Council video made in Bathurst, interviewing families and showing amenities! It's more than Car Races, it's a very liveable, historic and pretty city! 🤗
I think the closest we got in Norway to Utes, were the Ford P100, which was a Ford Sierra pick-up, and the VW Caddy, which was a Golf/Rabbit MK1 pick-up when it first came out (but it evolved into a Polo based bread van.) Maybe the old Mazda B-series pick-ups could count? But that might have the Chevy S10 pick-up also count? Also, the GMC Syclone? It was the worlds fastest pick-up for a while, would that fit under Ute? (Though that also fits under S10) On the weird Tesla "truck" I kinda doubt it'll be allowed everywhere, as it's design kinda doesn't lend itself to the current era of road safety, where car designs are somewhat restricted by laws, basically having to be design in ways that won't cause unneeded harm if you hit a pedestrian, which is why pop-up headlights aren't made anymore, they were a danger to pedestrians. And the Tesla "truck" is basically a block with sharp edges.... and with Tesla's build quality, panel gaps that might swallow pedestrians, they still can't figure out how to use the bare rust proof metal properly... like DeLorean managed in the early 80s... If I ever were to go the EV route, I lean more towards Hyundai's N Vision 74, based off of the 1974 Hyundai Pony Coupe prototype which was designed by the guy who also designed the DeLorean. ^^
Australian ute still holds Guiness world record for fastest truck ute in the world is the Holden VZ Commodore Maloo ute beat the American one by 20kmh and the newer never tried the record but were a lot quicker again.
I had a 1993 XF Falcon Ute with a straight 6 and an extractor system as my first car. Still gotta be one of the nicest sounding cars I've ever heard. I learnt a lot about cars as the fan belt was always coming loose, the electrical were always playing up on cold mornings and it drank a bottle of oil every couple months.
The first "Utility" in Australia was a cut down English car. A farmer cut the roof off the back half so he could haul hay. All three car manufactures here in Oz made 'em. Holden, (GM), Ford and Chrysler. The Holden Bro's were coach builders. The first Holden, was actually a Canadian designed Buick. Love how its an English man talking about Australian car history...
@@adamthreapleton9149 Yep, to the best of my knowledge the Super utes use LS V8s. And yeah, the Holden ute never had a 4cyl option, from beginning production of the original 51-2106 (FX Ute), until the final VF. 6 cylinder or V8 only. Theres a couple of inaccuracies in this video, I'm trying my hardest to ignore them haha
5:35 I've never heard "Maloo" pronounced like how that guy said it in the video. It's said a lot quicker. I don't know how to type it but maybe something like "Ma-lew" Edit: you said it like how most people say it
Current owner of a Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo ute. Zf 6 speed auto, upgraded 4.0L six cylinder Barra turbo making 580hp at the hubs (aussie hp measurement not US HP) and soon to be tuned for E85 and probably will go mid 600's. Had it since new in 2011 and no plans to move it on. It gets used the take rubbish to the dump, tow my race trailer with a quad bike in the back, cruise the city or travel around the country in comfort, or run low 11's at the strip and will smoke the tyres in 3rd gear. What's not to love?
As briefly mentioned, Ute comes from Utility vehicle. Must Popular Utes in Australia are the Toyota Hilux and the Ford Ranger. 70 Series for wealthier people. US pick-ups are also popular here, those being the RAM 1500 and the Silverado.
I've still got my first car which is a 1993 Ford XG Falcon Ute. Police pack with a 5 speed, LSD, Tickford head swap and all the XR6 goodies fitted along the way. There just hasn't been a vehicle since that combines a 2 door sports car with the practicality of a light truck. The term ute refers to a vehicle with an integrated bed "true ute" but was loosened when the AU came out with it's separate bed. GM kept it integral in the standard 2 door model.
When we came to Australia in 70's, I asked the same question. There is the official real reason. Then, there is the alternative for non farming young. The ute/pick up has a lower gear ratio in the diff. The benefits, quicker acceleration, and better burnouts. The fact it didn't have the same top speed or same fuel economy didn't matter. Also was generally cheaper to buy. My son had a 6 liter which I admit was fun even stock standard with stick shift. My sister's boy had same but modified and that would give you touretts trying to drive around the shopping centre. All the best from Western Australia.
I had a HZ Kingswood ute with a chev v8, Holley carburettor, big gragways wheels and 3 speed slick shift. It hauled ass and could carry a fair bit of weight in the back too. Mind you it like drinking fuel but it was fast. 😎
Malaysia used to produce the Proton Arena, a rebadged 91 Mitsubishi Lancer that was also sold in Australia. Some of the local guys have been putting in Evo stuff in them since it fits perfectly. In the 70s and 80s we had small pickups made by Datsun and Subaru. These were replaced by the Nissan C22(Vanette) pickup, a van with a pickup style bed.
We always called it a pickup but one firm I worked at had a Ford P100 that was based on the Mk4 Cortina. I think the P100 was made in South Africa. They later made a Sierra derived version.
Still driving and using my 27yr old Hilux ute. Dad is still using his 30 yr old Holden ute. I asked dad once "why don't you get rid of all the Red-Back spiders from under the seats and behind the sun visors?.. He said " What, they're my security system, plus they help keep the bloody thing together.
The only Ute we have ever owned since we married was a Nissan Navara twin cab sports. My husband got to choose his own Ute at work and they paid for it. It was navy blue and silver and for a Ute it was pretty. Inside was luxury for then. It cost a bomb and when he finished that job 18 months later he asked to buy it. They sold it for $4,000.00.
I have a '16 VF2 Redline ute. Owned since new, as soon as I heard the factory was closing, I put in my order. I got OTR, cam, headers etc for 480rwhp. Blower going on in Oct. Motoring HISTORY!!!
Hey Knackers, if you find some time check out some of the Ford utes and older panel vans. In particular the Ford Pursuit Ute. And some of they wild power people are getting out of our Aussie Barra engines. I'm currently bolting one in to my 1978 transit van. Good video mate.
I had the Ford BA XR6 Turbo Ute back in 2004, i loved it and had loads of power. Got tired of it in the end as i wanted the sedan for extra seating. Still it looked nice, went well and turned many heads.
Sorry mate,but your reaction to how US car executives destroyed the Aussie car industry, the same shit happened with the Australian music industry..this why you yanks never heard none of the exceptional musicians that developed out of this country but were never known out of this country
You do have a Ute. I watch Cleetus McFarland, and he races an El Camino. An El Camino, is a ute. It's based on an American car, which is a bit bigger than a typical Australian car, but it isn't a pick-up-truck, it's a ute. We have two distinct styles of them. Tray-back, which have a pair of chassis members going back, and full-body, which is like the Marloo you're showing there. Now both Holden and Ford made full body sedans, and utes, and tray-backs based on the same year model body.
The Falcon Ute is well worth a look at. You could by yourself a Ford Falcon Ranchero 1960's model and Aussie it up to have your own ute, even if it's a fake one. Dudes would buy XW/XY Falcon sedans here and kit them out like Phase 3 Shakers, they're called Faker Shakers.
Why? Ford Australia built Falcon Ute's in the 60's & improved the suspension to suit Australian conditions, of course they'd be rare these days but im sure Ranchero's are too
Don't understand a thing your saying. why bring a 60's Ranchero to Australia to have a ute when Ford Australia had it's own ute built for Australian conditions in the 60's. What does XY Phase 3's got to do with utes topic. also guys did XY utes up as GTHO shakers also.
