This is a clue, but the answer is there right after the jump. And why did I turn it into a clue? Because it’s a car I’ve never seen before, and I sure wouldn’t be able to guess it. Hint: this is a passenger-car based vehicle.
Here it is, a Ford Falcon panel van, posted at the Cohort by Davo. He says it’s an EF, from 1994-1995. That thing got a FEMI?
I knew there were panel van derivatives of the Australian utes, but not so recently. How are these typically used? Just as a ute with a permanent cover, or actually in commercial use like panel vans of yore? That’s hard to imagine. But then it is a parallel universe down there.
That thing sure has some awkward proportions. Still, I’d cruise it.
The owner might make a living as an animal handler… or cleaning barns.
The car is relatively clean. But look under that door handle, and streaked down underneath.
It looks like something the SPCA would use.
Good old dunger, these go for ever though the trannys will die the engines go on and on, this is what you need for the Gambian venture reliable as the sun thousands of Aussie tradesmen and travellers drive these things the clue was so easy I didnt bother to answer.
Ford should have taken the name from their North American Fairmont-based Durango mini pickup they made in the early 80s, and called this Ute the ‘Durangaroo’
I would give my left nut for one of those.
“OW my eye!” – Kelso, from “That ’70s Show.”
A passenger car converted into a pickup, then more or less back into an enclosed car. I am reminded of a news story about 10 years ago about a man who went through a sex change operation, then declared herself to be a lesbian — sort of going full circle, with a twist.
It’s the Mr. Garrison of cars! Isn’t it, Mr. Hat? Mmmkay.
It’s actually an XH model (produced 1996-1999), which was created by grafting on the EF sedan front end to the previous XG ute – the sheetmetal from the firewall back (with the exception of the ute roof) is basically identical to all utes from the 1979 XD onwards. No external sheetmetal is shared with the sedan, but the bumper & headlights are.
The change brought new double wishbone suspension (a long spindle setup with the top ball joint above the tire) and rack & pinion steering to replace the traditional Falcon setup. To give an idea of the magnitude of this change, the turning circle was reduced by 3 feet.
The panel vans all had the 4.0L SOHC 6-cyl with 200hp and 260lb-ft, with either a T50D or BTR 4sp auto, the latter could be had with a column shift & bench seat. Panel vans also were base trim only, missing out on the fancier versions the ute came in, so you had a rubber floor mat, manual windows (but electric mirrors), and a lot of things optional – remote central locking, driver’s airbag etc. The wheels on this van are from a Fairmont sedan, it would have had steel wheels.
It looks like the van is just dirty, they don’t rust there – there are other common spots though! Other issues – clouding of the plastic headlamps, broken front turn signal, slightly sagging door seal, broken rear bumper end clip/bracket.
My ute is the same model as this, looks more like the attached photo but the wheels are not identical.
They rust in NZ John in fact they had rust in the panel joints from the factory build quality and finish on Aussie cars is appaling compared to the Japanese offerings
I know that all too well! But they don’t normally rust the outer door skin as shown above.
Well said John H. And of course a very large part of the XH van was basically the same as the 1972-on XA – inner structure behind the A-Pillar, upper sides/windows/roof from B-pillar back, and the rear barn doors.
I really like the Falcon vans (and utes) and as I’ve mentioned previously, we’ve had the 1975 XB version of the Falcon panelvan in our family from 1982 until its demise in a barn fire a year or two ago. I spent loads of time in it as a child.
Paul asks how these were typically used. Well in the pre-seatbelt-law days of the 80s our family one was used to tow the boat (it was factory 302 V8), and the back of the van was filled with kids. It was all thickly-padded button-tufted velour on the walls and roof and shag-pile carpeting on the floor back there, and as an 10 year old I thought it was the most awesome interior I’d ever seen! Its interior had been modified in the 70s van craze though and was not the norm.
The major use for the XH (and earlier) Falcon vans in NZ was as police dog vans, in either white with police markings or red. Most of the XHs I see around are ex-dog vans, distinguished by large vents in the roof. On the plus side the police ones were well-specced from the factory and mostly seem to have been built with factory a/c, bucket seats, airbag and alloy wheels etc.
A few tradesmen used the vans too, but most preferred the ute as they could then fit an aftermarket canopy of their choosing with opening sides etc for convenience.
