The Utility Bed
- Thread starter Ryan
- Start date
Y-Blockhead
Well-known member
Nice!!
Snouts out
Senior Member
In the 50s,where ever you went,it seemed the Bell system beds looked alike.I wonder who made e'm ?
Tom Walker
Senior Member
When I left school I worked in Oz for a year, and saw Holden and Ford "Utes". I thought Utilities were unique to Australia. Evidently not judging by the pic of that lovely Willys.
Am I right in thinking a Ute is distinct from a Pickup in that a Ute is more of a "car" spec, ie better finished in the cab, where as a Pickup is more "truck" spec?
Am I right in thinking a Ute is distinct from a Pickup in that a Ute is more of a "car" spec, ie better finished in the cab, where as a Pickup is more "truck" spec?
45GPW
Member
mot
Registered User
we had a utility bed exactly like the one pictured
it was in use in Sacramento as late as the 1980s
the mechanic used it and it was in perfect shape
never in a wreck,no rust,and always garaged
it went for auction around 1985 when he retired
the new mechanic wanted a van and didn't want that old piece of junk
I don't think it had more than 25,000 miles on it
it was in use in Sacramento as late as the 1980s
the mechanic used it and it was in perfect shape
never in a wreck,no rust,and always garaged
it went for auction around 1985 when he retired
the new mechanic wanted a van and didn't want that old piece of junk
I don't think it had more than 25,000 miles on it
A utility bed (Ryan's pic) and an auzzy Ute are completely different beasts. I'd love to see more pics of utility beds. In my mind these be built beds for a specific purpose, with all they lockers and different sections for different things.
Anybody got any of these, or pics of them like the Mack and Ryan's pic please.
Many thanks,
Martin.
Anybody got any of these, or pics of them like the Mack and Ryan's pic please.
Many thanks,
Martin.
KiWinUS
Well-known member
Tom you also had "Utes in England , Austin & Morris -A55 & A60 , Mini utes & a few others from the BMC group.
I work on all them British nightmares growing up in NZ.
Cheers
Tony
Tony,
All of those you mention are pickups, and are called pickups over here. There not called utes, and never have been, they were advertised and sold as pickups over here. The "Ute" name is I believe a southern hemisphere name for this style of automobile, that being car based pickup, as far as I can tell.
Martin.
that restored truck I believe lives in the philadelphia area. Looks like hershey with the white fence in the background. If I'm not mistaken the owner had most of his collection burn in a fire a few years ago. I hope that truck was not one of them. Then again I might have my owners confused.
My grandmother worked for bell from about 1948 to 1978 or so. My father wanted one of those trucks to use on his farm when my parents were starting out. Bell had strict rules on maintenance and they were in excellent shape. She looked into getting a used one for him but for one reason or another it didn't happen.
scicala
Well-known member
If I remember correctly, Willys made pick up trucks (USA) that had the passenger car front sheet metal and a separate bolt on bed (not like the UTE pictured).
