fbekholden.com

My take:
1/ Leave the outside exactly as is
2/ VE GTS motah and gearbox
3a/ shortened nine inch
3b/ widened original back wheels to match shortened diff
3c/ mini tubbed with inch plate lining the wheelhouse (ala Gary Myers' XA) so you can blow the bags off it and not damage the body
4/ Lowered
5/ Sell the FB bonnet bar and come out in front

Daily driver/burnout car

exxxxxxcelent now gary's got the ute he can start on that duel cab looking forward to seeing it gary now thats a DUELL CAB gary .get going out to the shed mate and get started wont take long the quicker you get started the quicker it gets finished .on your way you started yet .for all those who want him to build the duell cab there's my attempt at steering him in the right direction.i'll get back in my kennel now.

Here's a little idea I came up with in 1988! Why not a wild custom flat bed pick up with a 2" chop top, extended 'eyebrow molds' ,scalloped guards, frenched headlights & EK design rear guard pods.


Scotty.

Gazza, stop wasting your time and build a real car.

Wild.... I can't see you doing mild, not after the sedan...

I think you already have a plan just like the rest of us .

Whatever your plan is Id marry it in with the business so it becomes tax deductable , and utes always look good with old skool sign writing.

jesus sputz you are one tallented dude your drawings are awsume

Thanks for the feedback guys . As Harko said I have a plan (well, I had a plan!) but it was really out there and I can't see me doing it to this ute. I have had two ideas in my head for a while, here they are:

First option was to build a ute version of the Black Sedan, same wheels, ride height, interior, grafted fins, wagon rear bumper, etc.... only difference was that it would be running an LS1 as it will be my daily driver.

Second option: (It has already been verbally approved by the TAC.)
Scotty's drawing is very close to this, just needs the Stepside body... Nice one Scotty!!

Picture this (alot of vision required here!!) and you will see why I needed a really rough ute after reading this!
1/ FB/EK ute
2/ Cut the rear end off and mould body around to make a neat looking "Cab".
3/ Cut the complete floor out of the ute "cab" and replace with a narrowed HQ one tonner cab floor and firewall.
4/ Cut the rear end off a HQ one tonner chassis and "fit" a 4 link race rear end clip to carry 10" wide rims.
5/ Graft the "Cab" onto the HQ chassis.
6/ Modify front guards to make them step out...similar to early stepside trucks, this will cover the additional wheel track and also help with the "overall look".
7/ Fit an LS2-LS3 with internal mods and an Eaton/whipple Supercharger.....would like to fit a 6 speed manual but could be a bit hard to stop the horns growing out of my head, so probably run an auto!!
8/ Fit a fully custom built (by me) Step Side body with FB ute tail lights grafted into the guards, FB station Sedan rear bumper (narrowed) and HOLDEN lettering across the tailgate.
9/ Red and Black leather interior.
10/ Candy Apple red paint.
11/ wheels, 15x10 convos rear and 15x6 convos front with mickey thompson tyres. Also considering custom made Dragway rims (17").
12/ Heaps of chrome and dual 3" stainless exhaust.

End result is that I want it to look like it "could" have been "factory", not a miss match of bits, this will take alot of work to get the require effect, but if done right it could look ok...........

Now I have a third option:
Same as first option but leave the ute tail lights and don't graft the fins on 'cause I am struggling with the thought of "altering" the original external shape....... bloody hell, I'm starting to sound like a RESTORER .

This is why I am soooooo undecided

And Harko..... great plan with the "tax deduction" idea....I like it!...

V8EK4us wrote:
Now I have a third option:
Same as first option but leave the ute tail lights and don't graft the fins on 'cause I am struggling with the thought of "altering" the original external shape....... bloody hell, I'm starting to sound like a RESTORER .

that's my choice SORRY TO EVERYBODY but i hate comercials with sedan wagon tail lights never have liked them same goes for EH and HR
the widened ute i can't really see working as you want "factory look" cause i think the guard widening would look like a flair which even on factory cars looks like an after thought, like a VE commodore, looks like they built the car then said shit the wheels don't fit

but once again these are my thoughts not orders

First option but original ute colour,slightly lower in the rear(airbags?)
and those five spoke old looking but new wheels(show wheels?)
20 inch or larger ,Oh yeah cream leather trim with some fully sick audio/
visual gear in the cab and tray.
Maybe a pop up massive lcd (out of the tray)to watch the Pussy
Cat Dolls,or just dolls

hey Garr. how about 4 inch chop ,tubbed rear to clear some 18x12 showwheels, sitting nice low with a twin turbo LS3.Oh and of course Black paint to show of the wheels



Cheers axeman

Nice starting point.

Looks like it needs to be stripped down, whichever way you go.

As a daily driver, it's going to get a few knocks, so on the outside you would look for something that won't make you cry, when it has a little accident.
I differ from Ratbox. I prefer the sedan/wagon taillight, especially on the utes. Your preference on that one.
However if your going to keep it original, then that probably influences what you will do with the rest of the car also.

Underneath and inside, whatever you would enjoy driving every day.

hers my poor photoshop effort of the second idea (well what part of it i could manage)

Hey Garry, I think the old school turbo six sounds great, that way you will have a good reliable almost economical street/work ute. Most definately an aussie icon with attitude!

Gday marke1958
Welcome to the forum
You'll have to start your own thread here to show us
your bitchin ute and introduce yourself
Cheers
Jeff