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crowie
613 posts
and
34 followers
in about 2 years
in about 2 years
More from crowie
1937 Aussie Ford Ute Replica Model in timber “scratch built” - A gift for an old friend!
1937 Aussie Ford Ute Replica Model in timber “scratch built”
Ford Australia was the first company to produce an Australian Coupe Ute, which was released in 1934.
Ford's car-making plant had opened in Geelong in 1925 and for the first few years enjoyed strong sales.
When the Great Depression hit in 1929 every sector of the economy felt the impact.
For farmers, banks would only extend credit for one car.
For many, the family "car" became a rough tray truck.
And that was the letter writer's main complaint, that their truck's leaking side-curtains let in the rain.
Seeing merit in the idea, Hubert French gave the task of designing a new vehicle to a brilliant, young designer, Lew Bandt.
The story goes that in 1932 a farmer’s wife wrote to Ford asking them to make a vehicle that they could drive to church on Sunday and use to take their pigs to market on Monday, but also with proper weather protection and a smart appearance.
In those days the Sunday Service was a major social occasion and the term ‘Sunday Best’ meant something, so turning up in a basic work truck was not what you wanted to do.
Designer Lew Bandt came up with a design based on the 5-window coupe so the body would have more bracing at the front of the load tray, which extended forward under the rear window right up behind the seat for to maximise the bed length of 5’ 5’’ length with its 1200 lb capacity.
The Ute went on sale in the latter half of 1934 with only 500 built in the first year.
Lew Bandt was sent to Detroit with two of the Ute for a showing with Henry Ford.
When his men from Texas asked what the new vehicle was, old Henry said it was a kangaroo chaser!
That’s a brief history for the overseas makers.
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Now to start the story I need to firstly thank a few people.
Chris, David, John from The Early V8 Fords Clubs of Victoria & New South Wales who gave me contacts in their clubs of owners of the 1937 Aussie Ford Ute; Brad, Howard & Ann who helped me with photos, plus Eddie Ford of Restored Car Magazine.
Back in February March of this year I was in need of a toy project with a challenge; something to help keep good mental health plus make the “grey power” work hard while I enjoyed the making.
I was medically discharged from the Navy 45 years ago and found it hard to secure employment but thankfully a bloke who was foreman at a company “Sullair Australia” gave me a start.
Ron has remained a friend throughout the years keeping in touch with Christmas, birthdays and few phone calls every year.
A few years ago Ron sold his 1937 Aussie Ford Ute that he’d restored in his retirement, a first class job as Ron had originally trained as a mechanic. [His vehicle "UTE37F" is part of the project heading].
The challenge was there for me to attempt a replica in timber of what was his beautiful ute, doing it without his knowledge and surprising him with an early Birthday/Christmas gift.
It took a couple of months to wrap my head around the challenge trying to source drawing of the Australian built Ute to no avail.
I then contacted the folks above for photos and dimensions which they kindly supplied.
I used photos of Ron’s Ute with the supplied dimensions to scale the vehicle at approximately 10:1 coping that onto photocopied photos with pencil and rule.
The enormity of the challenge was dawning upon me!
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Life’s Good, Enjoy Each New Day’s Blessings
52 Comments
Now to start the whole process!
With scaled photos, rule, pencil and templates.
With scaled photos, rule, pencil and templates.
Life’s Good, Enjoy Each New Day’s Blessings
Next step was to make the cab including shaping the roof profile....
Life’s Good, Enjoy Each New Day’s Blessings
That's some write-up!!! Fascinating.
That's some write-up!!! Fascinating
Thank you sir.
Got to acknowledge folks who have assisted me and inspired me to take up this challenge.
Life’s Good, Enjoy Each New Day’s Blessings
The next part of the build was the engine area including the radiator and side ventilation fins in the side of the bonnet.
This included a major muckup of doing a radiator with vertical fins when upon second look the 1937 Aussie Ford has horizontal fins.
The bonnet has a Ceylon Ebony highlight strip up the centre.
Getting the tapered shape right along with the curve across the back were quite difficult.
This included a major muckup of doing a radiator with vertical fins when upon second look the 1937 Aussie Ford has horizontal fins.
The bonnet has a Ceylon Ebony highlight strip up the centre.
Getting the tapered shape right along with the curve across the back were quite difficult.
Life’s Good, Enjoy Each New Day’s Blessings
cant wait to see this beautiful model completed i love it so far
*TONY ** Reinholds* ALWAYS REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN
cant wait to see this beautiful model completed i love it so far
Thank you Tony, it’s been a challenge with a lot of guess work and fudging.
Life’s Good, Enjoy Each New Day’s Blessings
Looking good so far, Peter! Will be following with interest.
May you have the day you deserve!
If anyone can pull it off it’s you. Nice job so far
Very interesting on how you proceed with the project. Looking good.
Ron
Starting to take shape Crowie...doing a great job!
Mike
Can’t wait to see the end result. Cool project!
Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".
It just might be your best yet!
And, that’s saying a whole lot!!
And, that’s saying a whole lot!!
Masterful work going from photo to what you have accomplished!
You and your "team" have been busy and your friend is going to be knocked out of his socks!
You and your "team" have been busy and your friend is going to be knocked out of his socks!
WOW! What a neat project. Looking good.
That is an impressive project! I'm looking forward to seeing the completed model.
A new car designer here. Good job Peter! For that time a modern car.
your model skills always impress me. love all the pic's showing your process. looking forward the finish.
working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
Amazing!
Next was to mock up the ute back or tub, along with the front & rear mudguards.
I made a template from the scaled drawing for the mudguards.
Cutting the same angle on the front mudguards to follow the side of the bonnet/engine.
I made a template from the scaled drawing for the mudguards.
Cutting the same angle on the front mudguards to follow the side of the bonnet/engine.
Life’s Good, Enjoy Each New Day’s Blessings
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