Came across this vauxhall ute in a paddock and was wondering if anyone knows about them, are they rare or unusual in Australia as if they are I will try to get this one out of the weather. It looks 99.9% complete and even has the key in the ignition. Last registered in 1976, the pictures don't do it justice as it seems a solid vehicle despite the ferns growing through it.
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The body plates are stamped GMH so I assume Holden had the contract for production due to the Vauxhall/Holden/GM link
Native to Australia, built by Holden. As the photo of the body tags shows
A selection of FJ body panels were used to keep the tooling costs down, as they were not a high volume seller in the sales department.
Unlike Holdens it has a full removable chassis.
Have worked on a few over the years, two full restos. General rust repairs and one a few years ago that the owner had bought partly done!
That had to be totally redone.
V8 Chop and almost total lower half reconstruction
Interesting cars and something totally different, not the sort of ute you would expect to see more than one of at an event. Unless it was a Vauxhall gathering
J wrote:wouldnt wanna over speed
might void ur warranty....
maybe just speed and ul be ok
I like it...
well the tray anyway... put a front clip of something else on it.
What a great idea!
Put an FJ front on it, would look like an FJ with a custom front screen push button doors and Vauxhall tail lights!!!!!!!
Then it could be like lots of other FJ utes that people just have a passing glance at. Not something truly different that 99% of car guys have never seen before
Vauxhall is/was a UK division of GM America.
Whose UK built cars were marketed in the US by selected Olds and Buick dealers
In Australia, Vauxhalls were built by Holden. And several unique body styles were developed and made for our local market. These utes were one of them.
They were always marketed and sold as a Vauxhall.
And these locally designed and developed special versions, have been sort out by some UK Vauxhall enthusiasts over the years.
Usually very original or restored examples, not restoration projects.
I wasn't sure if it was the case with the Monaro's exported to the UK bering sold as Vauxhill's, even though it's a Holden. Same with the GTO in the US.
With some imagination, and metal fabricating skills nothing is impossible.
Most of the time.
The artwork was to show the owner what was possible, and what was to be done
As far as I know, replacement panels for these utes dont exist. So I made everything.
The roof on this ute became land fill and the chop was totally redone. Unfortnatly I have lost the digital shots of this part of the rebuild, and how it looked when returned to the owner
Nige they are a trick looking ute, i had a 56 years ago and fitted a 327 power glide hr front end and 9 inch custom paint and trim, it was a real nice car to drive until i totalled it on a round about with a truck, so get it home and build it you wont be sorry. Jim.
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