Author Topic: UTEs coming from down under...  (Read 8615 times)

mdsalemi

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UTEs coming from down under...
« on: April 21, 2020, 18:53:52 »
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
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Garry

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Re: UTEs coming from down under...
« Reply #1 on: April 21, 2020, 22:01:18 »
They are a dime a dozen here and every tradie has one.  ;D ;D ;D
Garry Marks
Melbourne/ Kyneton, Brisbane. Australia
1969 MB 280SL 5 speed RHD SOLD.
1965 MB 230SL Auto RHD Lt Blue 334G, Top 350H, 213 Leather, Tourist Delivery.
1972 MB 280CE Auto RHD 906G Blue Grey
2005 MB A200.
2006 MB B200
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mdsalemi

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Re: UTEs coming from down under...
« Reply #2 on: April 22, 2020, 15:11:40 »
They are a dime a dozen here and every tradie has one.  ;D ;D ;D

But since the demise of the El Camino (died 1987) and earlier, the Ford Ranchero (died 1979), this interesting and unique body style is unavailable in the USA. The demand of course was and is limited, but someone's there to fill it!

This is one interesting take, as they are importing otherwise illegal and RHD Utes, and bringing enough American and domestic components (my guess is including a valid VIN) to make it work.

The "tradies" as you say, all have pickups here as you well know. A mix of mainly F-series Fords, a nearly equal mix of Chevy/GMC, and a few who insist upon RAM. There are plenty of Tundras (Toyota) and Ridgelines (Honda) too, but mostly by homeowners, not the tradespeople.

The El Camino/Ranchero UTE have a bit of a following with those who transport motorcycles for rides in distant locations.
« Last Edit: April 22, 2020, 15:21:50 by mdsalemi »
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2022 Ford Escape Hybrid
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid

MikeSimon

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Re: UTEs coming from down under...
« Reply #3 on: April 22, 2020, 16:33:49 »
Being heavily active in the motorcycle business. I never considered neither a Ranchero nor an ElCamino for a "bike hauler". maybe the dirt bike guys do, but I would like to have an 8' long bed to put a bike on.
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Montreal V8

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Re: UTEs coming from down under...
« Reply #4 on: April 23, 2020, 16:43:13 »
  I wonder if they will be legal to import  to Canada.

mdsalemi

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Re: UTEs coming from down under...
« Reply #5 on: April 23, 2020, 20:37:14 »
Being heavily active in the motorcycle business. I never considered neither a Ranchero nor an ElCamino for a "bike hauler". maybe the dirt bike guys do, but I would like to have an 8' long bed to put a bike on.

You must remember that the newest of these--that would be a 1987 El Camino, is now well over 30 years old. So even in the world of motorcycles, time has taken its toll...other vehicles have taken their place.
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2022 Ford Escape Hybrid
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid

Garry

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Re: UTEs coming from down under...
« Reply #6 on: April 23, 2020, 22:47:19 »
Michael,  Even Ford got into the act with their ute.  all now history as neither Ford nor GM build cars here anymore.
Garry Marks
Melbourne/ Kyneton, Brisbane. Australia
1969 MB 280SL 5 speed RHD SOLD.
1965 MB 230SL Auto RHD Lt Blue 334G, Top 350H, 213 Leather, Tourist Delivery.
1972 MB 280CE Auto RHD 906G Blue Grey
2005 MB A200.
2006 MB B200
2019 Izuzu DMax 4x4 with Slide-on camper.
2022 Volvo XC40 Twin Electric

MikeSimon

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Re: UTEs coming from down under...
« Reply #7 on: April 23, 2020, 23:32:26 »
You must remember that the newest of these--that would be a 1987 El Camino, is now well over 30 years old. So even in the world of motorcycles, time has taken its toll...other vehicles have taken their place.

Michael, I don't quite understand what you're saying..??
1970/71 280SL Automatic
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Power Steering
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Heated Tinted Rear Window
German specs
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mdsalemi

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Re: UTEs coming from down under...
« Reply #8 on: April 24, 2020, 15:38:21 »
Michael, I don't quite understand what you're saying..??

Seriously? 20 years ago, when El Caminos used were just slightly older cars, they were readily available, not too costly, and thus people who wanted them (such as my cousin who hauled his Harley around in it, along with his friends who did similar things) could easily find them and get them.

