Why Utes?

[DavidG]

Mercman,

I believe that piece of history (or folklore) needs some refinement as it makes the existence of the '32 utes difficult to explain.

 

[mercman from oz]

This piece of History was cut up to make a 32 Ford "Coupe", using VW Doors. What a waste.

 

[Binx]

I love those UTEs. Would be the perfect vehicle for my lifestyle.

Lonnie

 

[koates]

David, the difference here that many people seem to misunderstand is we are talking about a PRODUCTION COUPE UTILITY with a hard cabin roof and a wind up windows enclosed cabin. Many other makes of utility based on open cars (read roadster) were around for many years before the 1933-34 ford coupe ute. The first Ford coupe utes were mostly pre production 1933 models which came in both 4 cylinder and V8 versions. So as I said the claim to fame by Ford Australia in Geelong Victoria was for the first "PRODUCTION COUPE UTILITY" built in quantity, not just one off home built specials, roadster(soft top)utes, or other modified cars that look similar. Hope this is clear for everyone. Regards, Kevin.

 

[Ab4875]

This is coming up in October:

http://www.deniutemuster.com.au/

They get quite a few utes there.

 

[DavidG]

You're right, the key words are "coupe utility", not just "ute" or "utility".

 

[DavidG]

I think it is a bit unfair to single out Ford as "having run the (local) company into the ground" when both GM (Holden) and Toyota are also ending production in Australia.

All three companies had to have high local content as mandated by a long succession of governments reaching back more than 80 years. In recent years, those decades of playing by the rules accounted for nothing and the doors were thrown open to unlimited imports, especially from southeast asia. The Australian vehicle market is simply not large enough to support both domestic production and unlimited imports, especially given the disparity in the wages paid locally to those being paid to the workers building the imports outside the country.

 

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Mercman is right. Australian Lew Bandt is the "father" of the ute. Lew tragically died in 1987 while driving his 1934 ford ute on a commemorative run, when he was involved in a collision with a truck. Google him its an interesting read. Down here in NZ we once could not get enough of these Aussie icons. 30 year old plus Holden, Chrysler Valiant and Ford utes still fetch premium prices in a tidy condition.
Only the Ford and Holden utes are manufactured now and their days are numbered. We even have ute races. see below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCA_8eGyAIA

GB

 

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Bassman/NZ mentioned that Ford of Britain made Zephyr Utes. I don't believe that any Zephyr Utes were made in Britain? I believe that all these Utes were made by Ford Australia. Attached are pictures of a Zephyr with had a 6 cylinder engine and a Consul which had a 4 cylinder engine. Both of these Utes are classed as Mark II. models. I have never seen a Mark II Zephyr Ute and don't believe that any were built. Australia is home toe the Utes and most British manufacturers got into the act, including armstrong Siddeley, Singer, Austin, Morris, Vanguard etc. Most Utes that are in the UK now most likely have been recent imports from Australia.

Also the later mark iv and V Ford Cortinas were manufactured as a "ute" in South Africa not the UK.

GB

 

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Here is a picture of the just released Ford Falcon Utes, code named FGX. These will stay in production until the end of 2016 when Ford Australia is shutting their Factory. It seems to me that Ford Australia has totally lost the plot and lost interest in selling new Falcons. There have been no advertisements on TV or in the News Papers about these new Falcons that were released in December 2014. Even though a Falcon won the Bathurst 1000 in October, Australias most famous endurance race, Ford Australia have indicated that they are not going to sponsor V8 Supercars after 2015. While new car sales in Australia had a very good year, I read where Ford sales in 2014 were the worst since 1966. This gives you some indication of how the Australian Company is being run, right into the ground. These are the only model Falcon Utes that I have seen and while they would be great work horses, they are nowhere in the same league as the latest upmarket Holden Commodores. Another sign of Ford Australia's couldn't care less attitude towards the genuine Ford enthusiast. While sales of Ford in the USa continues to grow, sales of Ford in Australia continues to decline. Sad days indeed with more gloom to come.

Ford Ranger pickup here in NZ knocked Toyota Hilux of its perch for top selling ute in 2014 a record Toyota had held for 32 years. Toyota are mighty miffed about this. They still advertise themselves as being the" top selling 4WD ute for 2014" and say they only lost the top spot because they weren't offering a 2WD version.....me thinks "sour grapes" on their part.

GB

 

[Manuel]

I think most US style pick ups are classed as trucks here and so pay higher registration and insurance costs. The ute can get away with lower running costs sometimes. It varies from state to state and if it is privately owned or owned by a company.
That 32 ute seems to be wearing Model A wheels.