@Ned Kelly to be honest I don't know what muckup HOy's had to do with the topic, sure there were plenty of them also plenty of muckup SLR5000's, has nothing to do with utes
@@nedkelly9688 he's not saying to bring it to Australia He's saying that he could buy a Ranchero and "Aussie it up" as in, Make it like it was from Australia whilst still in America
Yes, it all came down to farmers. My grandfather was a dairy farmer and he owned a Holden Ute in the 50’s. I still have a black and white photo of it. Basically, farmers are pragmatic. They wanted a vehicle to double as a town car and a workhorse on the farm. Considering how relatively expensive cars were back then, it made a lot of sense.
the things americans call trucks, are utes over here in australia. Trucks don't start until you have to use double rear wheels. moving bigger stuff like in a pantec truck or semi
It's kinda weird to me (though obvious now that you mention it) that utes aren't popular everywhere. And while the muscle car utes are popular here in Australia, and I guess kind of a status symbol for some parts of the community, the more common ones are the true utility vehicles. They are useful for carrying and hauling loads of all kinds, higher off the ground and often 4WD so that they're capable of traversing rough terrain (on a farm, for example). I live in a rural area, and have never met a farmer that didn't own at least one. They're also fantastic for camping in! I actually owned a Ford AU Falcon ute (which was basically a Ford AU Falcon car with the back half replaced by a tray) with a canvas canopy that I specifically bought for its camping potential. Unfortunately I only got to camp in it twice before I realised it had mechanical issues that were much too expensive for me to fix. To be fair though, it was about twenty years old at the time. Whatever you do, don't start an Aussie on the Ford vs Holden debate. Arguments can get heated. Personally, I don't really care. I now own a Toyota (though sadly not a ute), which might not hold a candle to the power of the Holdens or Fords I have previously owned, but it far outstrips them when it comes to reliability and longevity.
Lewis Bandt, the designer of the first Ford coupe utility was also famous for designing the F-series module that were ambulances from the 1970s through to the Mid-90s. It was because the F-trucks became too expensive when Ford USA stopped making right hand drive versions. The formula was simple: Take an F-series, usually an F-150, remove the bed, and install a purpose built fibreglass body to the rear. Cut an access hole through the back of the cab to allow access from front to rear. Ford Australia did modify the 302 Windsor and 351 Cleveland. Different heads, cams, intake manifolds and sometimes even ignition. The first Ford 6 cylinder varied from its American counterpart mostly in displacement. They grew to 200 and 250 cubic inch displacement. Unlike the US inline sixes, the evolution didn't stop there. They gained cross flow alloy heads, electronic ignition, fuel injection, and in the final inline 6 incarnation, a 4 litre inline 6 with DOHC, fuel injection, and an intercooled turbo. It's fairly easy to get 1000 reliable horsepower out of one,but the wildest I've heard of yet is 2500 horsepower. Imagine that wile engine in ute form. The Ford Utes of this era used a modified F-series tray, which like the north American version, was teachable if you wanted a flatbed instead.
BTW, there's a small outfit in the Denver metro area that converts RHD utes to LHD. Its known as Left Hand Utes, and they usually get wrecked utes, mostly flood-damaged ones, bring them over to the US, and install the dash and steering wheel of the Chevy SS (the Holden Commodore in Australia). A few even specifies their utes to have the front end of the Pontiac G8 (Pontiac's version of the SS). #DougDeMuro had a review of a LHD Holden Maloo 6 year ago, I think. Here's the link to the video: m.ruclips.net/video/vmpCWEAapQY/видео.html Also, there are two stories on #VinWiki that discusses ownership of a Holden, including a Ute.
Owned a Vs Malloo Ute was so light in the rear so easy to light the tyres,old Aussie 5ltr motor.Then a 2001 clubsport 5.7 ltr motor great cars.Not happy I sold them now,it’s devastating they will disappear off our roads
I own a Holden 2005 VZ 1 Tonner ute. Its only a V6 but has a tray. Known as a Cross 6. It is all wheel drive. The 1tonner ute has a half chassis bolted to the rear of the cab. The car based ute is a moncote construction. The ford is a full chassis the body can be swapped out for a tray.
Austin A40 & 1800, Morris, Standard Vanguard, Toyota Crown, Datsun 1200 and Vauxhall all produced ute bodied variations of sedans/wagons in Australia. People also forget the Ford produced a Zephyr ute. Before that (1950's) there was the Chrysler Royal and Ford Customline utes, both available with V8's
It's a ute... utility vehicle. Single cab, R.W.D. drove them all my life as an electrician... like a reverse mullet. Business in the back, party up front. Clear out tools, mattress in back at the drive in.. 2 door sports car a man can carry his $hit in. Drove them for work since 77. Currently have a 99 model ford xr6 tickford manual... check out the xr6 Turbo.. can be built ove 1000 hp. Think nissan had a hot engine in skylines??. Sadly, no local manufactures now. Its Just imported single and dual cab light commercials. Had a Toyota 4wd dual cab for a while.. daughter called it the 4 door car truck.
The hottest looking Holden EVER made (not a ute) was the 1988 VL Commodore Group A SS, or “Walkinshaw” (after the Scottish racer/car-builder involved in its construction).
My father used to own a pristine condition sky blue 1988 VL Commodore Vacationer with the straight 6 engine. It had 2 piece Simmons mag rims on it and the high performance front bumper clip. It actually looked somewhat like the Walkinshaw version.
You don’t see that many on the roads any more. I used to own a 350hp V8 Ford Falcon Magnet and it was simultaneously the best and the scariest car that I ever owned. Almost no weight (relatively) over the rear axle so it could break traction at almost any speed.
The Hilux models were developed by Toyota and it's subsidiary Hino in Japan. And since around 2004, they have been made in Thailand. Sometimes motor cos will do some testing in different markets. But that is not the same as being developed there. And often it is to fine tune them, as to options for that market. Whereas, the Holden Commodore cars and utes. While originally being based on Opel car models. (There was no equivalent Opel ute). Were extensively redeveloped and tested in Australia for Australia. And manufactured in Australia. As were the Ford Falcons. And of course, these days. Australia no longer manufactures any cars, or car derived utes.
They are practical. We used to refer to them as 1 tonners. Originally for farmers as they were so practical they ended up in the trades industry. The perfect payload space.
Ah mate great video. Another one of our icons I miss dearly. I drive my commodore wagon with pride. They look great and are great and of course you can't get them anymore. Its my third one and I will drive it til the wheels fall off it as I did the previous two. Love your content mate Oh and I've owned 4 utes. 3 Holden's and 1 Toyota Hilux with my favourite being a late 90s Wayne Gardner series one. That thing was crazy. I had to drive around with a few cement bags in the back because it was too light in the rear end compared to the power it had so would lose traction all the time
The Holdens tended to be a full monoque chassis where the Ford Falcons fron the late 90's went for a cab chassis setup where the cab was monoque and the rear half was rail chassis like a truck which made them a bit more versatile including the ability to chage out different types of rear deck rather than being stuck with the one deck style the Holdens had.
There are commodore traytops too if you hadn't noticed. I drive an AU Falcon traytop with the factory dedicated lpg motor. Was always a Valiant guy- cant afford one now! First Ford I ever owned, great car.
9:20 XD Falcon ute. You can tell by the indicator lamps. '80 to around '83 then the XE came in. The square headlights came in in '78 and '79 on the XC update models. I drive a Mitsubishi Triton ute now. My old MH Triton got sandwiched between two cars when I was parked at a red light. It spilt no fluids and drove away. I bought a newer 2007 ML model but I fixed up the old MH because it was too old to be recorded as written off. I have two utes now. In the old days they were called "Tillies". Most the old people like my Grandfather who called them that are gone now.
I have owned 5 utes. A Chev LUV, Hilux dual cab and 3 Landcruiser utes. My favourite was the HDJ79R , a factory turboed 6 cylinder diesel engined machine.