And of course the final use of the Falcon panelvans is as a 2-door 2-seat muscle-coupe with loads of headroom and a REALLY big boot. To successfully use them in this capacity, it’s highly recommended that V8 running gear is used. This was easier pre-1982, as the 302 and 351 were optional in the utes and panelvans (as in our van). For the last 20 months of the XH’s life (Oct ’97-June ’99), Ford reintroduced a V8 XR8 version of the ute (pictured below), so an XR8 van could be easily created with a donor!
Personally I’ve grown up with Falcon (and Holden and Valiant) panelvans, so I don’t find them awkward to look at, and would quite like an XH van as the last of the breed!
The 185kw/402Nm (248hp/296 lb/f) 302 in the XH ute.
They are rare – 624 made…
Is that it? I’m guessing using one to create an XR8 van’s out of the question then! There are two ’98 XR8 XH2 utes on trademe at the mo – a white one for NZ$7K and the red one I pictured for NZ$10,800. Red one here: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/ford/falcon/auction-669645370.htm
Yes, only slightly fewer than the XR6in the same model, they were still growing the market I suppose you would say. Also it was a bit outdated when compared to the sedan, they sold a lot better.
Thanks for the info mate, I’ve got an Xh panel van with the roof vents and was confident it was a police van because I can see where the cb radio was. I didn’t know they were for the dog squad though.
To give US readers an idea of the size of the panel van…
Length: 4923mm / 193.8″
Width: 1862mm / 73.3″
Height: 1370mm / 53.9 (note this is for the ute so just above windshield level)
Kerb weight: 1520kg / 3350lb
Load length: just under 6′ at bed height, 7′ at floor level
Load width: 4′ between wheelhouses, 5′ or so overall
Load capacity: 750kg / 1500lb, 1100kg / 2500lb optional
Towing capacity: 2300kg / 5070lb
I like it.
Very Australian.
Make do with what you’ve got or make it a bit better.
Ummm… no LPG.
Did the popos use these as divvy van?
Some did though in NSW the F150 was favourite as a bull wagon
Aussie Panel Van was immediately what I was thinking. Here’s a picture of an example that most Americans should be familiar with.
Holden vans were what I bought mostly I had XB Falcons but the front end is bad and alignments impossible to maintain on dirt roads, one reason I guess Ford ditched camber adjustment in 89 it was impossible to keep it right.
The car from Mad Max (aka The Road Warrior). Seen here without a bikie’s hand hanging by a chain from the roof rack, or the fence picket through the radiator!
Note that it has customised headlights (originals were round in a square housing/recess) and grille compared to standard.
They’re XC Fairmont headlights I understand. Looks like HJ Statesman upper and lower grilles.
Hearse rack on top spare and fuel cans but for the front clip which is a mixture it could be my last Holden van it had Vic plates though I cant remember the number, Mine had 225 Yokohama Super Diggers on the back handy for orchards and river banks but only a 253 engine 3 speed
Well, I’d guessed it was a Ford product from the doorhandle, I’d have though some sort of early Escort derivative.
Actually I would have preferred an Escort derivative…
My guess was a Subaru Brat with a topper. But I was pretty sure it was more exotic than that!
This is the first time in the history of ever that anyone has described the Falcon as “exotic”. Thousands of Aussie Falcon fans such as myself applaud your discerning eye there Tom! 😉
Certainly exotic here in Illinois 🙂 Like my Town Car would be in NZ. “Wow I didn’t know they made those in a non-limo version!”
Touche!
Seek and ye shall find bro on the cohort Falcon/Fairlane from OZ you guys would like
Seek and ye shall find bro on the cohort Falcon/Fairlane from OZ you guys would like
Seek and ye shall find bro on the cohort Falcon/Fairlane from OZ you guys would like, damn pic wont post on the cohort is a stretch limo Fairlane this model
I saw limo that on the Cohort Bryce. May have to do a little post on it!
Based on the same platform as the European 80/90’s Granarda, check out a picture on line even the door are the same!
They look similar because they were developed around the same time, but they are totally unrelated platforms, and share no parts whatsoever except for the front indicator of the 1979/80 models. Despite appearances, the Falcon has a lower waistline and resultingly bigger glass area. The door openings are different, so Falcons doors don’t fit Granadas and vice versa.
This XH Falcon was on an updated version of the 1960 American Falcon platform. The XH’s successors continued to update the same platform.
The Mk II Granada was on an updated Mk I Granada platform, no relation to the Falcon. The MK III Granada/Scorpio was based on an enlarged Sierra platform.