NOW as mentioned, the newest of them is 33 years old. Not easy to find in a condition worthy of safe travel. Oh sure some are available restored and such, and perhaps restoration candidates too. But today they are not just an older used car/truck that you can easily just buy.

In the late 1970s, 1960s era Mercedes like ours were all over the junkyards of America. Try finding them today...

Time changes everything.
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2022 Ford Escape Hybrid
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid

Montreal V8

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Re: UTEs coming from down under...
« Reply #9 on: April 24, 2020, 16:11:38 »
  Speaking of el Caminos, I have an '87, last year of production, made in Mexico, purchased by me in '91.  It is in excellent, but not mint, condition, and I consider it perfectly safe for travel, and transporting motorcycles. Must admit, you don't encounter them every day, but the occasional ones I do see are in good condition.  Just my 2 cents worth.

MikeSimon

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Re: UTEs coming from down under...
« Reply #10 on: April 25, 2020, 12:36:04 »
Seriously, Mike...I have an idea what you are trying to tell me, but even 20 years ago, when the ElCs and Rancheros were readily available, I did not consider them as practical bike haulers. Even on most pick-up trucks, you cannot close the tailgate anymore, if you have a motorcycle on the bed.
1970/71 280SL Automatic
Sandy Beige
Parchment Leather
Power Steering
Automatic
Hardtop
Heated Tinted Rear Window
German specs
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Montreal V8

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Re: UTEs coming from down under...
« Reply #11 on: April 25, 2020, 18:45:24 »
Quick reply. My bikes are generally British and European. I load one bike diagonally in the bed, and can always close the tailgate !

mdsalemi

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Re: UTEs coming from down under...
« Reply #12 on: April 27, 2020, 16:19:55 »
Seriously, Mike...I have an idea what you are trying to tell me, but even 20 years ago, when the ElCs and Rancheros were readily available, I did not consider them as practical bike haulers. Even on most pick-up trucks, you cannot close the tailgate anymore, if you have a motorcycle on the bed.

Who said anything about practical? I merely mentioned that they had a bit of a following for that purpose; practical, sensible or not. Early generations didn't have tie-down eyes and folks wanting to haul bikes often had to add them along sometimes, with some kind of reinforcement. Later models had some kind of tie points. Just because you didn't consider them, or use them as a bike hauler doesn't mean others don't. The El Camino style itself was never particularly practical which is why it disappeared more than 30 years ago. But it does have a bit of a cult following. Heck even a dedicated bike trailer makes a whole lot more sense than putting a bike in the back of one of these or even a pick up truck.

There are clearly a small number of folks who miss this kind of vehicle and are willing to pay this company to have a "new" one.
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2022 Ford Escape Hybrid
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid

Montreal V8

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Re: UTEs coming from down under...
« Reply #13 on: April 27, 2020, 18:17:07 »
   I personally dislike trailers, and have nowhere to store one anyway.

66andBlue

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Re: UTEs coming from down under...
« Reply #14 on: April 30, 2020, 05:58:40 »
  Speaking of el Caminos, I have an '87, last year of production, made in Mexico, purchased by me in '91.  It is in excellent, but not mint, condition, and I consider it perfectly safe for travel, and transporting motorcycles. Must admit, you don't encounter them every day, but the occasional ones I do see are in good condition.  Just my 2 cents worth.
Dale,
here is your chance to add a 1934 Australian Ute living around the corner from you:
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1934-ford-roadster-7/

Michael,  Even Ford got into the act with their ute.  all now history as neither Ford nor GM build cars here anymore.

Garry,
one watcher on the BaT auction added a link to an article describing the origin of the design:
https://jalopnik.com/a-brief-history-of-australias-car-truck-ute-on-its-8-1530708773
Quite an interesting story.
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

Garry

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Re: UTEs coming from down under...
« Reply #15 on: April 30, 2020, 07:06:22 »
Alfred,

I bet there is not one panel on the ute in BAT that has ever been n Australia..

I wound up my company as at 31 December last and the company had, amongst other vehicles, two Ford  utes which one of the guys purchased.  One of them I originally purchased in 2010 that was a turbo charged 6 cylinder.  It was faster than their V8 ute you could buy at the time. It was so powerful that Ford decided it should have a governer on it to limit top speed to 250KPH  It scared the hell out of me.  The particular model was a collector piece witnin a few years.