Here in Perth, it would appear to me that the following utes are gaining ascendency here: Landcruiser utes; Hilux utes; and Mazda BT50s. The mining and prospecting industry seems to be fuelling that for the first two, - folk on good wages have those as their work, and as their private vehicles. Folk in other business, see these vehicles driven by coined-up people, and start to acquire them also. The youngsters are also acquiring them. Toyota is now king in Perth (mind, they always were in the prospecting and mining field). Oh, & the tradies are driving the Mazda BT50s (they're most-practical vehicles; cheap and durable) - though, they also go hard at the Hiluxes. Stoked that you are staying interested in the motor-world of Aus. - it shows that you are clearly an Aussie rev-head.✌😄
One thing that makes Ute's so popular among tradies here in Australia is that they're up to 70% tax deductable because they're used to transport your equipment used on the job, so not only are they are great car with increasing rate of fuel efficiency and they can tow a lot, they're affordable
Ford Utes weren't as popular as muscle cars as much as Holdens were but were just as good work horses. Around the early naughts fpv released a few utes in an attempt to meet Holdens maloo on a level playing field with offerings like fpv's typhoon ute. Every couple decades ford would try to claw some of the popularity turf back, imo it created good competition between the two companies to release good Utes, and every decade or so a really good one from each.
you are right, this guy went on and on about Holdens even though Ford invented the ute! so some notable Ford utes to look at are: the original 1932 that started it all 1972 XY 4x4 1993 XG ute - it was basically built from 1986 till 1999, you weren't a tradie or a farmer unless you had one!
Another great video on the Aussie Icon (I'm Bias) The tub-less Ute's were the Tadie's Ute with a 1 Tonne tray top, referred to as the "Tunner" I'm custom building a Holden WB "Tonner" with its original baby 8 (253) currently. Unfortunately, the Iron Lion is Dead, Long Live the Iron Lion!! (Holden)
So true. Long ago I had a WB tonner on my farm and it did so much work before it died and was replaced by the 4WD's I have had since. Still own an original survivor FJ Ute which has never been restored with all of it's war wounds but still in amazing condition and original number plate to remind me of days gone by .... best of luck with your custom build ... reckon you will love the outcome !!
As an indigenous kid gowing up in a remote community of Central Australia, I remember we were chasing a kangaroo on a dry clay ground in circles, dad stopped the car because there was dusts all over the place and at the same time asking us where the kangaroo went, us kids in the rear tray (tub) said we don't know, we can't see it, then suddenly out of nowhere the kangaroo came out of the dusts cloud and into the tray and we started screaming knowing that it's claws would scratch any of us. And yes, utes were Kangaroo chasers back then and even to this day, the ute we had was a yellow Falcon XW with 2 GT stripes on the bonnet (Hood) and the tail board (Rear gate)😁👍
Minor clarification. Fords original ute in Australia. As launched in 1934, was based on the Ford model B not the model A. There were simaler models based on the Ford model T and A built in the US before that. And some had integrated, ute style backs as opposed to pick up tubs or tray backs. And could either be roadster style soft tops, or hard tops. However most were pick up style or tray backs. Whereas in Australia the integrated ute back style became popular. It is also noteworthy, that Holden, having launched the first fully Australian mass manufactured car. The 215 Holden in 1948, also known as the 'FX' model. Altho, that wasn't official. Anyway, previous to this. While most vehicle bodies were built in Australia the chassis and mechanicals were imported. Therefore likewise, Holden was the first to produce a fully Australian manufactured ute. Based on the 'FX' car, and launched in 1951. And the first Holden panel van was introduced with the revised FJ car models in 1953.
Utes have full bodies . Tray backs are called " tunnas " tray backs were great because you could fit 2 standard pallets on the back they had no wheel arches protruding into the load space and with fold down sides you could throw a ton shit in the back . Brickies and Concreters loved em. Every Pub every arvo the car parks were full of them ,😂
We 'older' blokes quite often say something like ' its in the tilly ' a short version of utility. We never say utility truck btw. You dont hear the term ' tilly ' much these days, but 'ute' in Aus is a national term.
Listening to Dennis Collins, he was saying that the American " utes " are making big bucks now, you all have finally woken up to the benefit of driving one. I have two utes,both redline, one auto other manual, really underused, but when given the opportunity to drive them, i enjoy every minute behind the wheel.
I bought a VF Commodore Ute which turned out to be the last of the Holden's. I thought I might keep it for 5 years and replace it, now I call it a "never sell". I let my son have it because I wanted to boost his confidence. That's worked out well. It is almost like an American kid getting their Dad's Shelby Cobra to drive because mom won't let Dad drive it.
I live in Geelong. The Ford and Holden factories are unfortunately shut down but they are still massive footprints of buildings in my town and no doubt contributed to the size that we are now.
I can put the Skoda Felicia Fun here as well, not very muscular, but utilitarian, has a sliding rear panel to reveal two extra seats, and looks cool in general. We had some car-based small pickup trucks here in Eastern Europe, too, out of necessity of them being cheap. But it never meant that we cannot play around with them. Right?
Everywhere in the early days, people would cut the back off passenger vehicles, usually with an axe or mattock, model T's, model A's, '25 Dodges etc, and build a tray in place of the back seat
I live about 10 mins walking distance to the Holden factory. Still really sad that Australia no longer has a car manufacturing industry and almost certainly never will again. The good old days of Ford vs Holden are well and truly in the past, unfortunately.
N OT in my mind !!
@@stealthwarrior5768 That, they did
ruclips.net/video/_qq4xME1_0k/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/DQ71a_4sSZI/видео.html
The Ford vs Holden saga will continue long into the future. Coz let's face it, Aussies need as many reasons as possible to banter with mates 😂😂 we'll be driving space ships while still arguing drunk about what's better 😂😂
The first ute was not a Model A. It was a 1934 Ford. Also, early Holdens were 6 cylinders, not V8s.
Yep.. Lew Bandt designed it at Ford..
The poor bugga restored it yrs later & had a prang, killing him.
That's what happens when a pommy gives a history lesson about aussie stuff. He acknowledged ford started it but he only really talked about holdens.
@@baabaabaa2293 My grandparents still have a original newspaper article framed on their wall of lou bandt and his ute .
There's even a bridge named after him in Victoria.
@@joshuatravis2626 Your related Josh?
It's a shame how it ended for him mate..
But l like the idea they named something after him.
I had an old car mag about him being reunited with the ute & rebuilding it..
As long as some of us remember him... the man started an Aussie tradition!
Cheers for the reply mate!
Ford Model B coupe ute, to be accurate
"The space for big gas guzzling utes is rapidly diminishing"
Unfortunately utes have been replaced with even bigger gas guzzling pick-up trucks, which are often less practical than the utes they replace.
Although the V8 ute was quite popular in Australia, most Holden and Ford Utes built were 6 cylinders.
Have you seen how many big American pick-ups with big V8's there are on the road these days
@@noelwebb6843 yeah I have, and every time I thought of the 100k or 150k price tag and fuel at $2 plus a litre.
Yes, the diesel guzzlers. The ones that will never see a dirt road ever😂🤦🏼♀️
@@leandabee 🤣👍
@@leandabee exactly, but we can't really call them Toorak Tractors can we.....
Musk's truck looks like an experiment in origami that went wrong.
Well, it's not made in Japan, then, is it.
It’s total garbage. Anyone who thinks it looks goods must of had their eyes painted on
As a mopar man you'll be pleasantly surprised that straya bought out a Valiant Ute as well 😁
There's a Mopar ute currently running in the Sydney leg of Street Outlaws Australia
Yes, There were Chrysler utes,The front of the car was the same as the Valiant sedans, But were badged as Dodge
It’s a good topic , clearly the other bloke telling the ozzy Ute story was very one sided Holden , the big three , Holden, ford, Chrysler all had utes in various specs through the decades , which where the common local models , but there where a plethora of other brand utes as well , i can remember ( vaguely) , there where other American utes like single spinner/customline in the early days , although in far less numbers.
Ford and Holden did not give the cab chassis option with the local drivelines until the early 70’s with the Holden one tonner , and somewhat later in the falcon range iirc, although I think ford had the little 4 cylinder cab chassis( I forget the name)also we had everything from Suzuki mighty boys to f series fords , dodge commercial and a bunch of commercial Japanese cab chassis utes.
