calling all Aussies: did GM Australia also make ute's from the early 40's Pontiacs? dunno if i ever saw one, pictures anyone?
There was quite a bit of stuff that was converted on the assembly line for the army in WW2...leave it with me, I should have some pics n'stuff.
You would better to start with a 4 door body. If you used the Tudor the proportions would be off and it will look like a Phantom. You will also end up with a short bed/tray.
I heard from a previous owner that it is still down your way but parked and lookig a little sad. Adam Chivers did all the custom work on it for Darrel and I made a fitted a set of Cruzin skirts to it
A mate and I havin' some fun in his ute a few years back when he owned it. He was a mate of the guy that owns the '33 feral ute above. Rocky.
I think that this sedan delivery would make an excellent Ute.There is a seam under the stainless just over the rear fenders that would give the body just the right height. The fiberglass body ( for sale locally) has the correct side and rear windows.
Not that easy - as others have said a Tudor would be the wrong basis. The figure that just about every panel on the ute may look the same as U.S. Ford but they are very different - the dimensions and curvature are unique to Aussie Fords. Rear window is smaller, rear quarter windows are different , doors have a different curvature and perimeter outline. Been through this with my buddie's 1940 ute and so this is from first hand experience. I doubt if you can "just buy the unique parts" either - this stuff is really tough to find even in Oz. When I last talked to Larry O'Toole - author of the definitive ute book "The Good Old Aussie Ute" he commented how rare the 1940 Ford ute is. By 1940 Australia was already involved in WW II and much vehicle production had been switched to military production....
Yeah, it's parked by the side of the road in WestTweed with a saverely damaged RHR quarter, poorly repaired with riveted sheet metal and a trailer light. I last spoke to DM a couple of years ago, he's only really interested in his vintage surf gear/shop these days. Do you guys remember his chopped and flamed, two door EK?
I nearly crashed while "second-taking" when I first saw this otherwise stock Ute driving past Coolie Airport. I believe a young woman owns it now.
You clearly missed my first post in this thread where I was talking about the out of proportion 1/4 windows on the Aussie utes - especially in the pre-war Fords. JH
You have to remember these were fore and foremost commercial vehicles. Form follows function. And what you missed is the fact that these weren't built with US tooling due to the import laws of the day. OZ bodies had to be built locally. Hell Australian '39 Ford roadster is merely a '37 roadster body with '39 gear and trinkets. The Australian market is unique and separate from the US market. The concept of the coupe ute was to have a car you could go to church on Sunday and Market on Monday. Looking at Oz bodied vehicle with what you know about US bodies of course they will look out of proportion. I am sure the factory had similar thoughts but they couldn't compromise the tray length and I am sure ol Henry didn't want a 3w like Chevrolet. what manufacture built this body? yes the rear has been customized and it has been channelled but the rest of the body is basically stock.
Here is my ute made from a sedan. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=489654 There are 1/4 panel and tailgate skins available for Fords from Peter Jackson in Australia, but they are unfinished as most utes were individually fitted. Waddingtons also produce new Ford ute bodies. But like has already been posted, there is a lot more to it than just putting new 1/4 panels on a sedan.
Something must be getting lost in translation here..... I understand where an Aussie ute was built and why the 1/4 windows were short. I've not "missed" any of that. I just think the proportions would look better with a US-built, 5wd top grafted on. JH
Not lost in translation I have seen some utes modified in that way. Below is a local car it has had coupe 1/4 windows fitted so a back seat could be fitted. It is pretty cool and practical for a family but is slightly awkward with its shorten tray, this is what you have to be careful of when doing what you're have said. Since the '40 1/4 windows are shorter than '46-'48 it could work, you would want to use the ute doors.
Hahahahaha!!!! It's Aussie Falcon Ranchero vs. US Falcon Ranchero proportion comparison deja vu. I like the longer top and shorter bed on the '48 you posted. Maybe I'm just crazy. JH
It also lost those curious ribs in the roof but retained the Holden PV side panels, I doubt any of that will convince Roadkill it's a backyard custom
Not a Ford but you missed this one which is surely big enough incidentally the very same vehicle appears in 2 other shots in the thread
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