Holden (GMH) made the “maloo" ute that was credited with being the fastest standard production Ute ever made.
« Last Edit: April 30, 2020, 23:29:22 by Garry »
Garry Marks
Melbourne/ Kyneton, Brisbane. Australia
1969 MB 280SL 5 speed RHD SOLD.
1965 MB 230SL Auto RHD Lt Blue 334G, Top 350H, 213 Leather, Tourist Delivery.
1972 MB 280CE Auto RHD 906G Blue Grey
2005 MB A200.
2006 MB B200
2019 Izuzu DMax 4x4 with Slide-on camper.
2022 Volvo XC40 Twin Electric

MikeSimon

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Re: UTEs coming from down under...
« Reply #16 on: April 30, 2020, 12:06:35 »
Here I was watching an early episode of one of my favorite TV Shows - Doc Martin, a BBC series - and in there is a UTE. I could not identify the make and model as they most certainly never sold it in the U.S.
It looked like a Japanese one, either a small Toyota or Nissan? Maybe I can dig up a picture
1970/71 280SL Automatic
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Parchment Leather
Power Steering
Automatic
Hardtop
Heated Tinted Rear Window
German specs
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Montreal V8

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Re: UTEs coming from down under...
« Reply #17 on: April 30, 2020, 19:02:36 »
  Thanks Alfred, but not my style.   Agree with Garry, there certainly isn't much, if any, Australian,  content .

66andBlue

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Re: UTEs coming from down under...
« Reply #18 on: May 01, 2020, 00:39:17 »
Dale and Garry,
I completely agree with you that this so-called 1934 ute has very little if any Australian parts in it. But it probably provided some nice fun for the people who put it together.
Most interesting for me though, was the link to the history of the ute and its designer Lewis Bandt.
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

Montreal V8

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Re: UTEs coming from down under...
« Reply #19 on: May 01, 2020, 02:46:19 »
  Alfred, yes you are right, and I didn't mean to take anything away from the effort, fun and craftsmanship of the creators.
  Dale.

DaveB

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Re: UTEs coming from down under...
« Reply #20 on: May 02, 2020, 01:53:24 »
I recently acquired this ute (utility) and it's very practical. It can carry five people and has a 6 x 6' tray for stuff. Perhaps a little strange-looking but that's ok.
DaveB
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Garry

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Re: UTEs coming from down under...
« Reply #21 on: May 02, 2020, 04:29:38 »
This was my ute.  Now in Port Headland WA.
Garry Marks
Melbourne/ Kyneton, Brisbane. Australia
1969 MB 280SL 5 speed RHD SOLD.
1965 MB 230SL Auto RHD Lt Blue 334G, Top 350H, 213 Leather, Tourist Delivery.
1972 MB 280CE Auto RHD 906G Blue Grey
2005 MB A200.
2006 MB B200
2019 Izuzu DMax 4x4 with Slide-on camper.
2022 Volvo XC40 Twin Electric

JN

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Re: UTEs coming from down under...
« Reply #22 on: May 28, 2020, 13:52:37 »
Can't wait to see these in the US

JN
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Duncan200

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Re: UTEs coming from down under...
« Reply #23 on: January 02, 2021, 23:50:01 »
1966 MB 230SL DB 717 4sp Australian Delivered Matching Numbers Car. One day it will be back on the road in all its glory.
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Montreal V8

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Re: UTEs coming from down under...
« Reply #24 on: January 06, 2021, 19:34:46 »
  Hi all. I finally decided to replace my beloved  '87 El Camino. Consequently, I recently imported a 2002 HSV (Holden Special Vehicles) Maloo Ute. It's one of two known in Canada. RHD is legal in most provinces, but headlights need changing to LHD. Long story short, but finally found 2004 t0 2006 Pontiac GTO units fitted nicely. It is a head turner here, and goes very well, having an LS1 Corvette engine. My El Camino is currently for sale.
  On a sad note, I, very reluctantly, sold my Pagoda recently. I really wasn't driving it enough, and it deserved a better life. I should like to add the Pagoda Group forum to be the best, bar none, of several I frequent, with thanks to the information it gave me.
  All the best for the New Year,   Dale