The v8 power race probably started with the 1967 falcon mustang v8 powered XR GT , because the local sedan models shared drivelines with the sedans , and the power race was on , Holden responded the next year , it was only a matter of time before the utes got the hot rod treatment from owners which eventually filtered down to the dealers with soft mods and sticker packs until some years later with Holden special vehicles and ford performance vehicles , we where getting some cars with serious ponies with supercharged V8 S in the falcons , and not long after Holden also went down this path , ford with the falcon sedans and utes also had the ball tearing 4.0 litre long stroke turbo straight six which more often than not embarrassed the v8 models .
We could also mention the local panel vans , which technically where the brothers to the utes , Holden, ford and Chrysler all had some nice vans or shag gin wagons 😊, I think Holden went the extra mile with the sporty interiors and sticker packs .
One thing about Australia and it’s car culture , is that we have had such a huge variety of vehicles not only from our local makers when we had them , but from all around the world.
Some of these dudes that are Holden buffs seem to think Holden was the only car brand in oz 😀, I worked in a ford dealer many years ago in Melbourne that opened up in 1917 .
I miss our local car industry and it’s cars.
Re: the Tesla Ute/cyber wanky thing , I think it’s bloody horrible too mate.
@@mikldude9376 Did you know before FORD built a factory in Australia Holden assembled some Ford's in it's factory. Studebaker's Dodge and few other brands.
Holden even used other brand chassis and stuck it's own body on them called F.H.HT or something. like a old 1920's truck looking thing boxed back and model T looking cab front.
@@nedkelly9688 no I didn’t know that Ned , thank you mate, now you mention the old studebaker , yes we had those too , I had a mate that was a mad stude boy with a bit of a collection .
It saddens me still to this day our politicians policy’s for decades basically where responsible for the demise of our car manufacturing among other industries, you could see it coming a mile off .
It’s a pretty horrendous record , that every car manufacturer in Australia either went broke or left the country for greener pastures , and other industries too.
My first car in 1984 was a 1948 Austin A40 ute. My brother bought it for $200 bucks and he and dad painted it flame-orange and gave it to me on my 16th birthday. It certainly turned some heads. I currently own a classic red/white 1970 El Camino SS with a big ol' 402 cube big block, badged by Chevy as a 396 to save their customers a few bucks on road tax. There are a lot of classic cars in the Barossa Valley where I hail from, but mine seems to be a big fave with the locals when I bring it out. Probably because it's such a rarity in Aus. In the past I've had Holden utes, Hiluxes and Ford utes, and I built up a $120K+ monster V8 Landcruiser ute for chasing pigs around far north QLD. But my favourite was probably my green XG XR6. Damn that thing went hard.
Fun fact. The Holden ute was exported to South Africa as the El Camino.
My 2nd car was an A40 that i paid 11 pounds for. That was a project when i was a kid.
The ute holds a special place in many Australian's hearts, after all our husbands, sons, father's left every morning whilst backing out of the driveway in his ute. Mum and the kids waving goodbye and how many families watched for that ute every evening for their loved ones to return from a hard day's work. Utes are part of the Australian psyche, what would a ute muster be without the Aussie ute.
A ute muster with out utes???? Oh bogans in commadore sedans.😜
@@BobLouden-r9qthey bring those too
@@esmeraldagreengate4354 for a very old, long rusted out vehicle that was never a holden, or a ford, and certainly wasnt ever orange, you’re funny! “esmeralda” - the original “esmeralda” was far more than any of you clowns could have driven!
Nothing more Aussie than being in the country and seeing an old Holden Ute with it's trademark Australian Kelpie or Cattle dogs leaping into the back proud like they own it 😂
Ian, I agree with you...The Tesla Cybertruck is "butt ugly" lol it belongs on Mars ! they are marked to roll out sometime in 2023. Depending on the model it will be between $50 to $60 thousand. They'd have to pay me to drive around in that 😅
I own an old Holden one tonner and had an old Holden panel van but alas no ute 🤗
I respectfully disagree.They're too ugly for any planet in the solar system. They belong in the sun.
Sounds like me 20 years ago! Now I've got a Mazda Ute and the Dalmation and Jack Russel ride in the cab! Something happened, I don't know when.
What separates the ‘UTE’ from contemporary commercial vehicles is that it drives like a traditional car, low centre of gravity therefore much safer and in later years as luxurious as you wish, all Aussie’s understand this, in the USA the trucks as they have always been described ie:RAM ++++ are powerful, luxurious but sadly will always drive like a truck and with a high centre of gravity are unsafe. The ‘Aussie Ute’ drives like a high quality luxury European vehicle and you can still the take 6 pigs to market, + 2x fishing rods + 2 sets of golf clubs + plus the family dog to guard the vehicle and the golf clubs whilst your fishing!!!! now that’ living. Now it has to be said , She’s a real beauty mate just like my Sheila waiting for me back at the farm. The ‘Aussie UTE’ will always be the most versatile mass produced vehicle ever made. Cheer’s from Bourke NSW to all me old mates out there.🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
I had a VP Ute which I absolutely loved.....I got sick & tired of my mate's asking for help, every time they wanted to move!
In Australia, any cab chassis style light vehicle was called a "ute" and it was pretty well interchangeable with the full body ute for most purposes except style. Most of them were actually six cylinder vehicles (straight six at that) and then later four cylinder as the power of four cylinders was improved and the price of fuel started to go through the roof. I still drive a 2006 Mazda Bravo B2600, maybe one of the last ever made. It's never given one day of trouble, and from that point of view is probably the best vehicle I have ever owned.
Australians never really understood the American "truck" designation. To us a truck was something that was used for hauling freight or heavy machinery. You certainly wouldn't go to church in one (not that the vast majority of Australians actually go to church except to get married). Even the Toyota Hilux was a 'ute', and even if it was the 4x4 version. I had one of those too. Calling it a 'truck' was borderline offensive and they also made a 2x4 light version of it for people who just wanted something for work (builders, plumbers etc) and a wagon style for recreation (forunner as it was).
Fast forward to the 2000's and the emphasis started to move away from a light vehicle that could go to church or market, to a vehicle that was more suited to recreational use - rough terrain and larger carrying and towing capacities. Even the much loved Hilux is now an overly large and expensive American style "truck" in every sense of the word. It's the end of a era I guess, but it's now much harder to find a vehicle that fits between the wanker status symbol SUV and the 2+ ton penis extension of the heavy gas guzzling American style "truck".
I actually had to read that twice, just to appreciate the beauty of truth of those three paragraphs. This just exemplifies the minor yet major issues of “social discourse” between different countries & cultures. But even as an aussie, in australia, I still call my old ranger ute a “truck” some days, just because in comparison to my other car, ‘she’ is a truck. Appreciating the variations of ‘words in context’ in different societies, is relevant and relative to a basic comprehension of any ‘comparison’ or ‘reaction’ someone else makes!
So true. Everything sensible and practical is slowly disappearing from the car market. There aren't many station wagons left. And most of the ones you *can* get are expensive Euro ones (good cars, but not affordable like we used to have).
Why did people believe the car companies when they told us we wanted SUVs (or cross overs or whatever you want to call the current family car)? Most people who buy one now would be perfectly happy with a sedan or station wagon if they could buy one.
Yeah a whole section of the market is gone. Since 2002 I've owned a VX Commodore, AU Falcon and BA Falcon but now I drive a Triton because you just can't get that type of car anymore.
It's a shame that the old tray back light utes aren't available anymore the big tanks with oversized gas guzzling engines trays that are at shoulder height as just totally impractical
Utes mate, had a 4 door monaro as 1st car, fucking beauty of a car, but since then it has been nothing but wagons or utes, love how I can just chuck shit in the back and just go, wagons are a bit more secure but nothing beats a ute full of campin, fishin gear or a motorbike blocking the rear view mirror
Hi Ian. Love all of your stuff including Bathurst, family unboxing and the dude of dudes Pedro. Australian ute culture, having owned and built several, is about the two seater sports car, just you and the babe hitting the road for adventure and fun in a fast set of wheels and room for the gear in the back. Surf board and tent, skis and sleeping gear, and of course work through the week carrying all your tools and equipment. It is the car of cars for Aussie boys having fun. Jeff
And Aussie girls!
