AU 4WD

This picture has been copied from Overlander magazine and is in fact a very well done computer modified scan of Ford’s original Fairmont photographs (see number plate). Which is a pity – as no such 4WD Falcon exists as of yet. Yet where there is smoke there is fire – and there are too many rumours regarding the existence of AU 4wd prototypes for them to be of no substance. Indeed, Jack Nasser (el presidente of FoMoCo world wide – who by the way is an Aussie) was rumoured to have told the Australian’s to stop work on the left hand drive Falcon so that they could concentrate on the 4wd Falcon instead. His reason was that Ford already had a large rear drive left hook model (the Crown Victoria) in the markets identified for the Falcon, while the 4wd Falcon would be unique in it’s size and design and as such would not duplicate Ford’s efforts elsewhere. It’s no good producing a product to compete with your own product is it?

Another rumour doing the traps tells of early in the piece when the man himself was visiting to inspect the new AU ute - months before it’s introduction, he was heard to exclaim “Damn this would look good as a 4wd.” And I couldn’t agree more myself. So much so have I thought about it that I’ve been tempted to buy a rolled Explorer and whack the mechanicals – minus the V6 – under my Falcon station wagon and adapt the lot to Ford’s magnificent 4.0l inline six cylinder. Not too hard for a Fitter & Turner now eh? If only I had the time & money….

Yet Overlander magazine adds more proof to the pudding by quoting Ford Australia’s then public affairs spokesperson, Louise Teesdale as saying “Currently the vehicle is no more than an evaluation test vehicle used for feasibility studies. We are always looking for options to see what we can do with various vehicle platforms.” Read into that whatever you want, but with added pressure from Holden who is said to be developing a similar concept using the Commodore as a basis, Ford would be stupid not to take this one all the way – like it should have in 1975. Just check out the car parks of any country town as you pass through – especially those outside of pubs etc. The amount of tray back 4wd utes around is amazing. Of course the Ford would have a lot of proving to do if it does arrive – especially being the new kid on the block, but momentum created by it’s newness should carry it through any time of uncertainty given that the engineering and quality is right from the word go.

Click On Image To Enlarge

The above picky’s came from Motor magazine June 99 on pages 8 & 9.

Left picture – AU 4wd ute spotted with an XH tail cut‘n’shut to fit. Built before the AU ute was released. Whether this was done to fool the media (which it did quite successfully at the time) or due to a shortage of AU ute prototype parts is open to speculation. Either way it looks damn good – is this an idea for all you XH ute owners out there?

Middle picture – 4wd buttons neatly fit into the dash, looking like a factory produced unit and not the initial build evaluation prototype that it is.

Right picture – Illustration of what a XR8 4wd might look like. Note the incorrect F100 cargo box on the back – amazingly (Ford usually has more leaks than a fishing net) even this close to release (at time of drawing – not publishing) the media had no idea of the final design – all the better for Ford who actually got to release a vehicle for once before the media did. The final design looked much better – as witnessed to by phenomenal sales.

While the above photo (Left) would tend to prove Ford is serious about bringing a Falcon 4wd to market this is not necessarily so (as much as I wish they would). Occasionally the company sees fit to produce an evaluation prototype just to see if a thing can really be done – and to prove how well it could fit together. I can think of at least one other example being the XA 4wd of which the evaluation prototype very quickly allowed the engineers to see that the XA body with it’s longer door openings was not stiff enough compared to the XY to do without a chassis or significant underbody strengthening. Besides that, considering how badly the ute & coupe doors sagged (same doors & hinges) – can you imagine the effect on a 4wd over the rough stuff?

The second example is a EA 4wd ute (yes – you read it right – EA) produced by an eager staff of tradespeople at the Ford Proving Ground in much the same way as the VT Commodore Coupe. Produced off of a worn out EA station wagon prototype with 4wd mechanicals stuffed underneath and a Series I NA Fairlane nose cone bolted on this thing looked seriously mean!!! With it’s wide white sunraisiers and welded up & smoothed wagon rear doors, it looked how the EA should have looked had Ford have made the right decisions. Oh well, I guess one day we might just be able to slide to an alternative universe where EA’s had 351’s, 4wd versions and Commodores only came with 3.0 l V6’s, no sports models and ultra weak bodies (whoops – that last part was true)….

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