A sad day in Australia today.

Today Ford closes the doors on their Australian factories.

With the Bathurst 1000 this weekend, and Holden due to close its doors next year, this weekend's Bathurst will be the end of an era.

Where will we stifle our collective ute lustings now?

"Bugger"

Appleseed wrote: Where will we stifle our collective ute lustings now?

Yeah, its not good. Im sure most Aussies don't realise what we're loosing.... Yet.

DukeOfUndersteer wrote:

, I haven't seen that for years.

Bugger indeed.

So, there really is going to be a "last of the V8s"?

guess you blokes will have to learn to like our pickup trucks

daeman wrote:

DukeOfUndersteer wrote:

, I haven't seen that for years. Bugger indeed.

Wasn't this from a New Zealand commercial?

They should've kept those Japanese cars out. Too bad they crushed the competition world wide...

In the grand scheme: all car makers are headed toward one manufacturer, one design, one car, one engine, one tire, one suspension.... etc. eventually we will all be driving jellybeans or soap bars powered by "foo foo" smoothie blenders and eating peanut butter from the crack in the ass known as "this" system of things

In reply to mad_machine:

I've got nothing against them. But utes are pretty unique to Australia, and its sad to see them go.

Plenty here already lust after the big American pickups. It'll be interesting to see what they retail for out here when they hit the market.

In reply to Mazdax605:

? Maybe, it was big here though, to the poit at one stage my grandparents were Rolling around with a "bugger" sticker on their LandCruiser while they were out doig the grey nomad thing.

crikies

In reply to Trackmouse:

Funny thing is, im a Jap enthusiast, have been since my mid teens. But I appreciate the aussie muscle classics and the unique niche that aussie built fords and Holden filled. I may have taunted my Holden and Ford loving mates about obese 4 door taxis that handle about as well as a bowl of jelly, but Im equally as sad to see this chapter of Australian automotive history drawing to a close.

Sadly, you're probably right. Im just glad I'll probably be to old to really give a E36 M3 about it when it happens

The ute loss is quite sad...

I drove V8 supercars on a good racing sim a while ago. Those things are stupidity with a seat. So much fun. I'll be sad if Australia loses that part of their car culture.

daeman wrote: I've got nothing against them. But utes are pretty unique to Australia, and its sad to see them go.

And then in thirty-forty-fifty years, there will a couple of kids at a car meet, and one will see a ute and say "Oh, cool, a ute!"

Then his friend, who never heard of them before, will ask "What the hell is a ute?"

Then the old guy walking by chokes on his teeth trying to not laugh out loud

mazdeuce wrote: I drove V8 supercars on a good racing sim a while ago. Those things are stupidity with a seat. So much fun. I'll be sad if Australia loses that part of their car culture.

"Stupidity with a seat", that's brilliant! sorry, but I'm stealing that.

It'll be interesting to see where v8 supercars heads over the next few years. I dare say the same level of crazy will be there, just using Mustangs and Camaros instead of Falcons and commodores. But only time will tell

Knurled wrote:

daeman wrote: I've got nothing against them. But utes are pretty unique to Australia, and its sad to see them go.

And then in thirty-forty-fifty years, there will a couple of kids at a car meet, and one will see a ute and say "Oh, cool, a ute!" Then his friend, who never heard of them before, will ask "What the hell is a ute?" Then the old guy walking by chokes on his teeth trying to not laugh out loud

Sounds about right, sadly I'll probably be that old guy.

Seriously though, I am sad to see the end of this era, I love a ute.

First panel vans, now utes.... Shame Australia! shame, shame, shame!

And for those of you who are unaware of the awesomeness that is the panel van, bask in its glory!

There's an entire portion of australias population that owe there existencene to the aussie panel van or shaggin wagon if you will.

That's it folks, the last ever aussie built Ford Falcon.

I wish ford would bring the Falcon name back.. make it a 4 door mustangesque car to compete with the charger and 300

Sad sad sad. I've always had a huge soft spot in my heart for Aussie built sedans and utes. I also love the old panel vans like the sandman. Idk to me it'd be like they shut down the Corvette and Mustang plants here or when GM shut down the F-body factory in Canadiapolis and ended that production. Except I don't think Ford or GM will be bringing anything back to Oz.