Wow that was a great reaction video. It is a real shame that we don't have anymore traditional utes rolling off any production lines. The origins of the ute were spot on by that guy.
Indeed. It's our loss and a true failure of successive governments that we can't even import cars that are practical for our land let alone make them for ourselves.
With the loss of the ute also goes any dream of ever seeing a PV again.
It's a shame that there aren't any cars manufactured in Australia now.
I bought a new VY One Tonner S (V8) , and while it's not perfect I still have it 20 years later.
Having said that I have a pre-order for a Cybertruck and I commute to work on a Livewire.
His date / origin of the first Ford ute is off by about 6 years.
It wasn't an 'A' model, but a 1934.
A very different vehicle.
I think the beauty of utes is that up front in the cabin they have all the comfort, features and seating position of the sedans that they are based on with similar ride and handling, and thus also navigate through heavy traffic and tight parking lots just like cars. Large body-on-frame pick-up trucks, while often having a larger load & towing capacity than utes, generally feel, handle and perform like, well, trucks and drink fuel accordingly too.
I recently bought a boat and needed something cheap and reliable to tow it with as my fancy daily driver isn't suitable for the task, so I picked up a cheap 2005 Ford Falcon ute and couldn't be happier (not the fancy lowered V8 sports one with the mag wheels & body kit but the regular tradie model with the heavy duty rear suspension and big & torquey inline 6). Tows the boat with ease with plenty of room in the tray for fuel tanks, trolling motors, fenders and other assorted boating stuff but it is also a comfortable highway cruiser in its own right and makes a great daily driver around the congested streets of Sydney where I live, so my [former] regular "daily driver" now more often than not now just sits in the garage gathering dust.
well germany had ute in the 80´s and 90´s from vw that was pretty popular worldwide...the rabbit pickup or as its called in germany the vw caddy...and america had a pretty nice ute aswell, the el camino...many brands in the 70´s, 80´s and 90´s actually built small pickups on sedan plattforms...unfortunatlity the popularity of utes sunk worldwide and made way for full size pick ups, suvs, stationwagons, and vans that are built more specific for certain demands...utes where more a niche vehicle that could do alot of things but nothing particulary well...but nice to see that australia is keeping the ute spirit alive!
Ford always had Falcon V8 utes along with the sedan. In the 70's they didn't have a GT version like the sedan, but you could option a GS which came with the same V8 as the GT, but had the standard port heads compared to the too big for the street 4V port heads that were fitted so the cars could be raced (think Bathurst). In the 90's when ford started making V8 falcons again (they stopped in '83 because of new emissions rules/unleaded fuel) along with the sedans you could get XR6 (3.9 SOHC) and XR8 (302 Windsor) utes. When the Barra 6 started to be fitted to Falcons, like the sedan you could get an XR6 Turbo ute. FPV (Ford Performance Vehicles) produced the Falcon pursuit ute with an upgraded Barra turbo and super pursuit with a modular based 5.4 V8 and later the supercharged Coyote. V8 Falcon utes continued to be available until Falcon production ceased.
Spot on, except the first XR6 was a 4 litre !!
@GreenCrim
“FPV (Ford Performance Vehicles) produced the Falcon pursuit ute with an upgraded Barra turbo”
Not quite right the “pursuit” and “super pursuit” were BOTH V8’s. Just different trim levels I believe, with the Super Pursuit costing you a few more $$$. Both came with the Old 5.4L v8 and eventually the 5.0 Miami v8 (coyote) in the later models.
The FPV Barra Turbo utes were designated as the “F6 Tornado” in the Ba-bf. Along side the “F6 Typhoons” which were the sedans.
As of the release of the FG Falcon’s. FPV dropped the Tornado and Typhoon names and just used the “F6” name for both the utes and sedans. So an FG F6 could be either a sedan or a Ute their was no distinction with just the names. So you’d specify an FG F6 Ute or FG F6 sedan. Since they no longer used the Tornado and Typhoon names to differentiate between them.
A 'true' original Ute is a unibody based on a equivalent sedan/wagon with everything forward of the B pillar essentially the same. Non-unibody with removable tub/tray versions are called cab-chassis. The stuff they sell here in Australia now aren't 'true utes'...generally just cab-chassis or dual cab/crew cab/twin cab 4wd's. Pretty sad :(
Hey, my son is Chooka and he's 29 in a few days!!
The toyota crown ute was a full chassis "non unibody" and still a ute because the tray is integral with the cabin. Same goes all Holden Kingswood utes from HQ-WB. Unibody just means no chassis- nothing to do with ute or not.
Well, you know what they say.
Church on Sunday, pigs on Monday...
Thing is that we Aussies call anything from a Brumby to a 70series or F-truck a ute...
The Subaru Brumbry was cool ❤
I have owned 4 utes, we have horses so it's very handy for picking up bales of hay etc... I owned a 1976 VJ valiant ute with the 265 hemi engine, 1993 VP comodore ute with the 3.8 litre v6 buick engine, a 2001 AU falcon ute with the 4.0 litre straight 6,and now I have a 4 cylinder turbo diesel Nissan Navara ute, all have served me well getting around weather carrying loads like hay etc or camping with a matress in the back. They are great at drive-in theatres on a matress if the weather is good !
I live in Geelong where the Ford factory is and where Lewis Bandt was from...
A interesting thing you could look Into involving utes is the b,n,s (Batchelor and Spinster) balls that became the weekly ritual for young farmers to drive hundreds sometimes 1000km to go and party... and they had ute events... show and shine, sound off for loudest exhaust, circlework competition, and very large consumptions of alcohol.. the Deniliquin ute muster is also a good source for ute related stuff
I live in Geelong…the place where Lew Bandt designed the ute. Today was the “All Ford Day” car show. So many beautiful Aussie Fords at one awesome car show. 😚 Oh and my favourite ute would be the last model. The FG X turbo…the mighty Barra is such a smooth, powerful engine. ❤
And there’s a bridge on the Geelong ring road dedicated to him
Lou's 1934 ute is also on display in the Birdwood motor museum in Adelaide .
The ute was invented in my city of Geelong. That Ford factory building at the start of the video is still there today.
one comment: its NOT marloo its Maloo (mal-loo) which is the sports version of the ute, the versions you can swap out the rear trays are commonly known as the 1 toner ute, and these also come in dual cab versions (proud aussie), as for the ford utes, the inline 6 cylinder followed all the way through to the BA Barra's (barra as in: barramundi, barracuda but its barra), the inline 6 also sports a turbo version which can pump out alot more power than an RB30 (and sadly last longer), alot of holden guys are swapping the RB motors for the Barra versions (you can pump alot more horsepower and spend less to get the peak out of the barra 6), look at the Ford XT BA XR6 etc, one driver alot of americans know well is Marcus Ambrose he drove alot over here as well before going to the US, the ute is iconic and is still very much an aussie icon.
And the BF too... such as the Typhoon
Mah-loo
Love this. My father in law had a shaggin wagon 😂😂 Another kind of car. Oh i miss the Ford v Holden competition. My dad would be so bummed if he knew Ford stopped production. I bought a small ford car. The next car Im getting I told my husband is a ute. My dad learned to drive near bondi beach in his uncles Ford.
Please look up the Musk Ute first promotion and he tests the glass if you need a laugh its hilarious
Yes like you say, they came in the variant where the cab was it's own section with a flatbed on the back with exposed chassis. From there you could have fold down metal/wooden sides etc and on some service vehicles cabinets were fitted underneath in that chassis area.
Ford and holden were big rivals in both ute and sedan here you were a blue or a red man
The biggest thing that differentiates the falcons and commodore based Ute’s is the independent rear suspension in the holden vs leaf springs in the ford aside from that they were very similar, the au xr8 seen in the advertisement overtaking the speed run car still had an iron Windsor 5L v8 and leaf rear at the same time holden had the vu ute with all aluminium ls1 5.7 and irs and driving the two cars at the limit was a totally different experience!
You've gotta have a Ute! The worse thing they did was take away the manerfacturing of Holdens & Ford's out of Australia!!
