History Ute ought to want one...

This is cool!

 

The Aussie vehicles were often a bit bland compared to their US counterparts - less chromework. There were a number of mobs (e.g. Autolux) that made flash kits to dress them up. One such company is Tilli. Wonder if their is a link between the company name and 'Tily'?

Little bit earlier than that. The 50-2106 Coupe Utility (aka FX Holden ute) was unveiled in January 1951.

Cheers,
Harv

 

I like this photograph: State Library of Western Australia slwa_2308879_1; 236021 PD; Como Cabs 1952. (FX Holden ute; note the vertical grille bars)

 

Well crikey, thats a flashy ute , bonza mate . Only thing missing is the doorhandle scuff plate.

 

Ford Prefect ute (1946-48?) Gilles Street, Adelaide, June 1954; State Library of South Australia B 13042

 

Falcon XL ute , 'Redi Dryer HAIR DRYING MAGIC'; Lambretta scooter; photo taken in Adelaide April 1964; State Library of South Australia B 15418

 

Thanks, I learned something new today. So Holden built and sold(?) both Chevy and Holden Utes from 51-52? What about the cars, when did Holden stop making Chevy cars and switch over to Holden cars?

 

This is my NZ built Willy’s sedan. Was thinking about building a Ute out of it since I can’t afford a coupe.

 

what a killer idea!

 

Around 1954 they stopped making Chevy utes, but were still making Chevy sedans (Usually base-models) up to 1968. They made Holdens along side of CKD Chevy's and Pontiacs from Canada, so our Pontiacs had all Chevy running gear.

 

Thanks for that info. did not know that Holden made Chevy cars up so far into late 60s.

I am pretty sure that 52 is last of the Chevy Utes. Have never seen or heard of a 53-54 Chevy Ute. I have my 52 Chevy Ute, with a 52-xxxx model number on the tag. But it has a 49 style dash in it, and dash is mirror image of US style for RHD of course. Has 52 grille though. I parted out a (US model) 52 4 dr sedan for many parts that I needed to get mine back together; such as door panels, some glass, stainless trim, wiper parts, and more. It all fit just fine.

 

Cray pots in the bush and at the beach and Chevrolet utility; State Library of Western Australia; slwa_b2354358_2; 237867PD; 1954 photo

 

1940 Chev ute (?) 1955 photo of Spearwood Garage; State Library of Western Australia; slwa_b2490939_1; 103203PD

 

This little beauty belongs to my cousin. I snapped the pic earlier today. 100% complete and fully drivable. It belonged to his grandfather and has been in the family ever since. I can't see the next generations parting with it either....

 

It's a Morris?

 

It certainly is.

 

State Library of Western Australia - slwa_b2319425_1

 

1937: butcher delivering to brush hut 45 miles from Laverton; filling radiator; State L ibrary of Western Australia; photos O22771PD and O22772PD; slwa_b2376082_1 and slwa_b2376082_2 (I had to look up where Laverton, WA, is: at the western edge of the Great Victoria Desert, 957 kms [595 miles] north-north east of Perth; ie, the middle of nowhere.)

 

State Library of New South Wales; SLNSW_FL138397; photo by Sam Hood

 

Still is the middle of nowhere but the town has a roundabout now . Big open-cut mining going on there.

 

Well I hope none of the Aussies kill me for saying that but ute-like vehicles did exist elsewhere, in particular the RAF had something classified as "aircraft tender" used in support role already in WWI (mostly based on Model the T Ford). Some of those got sold on to civvy street in Palestine/Israel (where I grew up in the 60s) and the word "Tender" has become the local slang to describe any type of pick-up, unitary body or not. There were locally built versions too later (some OT). The below is 100% not Aussie, American or British but fits the type.

But of course "ute" as such achieved fame and popularity downunder first, regardless of what people in other countries produced or not, it's just me being a pain in the ass pedantic

 

State Library of New South Wales: Geelong, Victoria, 3 August 1951; photo by Gordon F. De Isle

 

What a bunch of Utes!

 

Ford factory closed in 2016. Last used in the Covid Pandemic as a mass vaccination hub.

 

These photos were probably taken in 1951. 'Grazing property Trangie'; ACP/Pix magazines, State library of New South Wales. The 1935/36 ute, at only 16 or 15 years old, has already had a hard life and I wonder if it eventually went to the big ute graveyard somewhere and wasn't saved in later years. The Ford Prefect ute is a 1949 - 1953 model.

 

Ford Prefect utes. The blacked-out headlamps suggest war time and I guess the white outline along the bottoms of the utes was to make them a bit more visible to other road users. Photos by Sam Hood, State Library of New South Wales.

 

Yep, wartime.

 

Thanks for sharing these interesting pix.