Before we start we should state that there never was a factory built EL Falcon Ute. It's as simple as that - just one of the many stupid decisions made by the Ford Motor Co of Australia over the last twenty years - it was one that would ultimately cost Ford the Ute market until the arrival of the AU Ute in 1999.
Instead, we had to put up with a heavily reworked XD Falcon ute - hailing all the way back from 1979 - called the XH. That's not to say the XH was a bad thing - it's just that it could have been so much better. Unable to justify the extra expense just for one model, the real reason for a lack of EL utilities is connected right back to the EA - but that's another story. Needless to say, we will be covering the XH as time goes on, but until then - you'll just have to keep sending in those awesome Visitors Cars!!!
Now just to confuse you even further, I submit this photo taken at Summernats 11 of - wait for it - the abominable snowman (oops - EL Falcon ute that is). This picture is in no way altered from what appeared to be the answer to all of our wishes - but instead was the beginning of the Hillier Bros legend that we all know by the AU Falcon Coupe hall of fame. Yep - that's right - the Hillier's built this beauty up from an old CFi EA wagon showing just what can be accomplished if you have the time and ability. Understandably the orders rushed in although it is unclear how many of these beasts actually left their Tenterfield workshop - if you are one of the fortunate few to have more details please let us know!
Importantly it showed just how badly Ford had missed the mark - with the Hillier's being able to making use of a stock XH (read XD) Falcon tail gate to fit in with the custom rear bumper and factory perfect rear quarters. You can check out more by grabbing the April-May 1997 issue of Street Machine Magazine which contains a full article on this amazing creation. No doubt if you've got the money and an old Falcon wagon, you too could still have one of these amazing pieces! It kinda makes you wonder why on earth Ford spent the time and money grafting the EF front onto the XH when it could have done this...damn the bean counters...damn the bean counters!!!
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Revised: 19 Nov 2002
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