I just saw a Regional Council video made in Bathurst, interviewing families and showing amenities! It's more than Car Races, it's a very liveable, historic and pretty city! 🤗
I think the closest we got in Norway to Utes, were the Ford P100, which was a Ford Sierra pick-up, and the VW Caddy, which was a Golf/Rabbit MK1 pick-up when it first came out (but it evolved into a Polo based bread van.)
Maybe the old Mazda B-series pick-ups could count? But that might have the Chevy S10 pick-up also count?
Also, the GMC Syclone? It was the worlds fastest pick-up for a while, would that fit under Ute? (Though that also fits under S10)
On the weird Tesla "truck" I kinda doubt it'll be allowed everywhere, as it's design kinda doesn't lend itself to the current era of road safety, where car designs are somewhat restricted by laws, basically having to be design in ways that won't cause unneeded harm if you hit a pedestrian, which is why pop-up headlights aren't made anymore, they were a danger to pedestrians.
And the Tesla "truck" is basically a block with sharp edges.... and with Tesla's build quality, panel gaps that might swallow pedestrians, they still can't figure out how to use the bare rust proof metal properly... like DeLorean managed in the early 80s...
If I ever were to go the EV route, I lean more towards Hyundai's N Vision 74, based off of the 1974 Hyundai Pony Coupe prototype which was designed by the guy who also designed the DeLorean. ^^
Australian ute still holds Guiness world record for fastest truck ute in the world is the Holden VZ Commodore Maloo ute beat the American one by 20kmh and the newer never tried the record but were a lot quicker again.
I had a 1993 XF Falcon Ute with a straight 6 and an extractor system as my first car. Still gotta be one of the nicest sounding cars I've ever heard. I learnt a lot about cars as the fan belt was always coming loose, the electrical were always playing up on cold mornings and it drank a bottle of oil every couple months.
The first "Utility" in Australia was a cut down English car. A farmer cut the roof off the back half so he could haul hay. All three car manufactures here in Oz made 'em. Holden, (GM), Ford and Chrysler. The Holden Bro's were coach builders. The first Holden, was actually a Canadian designed Buick. Love how its an English man talking about Australian car history...
There were factory built Austin 1800 and Toyota Crown utes too.
The first Holden ute was released in 1951, The wasn't a V8 option until 1968,69
he also said the sedan version was a 4cyl...wtf??
And what is he talking about with th inline 6cyl diesel racing?
@@adamthreapleton9149 Maybe he was talking about the US prototype car that the 1048/215 (FX) was based on. I could be wrong
@@adamthreapleton9149 Yep, to the best of my knowledge the Super utes use LS V8s. And yeah, the Holden ute never had a 4cyl option, from beginning production of the original 51-2106 (FX Ute), until the final VF. 6 cylinder or V8 only. Theres a couple of inaccuracies in this video, I'm trying my hardest to ignore them haha
5:35 I've never heard "Maloo" pronounced like how that guy said it in the video. It's said a lot quicker. I don't know how to type it but maybe something like "Ma-lew"
Edit: you said it like how most people say it
Holden also made a twin cab ute.
Current owner of a Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo ute. Zf 6 speed auto, upgraded 4.0L six cylinder Barra turbo making 580hp at the hubs (aussie hp measurement not US HP) and soon to be tuned for E85 and probably will go mid 600's. Had it since new in 2011 and no plans to move it on. It gets used the take rubbish to the dump, tow my race trailer with a quad bike in the back, cruise the city or travel around the country in comfort, or run low 11's at the strip and will smoke the tyres in 3rd gear. What's not to love?
As briefly mentioned, Ute comes from Utility vehicle. Must Popular Utes in Australia are the Toyota Hilux and the Ford Ranger. 70 Series for wealthier people. US pick-ups are also popular here, those being the RAM 1500 and the Silverado.
Ute comes from Utility Coupe, as on all the compliance plates as body style.
I've still got my first car which is a 1993 Ford XG Falcon Ute. Police pack with a 5 speed, LSD, Tickford head swap and all the XR6 goodies fitted along the way. There just hasn't been a vehicle since that combines a 2 door sports car with the practicality of a light truck. The term ute refers to a vehicle with an integrated bed "true ute" but was loosened when the AU came out with it's separate bed. GM kept it integral in the standard 2 door model.
When we came to Australia in 70's, I asked the same question.
There is the official real reason.
Then, there is the alternative for non farming young. The ute/pick up has a lower gear ratio in the diff. The benefits, quicker acceleration, and better burnouts.
The fact it didn't have the same top speed or same fuel economy didn't matter.
Also was generally cheaper to buy.
My son had a 6 liter which I admit was fun even stock standard with stick shift.
My sister's boy had same but modified and that would give you touretts trying to drive around the shopping centre.
All the best from Western Australia.
I had a HZ Kingswood ute with a chev v8, Holley carburettor, big gragways wheels and 3 speed slick shift. It hauled ass and could carry a fair bit of weight in the back too. Mind you it like drinking fuel but it was fast. 😎
Malaysia used to produce the Proton Arena, a rebadged 91 Mitsubishi Lancer that was also sold in Australia. Some of the local guys have been putting in Evo stuff in them since it fits perfectly. In the 70s and 80s we had small pickups made by Datsun and Subaru. These were replaced by the Nissan C22(Vanette) pickup, a van with a pickup style bed.
They were sold in Australia as the Proton Jumbuck. Seen as a possible replacement to the Subaru Brumby, but no 4WD so it didn’t sell well.
@@stuarthancock571 Yep, only offered in FWD. But some guys have turned them into full time 4WD locally.
We always called it a pickup but one firm I worked at had a Ford P100 that was based on the Mk4 Cortina. I think the P100 was made in South Africa. They later made a Sierra derived version.
Still driving and using my 27yr old Hilux ute. Dad is still using his 30 yr old Holden ute. I asked dad once "why don't you get rid of all the Red-Back spiders from under the seats and behind the sun visors?.. He said " What, they're my security system, plus they help keep the bloody thing together.
Picture Shannon Noll in the Valiant ute singing What about me!
Valiant attempt
The only Ute we have ever owned since we married was a Nissan Navara twin cab sports. My husband got to choose his own Ute at work and they paid for it. It was navy blue and silver and for a Ute it was pretty. Inside was luxury for then. It cost a bomb and when he finished that job 18 months later he asked to buy it. They sold it for $4,000.00.
I have a '16 VF2 Redline ute. Owned since new, as soon as I heard the factory was closing, I put in my order. I got OTR, cam, headers etc for 480rwhp. Blower going on in Oct. Motoring HISTORY!!!
Hey Knackers, if you find some time check out some of the Ford utes and older panel vans. In particular the Ford Pursuit Ute. And some of they wild power people are getting out of our Aussie Barra engines. I'm currently bolting one in to my 1978 transit van.
Good video mate.
I had the Ford BA XR6 Turbo Ute back in 2004, i loved it and had loads of power. Got tired of it in the end as i wanted the sedan for extra seating. Still it looked nice, went well and turned many heads.
Every kid was buying XR6 BA during the great mining boom then you could pick em up cheap when the work dried up.
From Cairns, Queensland and love the vid mate sums up the history and passion wonderfully👌🏼 and the hat tops it off perfectly
Ute is a female first name in Germany. That's why my answer on "What's a Ute?" would have never been a guess like "Is it a car? Is it a truck?"😂
I think it's short for utility vehicle. Pretty cool, wish we had em in Europe.
@@bluej511 Yep, Us Aussies shorten everything
I’m Aussie and have a Aunt called Ute….
@@brasschick4214 😮 in respect I'm not Gunnar ask where that nickname came from 🤭
Sorry mate,but your reaction to how US car executives destroyed the Aussie car industry, the same shit happened with the Australian music industry..this why you yanks never heard none of the exceptional musicians that developed out of this country but were never known out of this country
You do have a Ute. I watch Cleetus McFarland, and he races an El Camino. An El Camino, is a ute. It's based on an American car, which is a bit bigger than a typical Australian car, but it isn't a pick-up-truck, it's a ute.