Manuel in Oz

 

[mercman from oz]

I realize that all 3 companies are shutting up shop withing the next few years, however, the reason why I singled out Ford Australia and commented that Ford were running the company into the ground is because at least Holden are continuing to sponsor V8 Supercars, are still advertising the Commodore on TV and in Newspapers, and offer premium sports cars in sedans, wagons and utes. Ford Fans pleaded with Ford Australia to continue to sponsor V8 Supercars and presented a signed petition to the management to continue their support, but it all fell on deaf ears. Just take a look at the great cars that Holden are marketing, such as the GTS, Clubsport R8, Grange and the Maloo R8 Utes etc. Check them out at:-
http://www.hsv.com.au/Gen-F/home/au/
Ford don't produce the vehicles that take it up to the Holdens any more. That all came to an end with the last model Code named FG MkII when they made a batch of 500 Falcon GTF (the F standing for final). Fifty of these last Falcon GTF were sent to New Zealand. These Falcons GTF sold out in 24 hours. Number one, pictured was auctioned off and realized A$157,600, while the final one, Number 500 realized A$236,00. Both of these vehicles were donated by Ford to be auctioned, with the money raised going the the National Breast Cancer Foundation, which was a generous move by Ford Australia. http://www.news.com.au/finance/busi...ast-cancer-foundation/story-fnda1bsz-12270351

 

[my4dv8]

I know when was a young fella working on a Canadian ranch I was talking to the boss about utes . Of course the local slang for the Paiute Indian tribe was "ute" so it took hime a while to click .Ha Ha.

 

[mercman from oz]

Here is a picture of Lew Bandt " the father of the Coupe Ute" with his "retirement" present. The workers at Ford couldn't find a genuine 1934 Ford Coupe Ute, so started of with a 1933 Ford Sedan and tried to make it into a Coupe Ute. The rear section, including the roof line and side windows are all wrong in this recreation which is a pity. As mentioned in an earlier Post, Lew was tragically killed in this vehicle. It was subsequently rebuilt with parts from a 1934 model, but still retained all the wrong parts in rear body section. On the Australian 1933 and 1934 Ford, the Coupes and Coupe Utes had different moldings on the doors than the Sedans had. This vehicle has Sedan Doors, as that is what it was made up from. It is a pity that a correct vehicle could not be located, as Ford Australia have continued to illustrate this Ute until lately with their latest offerings. Many Falcon Ute brochures show this 34 Coupe Ute in the background. When an Australian model maker was wanting to add a 1934 Ford Coupe Ute to their model range, Ford Australia told them to model the scale model from this vehicle, and as a consequence, the model while very well done is all wrong.

 

[mercman from oz]

Long before Ford Australia introduced the Coupe Ute, they produced Roadster Utes, where the rear body section was integral with the front. That is the tray section could not be removed without causing serious damage. Traditionally, Ford offered these Utes with the option of two distinctive rear sections. The one with the smooth sides was called a Style Side Ute and the body molding continued along the side to the rear. This is the body style that most restorers prefer, because of it's clean lines. The second choice was called the Well Side Ute, and featured lower sides with a tray and side boards. This body style was particularly popular with Builders and handymen, as you had the option of carrying long lengths. You will notice that the metal side of the Well Side Ute are lower than on the Straight Side Ute. The attached pictures show both models of these Roadster Utes when they were new.

 

[mercman from oz]

Here is a picture of a 1934 Ford Coupe Ute, the first year of this body style, taken when this car was near new. If you compare the moldings on the door with the moldings of the recreation that was done for Lew Bandt on his retirement, (see my earlier Post) you will see that the moldings below the window are completely different on the Coupe Utes and Coupes from the Sedans. Lew's recreated Coupe Ute uses Sedan doors.

 

[mercman from oz]

Most manufacturers had Roadster Utes at the end of the twenties, early thirties.
They were all true Utes with integral rear side, but they were all Roadster Utes. Ford was the first to introduce the Coupe Ute and the Holden Bodied Chevrolet
followed soon after. The Coupe Ute is an Australian invention. You guys in the USA stated making the equivalent in the 1957 Ford Ranchero and the 1959 Chevrolet ElCamino. Fords have had a Ute in their lineup ever since and still do today. Meanwhile, over at General Motors Holden, the Holden Ute took the place of the Chevrolet Ute, the last Chev Ute was the 1952 model, and like ford, Holden still market a Holden Commodore Ute to this day. Having said that, their days are numbered as Ford are closing their factories at the end of 2016, while Holden are following suit at the end of 2017. Sad days ahead as the once-proud Australian Motor Industry is no more. The attached picture is from the opposition and shows a 1935 Chevrolet Master Coupe Utility.

 

[mercman from oz]

With the pictures that McCready supplied, the 1927 Chevrolet is a true Roadster Ute in the real sense of the term, as the body retains the same shape as the doors all the way to the back end. On the other hand, the 1925 Hupmobile, while being a Roadster Ute has a different rear bed from the front and appears that it could be detached, so in the strict sense of the term, is not a genuine Roadster Ute? I hope that this explains the differences.

 

[mercman from oz]

In a previous Post, I asked Readers to compare the Body Moldings on the Doors between the original and the Recreated Lew Bandt. After looking at the picture that I added, I see that this was impossible, as the door was open and the Moldings were not visible. Compare these 2 pictures and you will see how "wrong" the recreation (tan) is when compared with the original (green). Look at the rear part of the cabin and the rear side window. I realize that the recreation has the Style Side Body, while the original one has the Well Side Body. The recreation is also shorter. While the builders have done an OK job with the recreation, the main problem is that Ford Australia publicize this Ute as being the same as the first Ford Coupe Utes. That is the problem.

 

[turnpikecrusier]

Here is my 36 roadster UTE