We have two distinct styles of them. Tray-back, which have a pair of chassis members going back, and full-body, which is like the Marloo you're showing there. Now both Holden and Ford made full body sedans, and utes, and tray-backs based on the same year model body.
Yup, The U.S had the Chevy El-Camino and Ford Ranchero. The El-Camino was based on the Chevy Chevelle.
The Falcon Ute is well worth a look at. You could by yourself a Ford Falcon Ranchero 1960's model and Aussie it up to have your own ute, even if it's a fake one. Dudes would buy XW/XY Falcon sedans here and kit them out like Phase 3 Shakers, they're called Faker Shakers.
Why? Ford Australia built Falcon Ute's in the 60's & improved the suspension to suit Australian conditions, of course they'd be rare these days but im sure Ranchero's are too
Don't understand a thing your saying. why bring a 60's Ranchero to Australia to have a ute when Ford Australia had it's own ute built for Australian conditions in the 60's.
What does XY Phase 3's got to do with utes topic. also guys did XY utes up as GTHO shakers also.
Why would you Aussie up a Ford Ranchero, Ford Australia already did back in the 60's
@Ned Kelly to be honest I don't know what muckup HOy's had to do with the topic, sure there were plenty of them also plenty of muckup SLR5000's, has nothing to do with utes
@@nedkelly9688 he's not saying to bring it to Australia
He's saying that he could buy a Ranchero and "Aussie it up" as in, Make it like it was from Australia whilst still in America
Yes, it all came down to farmers. My grandfather was a dairy farmer and he owned a Holden Ute in the 50’s. I still have a black and white photo of it. Basically, farmers are pragmatic. They wanted a vehicle to double as a town car and a workhorse on the farm. Considering how relatively expensive cars were back then, it made a lot of sense.
the things americans call trucks, are utes over here in australia. Trucks don't start until you have to use double rear wheels. moving bigger stuff like in a pantec truck or semi
Ford made a limited edition RipCurl Ute, which had its own awesome metallic aqua colour. It was fast, reliable and looked great.
It's kinda weird to me (though obvious now that you mention it) that utes aren't popular everywhere. And while the muscle car utes are popular here in Australia, and I guess kind of a status symbol for some parts of the community, the more common ones are the true utility vehicles. They are useful for carrying and hauling loads of all kinds, higher off the ground and often 4WD so that they're capable of traversing rough terrain (on a farm, for example). I live in a rural area, and have never met a farmer that didn't own at least one. They're also fantastic for camping in! I actually owned a Ford AU Falcon ute (which was basically a Ford AU Falcon car with the back half replaced by a tray) with a canvas canopy that I specifically bought for its camping potential. Unfortunately I only got to camp in it twice before I realised it had mechanical issues that were much too expensive for me to fix. To be fair though, it was about twenty years old at the time. Whatever you do, don't start an Aussie on the Ford vs Holden debate. Arguments can get heated. Personally, I don't really care. I now own a Toyota (though sadly not a ute), which might not hold a candle to the power of the Holdens or Fords I have previously owned, but it far outstrips them when it comes to reliability and longevity.
Lewis Bandt, the designer of the first Ford coupe utility was also famous for designing the F-series module that were ambulances from the 1970s through to the Mid-90s. It was because the F-trucks became too expensive when Ford USA stopped making right hand drive versions. The formula was simple:
Take an F-series, usually an F-150, remove the bed, and install a purpose built fibreglass body to the rear. Cut an access hole through the back of the cab to allow access from front to rear.
Ford Australia did modify the 302 Windsor and 351 Cleveland. Different heads, cams, intake manifolds and sometimes even ignition. The first Ford 6 cylinder varied from its American counterpart mostly in displacement. They grew to 200 and 250 cubic inch displacement. Unlike the US inline sixes, the evolution didn't stop there. They gained cross flow alloy heads, electronic ignition, fuel injection, and in the final inline 6 incarnation, a 4 litre inline 6 with DOHC, fuel injection, and an intercooled turbo. It's fairly easy to get 1000 reliable horsepower out of one,but the wildest I've heard of yet is 2500 horsepower. Imagine that wile engine in ute form. The Ford Utes of this era used a modified F-series tray, which like the north American version, was teachable if you wanted a flatbed instead.
That’s basically the reason why I moved to Australia to own myself a Ute.
@Nicky kalinkski straight up 😎
Rocker you might like to search "Daddy Cool It's the Ute" That song explains it all.
A couple of Japanese car makers also had their own ute versions. Who remembers the original Toyota Hilux or the Subaru Brumby?
Loved the little Brumby
BTW, there's a small outfit in the Denver metro area that converts RHD utes to LHD. Its known as Left Hand Utes, and they usually get wrecked utes, mostly flood-damaged ones, bring them over to the US, and install the dash and steering wheel of the Chevy SS (the Holden Commodore in Australia). A few even specifies their utes to have the front end of the Pontiac G8 (Pontiac's version of the SS). #DougDeMuro had a review of a LHD Holden Maloo 6 year ago, I think. Here's the link to the video:
m.ruclips.net/video/vmpCWEAapQY/видео.html
Also, there are two stories on #VinWiki that discusses ownership of a Holden, including a Ute.
Owned a Vs Malloo Ute was so light in the rear so easy to light the tyres,old Aussie 5ltr motor.Then a 2001 clubsport 5.7 ltr motor great cars.Not happy I sold them now,it’s devastating they will disappear off our roads
I own a Holden 2005 VZ 1 Tonner ute. Its only a V6 but has a tray. Known as a Cross 6. It is all wheel drive. The 1tonner ute has a half chassis bolted to the rear of the cab. The car based ute is a moncote construction. The ford is a full chassis the body can be swapped out for a tray.
Austin A40 & 1800, Morris, Standard Vanguard, Toyota Crown, Datsun 1200 and Vauxhall all produced ute bodied variations of sedans/wagons in Australia. People also forget the Ford produced a Zephyr ute. Before that (1950's) there was the Chrysler Royal and Ford Customline utes, both available with V8's
It's a ute... utility vehicle.
Single cab, R.W.D. drove them all my life as an electrician... like a reverse mullet. Business in the back, party up front. Clear out tools, mattress in back at the drive in.. 2 door sports car a man can carry his $hit in. Drove them for work since 77. Currently have a 99 model ford xr6 tickford manual... check out the xr6 Turbo.. can be built ove 1000 hp. Think nissan had a hot engine in skylines??. Sadly, no local manufactures now. Its Just imported single and dual cab light commercials. Had a Toyota 4wd dual cab for a while.. daughter called it the 4 door car truck.
I've got a 2003 Ford BA XR8 Boss 260 Ute with the sequential auto and LSD it's a killer daily tyre fryer
The hottest looking Holden EVER made (not a ute) was the 1988 VL Commodore Group A SS, or “Walkinshaw” (after the Scottish racer/car-builder involved in its construction).
My father used to own a pristine condition sky blue 1988 VL Commodore Vacationer with the straight 6 engine. It had 2 piece Simmons mag rims on it and the high performance front bumper clip. It actually looked somewhat like the Walkinshaw version.
You don’t see that many on the roads any more. I used to own a 350hp V8 Ford Falcon Magnet and it was simultaneously the best and the scariest car that I ever owned. Almost no weight (relatively) over the rear axle so it could break traction at almost any speed.
dont forget the hilux was also developed in australia and HILUX is the worlds most indestructible ute
The Hilux models were developed by Toyota and it's subsidiary Hino in Japan. And since around 2004, they have been made in Thailand. Sometimes motor cos will do some testing in different markets. But that is not the same as being developed there. And often it is to fine tune them, as to options for that market. Whereas, the Holden Commodore cars and utes. While originally being based on Opel car models. (There was no equivalent Opel ute). Were extensively redeveloped and tested in Australia for Australia. And manufactured in Australia. As were the Ford Falcons. And of course, these days. Australia no longer manufactures any cars, or car derived utes.
They are practical. We used to refer to them as 1 tonners. Originally for farmers as they were so practical they ended up in the trades industry. The perfect payload space.
Ah mate great video. Another one of our icons I miss dearly. I drive my commodore wagon with pride. They look great and are great and of course you can't get them anymore. Its my third one and I will drive it til the wheels fall off it as I did the previous two. Love your content mate
Oh and I've owned 4 utes. 3 Holden's and 1 Toyota Hilux with my favourite being a late 90s Wayne Gardner series one. That thing was crazy. I had to drive around with a few cement bags in the back because it was too light in the rear end compared to the power it had so would lose traction all the time
I have had about 6 V8 utes an they are absolutely awesome an a tone of fun should never have stopped making them
they got a shot of a Falcon Longreach panel van @ 9:32. mine was made in 99 and its still a beast. love that car
The Holdens tended to be a full monoque chassis where the Ford Falcons fron the late 90's went for a cab chassis setup where the cab was monoque and the rear half was rail chassis like a truck which made them a bit more versatile including the ability to chage out different types of rear deck rather than being stuck with the one deck style the Holdens had.
Not all models
There are commodore traytops too if you hadn't noticed. I drive an AU Falcon traytop with the factory dedicated lpg motor. Was always a Valiant guy- cant afford one now! First Ford I ever owned, great car.
9:20 XD Falcon ute. You can tell by the indicator lamps. '80 to around '83 then the XE came in. The square headlights came in in '78 and '79 on the XC update models. I drive a Mitsubishi Triton ute now. My old MH Triton got sandwiched between two cars when I was parked at a red light. It spilt no fluids and drove away. I bought a newer 2007 ML model but I fixed up the old MH because it was too old to be recorded as written off. I have two utes now. In the old days they were called "Tillies". Most the old people like my Grandfather who called them that are gone now.
I have owned 5 utes. A Chev LUV, Hilux dual cab and 3 Landcruiser utes. My favourite was the HDJ79R , a factory turboed 6 cylinder diesel engined machine.
The original farmers wifes letter is on display at the Ford Museum in Dearborn USA .
Here in Perth, it would appear to me that the following utes are gaining ascendency here: Landcruiser utes; Hilux utes; and Mazda BT50s. The mining and prospecting industry seems to be fuelling that for the first two, - folk on good wages have those as their work, and as their private vehicles. Folk in other business, see these vehicles driven by coined-up people, and start to acquire them also. The youngsters are also acquiring them. Toyota is now king in Perth (mind, they always were in the prospecting and mining field). Oh, & the tradies are driving the Mazda BT50s (they're most-practical vehicles; cheap and durable) - though, they also go hard at the Hiluxes.
Stoked that you are staying interested in the motor-world of Aus. - it shows that you are clearly an Aussie rev-head.✌😄
One thing that makes Ute's so popular among tradies here in Australia is that they're up to 70% tax deductable because they're used to transport your equipment used on the job, so not only are they are great car with increasing rate of fuel efficiency and they can tow a lot, they're affordable
Ford Utes weren't as popular as muscle cars as much as Holdens were but were just as good work horses.
Around the early naughts fpv released a few utes in an attempt to meet Holdens maloo on a level playing field with offerings like fpv's typhoon ute.
Every couple decades ford would try to claw some of the popularity turf back, imo it created good competition between the two companies to release good Utes, and every decade or so a really good one from each.
you are right, this guy went on and on about Holdens even though Ford invented the ute!
so some notable Ford utes to look at are:
the original 1932 that started it all
1972 XY 4x4
1993 XG ute - it was basically built from 1986 till 1999, you weren't a tradie or a farmer unless you had one!
Another great video on the Aussie Icon (I'm Bias) The tub-less Ute's were the Tadie's Ute with a 1 Tonne tray top, referred to as the "Tunner" I'm custom building a Holden WB "Tonner" with its original baby 8 (253) currently. Unfortunately, the Iron Lion is Dead, Long Live the Iron Lion!! (Holden)
So true. Long ago I had a WB tonner on my farm and it did so much work before it died and was replaced by the 4WD's I have had since. Still own an original survivor FJ Ute which has never been restored with all of it's war wounds but still in amazing condition and original number plate to remind me of days gone by .... best of luck with your custom build ... reckon you will love the outcome !!
As an indigenous kid gowing up in a remote community of Central Australia, I remember we were chasing a kangaroo on a dry clay ground in circles, dad stopped the car because there was dusts all over the place and at the same time asking us where the kangaroo went, us kids in the rear tray (tub) said we don't know, we can't see it, then suddenly out of nowhere the kangaroo came out of the dusts cloud and into the tray and we started screaming knowing that it's claws would scratch any of us. And yes, utes were Kangaroo chasers back then and even to this day, the ute we had was a yellow Falcon XW with 2 GT stripes on the bonnet (Hood) and the tail board (Rear gate)😁👍
I swear IWrocker is sounding more and more Australian with every video
Minor clarification. Fords original ute in Australia. As launched in 1934, was based on the Ford model B not the model A. There were simaler models based on the Ford model T and A built in the US before that. And some had integrated, ute style backs as opposed to pick up tubs or tray backs. And could either be roadster style soft tops, or hard tops. However most were pick up style or tray backs. Whereas in Australia the integrated ute back style became popular. It is also noteworthy, that Holden, having launched the first fully Australian mass manufactured car. The 215 Holden in 1948, also known as the 'FX' model. Altho, that wasn't official. Anyway, previous to this. While most vehicle bodies were built in Australia the chassis and mechanicals were imported. Therefore likewise, Holden was the first to produce a fully Australian manufactured ute. Based on the 'FX' car, and launched in 1951. And the first Holden panel van was introduced with the revised FJ car models in 1953.
I have owned at least four Ute's. HQ Holden WB Holden XG Falcon VY Commodore. I really loved them. Used to camp in the back of them in summer.
Utes have full bodies . Tray backs are called " tunnas " tray backs were great because you could fit 2 standard pallets on the back they had no wheel arches protruding into the load space and with fold down sides you could throw a ton shit in the back . Brickies and Concreters loved em. Every Pub every arvo the car parks were full of them ,😂
We 'older' blokes quite often say something like ' its in the tilly ' a short version of utility.
We never say utility truck btw.
You dont hear the term ' tilly ' much these days, but 'ute' in Aus is a national term.
V8 utes are back but in modern day trucks as you would call them.
Listening to Dennis Collins, he was saying that the American " utes " are making big bucks now, you all have finally woken up to the benefit of driving one.
I have two utes,both redline, one auto other manual, really underused, but when given the opportunity to drive them, i enjoy every minute behind the wheel.
Hi. My first car was a 1975 351 ford Ute. It was mad. And yes as an Australian I still sadly miss the Ozzie utility. Cheers
I bought a VF Commodore Ute which turned out to be the last of the Holden's. I thought I might keep it for 5 years and replace it, now I call it a "never sell". I let my son have it because I wanted to boost his confidence. That's worked out well. It is almost like an American kid getting their Dad's Shelby Cobra to drive because mom won't let Dad drive it.
I live in Geelong. The Ford and Holden factories are unfortunately shut down but they are still massive footprints of buildings in my town and no doubt contributed to the size that we are now.
I had an xb falcon Ute. Standing at almost 6ft 2 inches there wasn't a lot of spare room in the cabin for me but it was a favourite.
I can put the Skoda Felicia Fun here as well, not very muscular, but utilitarian, has a sliding rear panel to reveal two extra seats, and looks cool in general. We had some car-based small pickup trucks here in Eastern Europe, too, out of necessity of them being cheap. But it never meant that we cannot play around with them. Right?
Everywhere in the early days, people would cut the back off passenger vehicles, usually with an axe or mattock, model T's, model A's, '25 Dodges etc, and build a tray in place of the back seat
There are many Ute like vehicles in Europe:
There was Dacia Logan Pickup
Or Zastava Skala pickup (Yugo Pickup)😊