Just can’t get enough of those Aussie utes…here’s a 1957 Mainline Utility that was shot by Hugo90 in 1974 on the streets of Melbourne. I’ve never even seen a picture of this vintage; awesome. White with red rims too. I’d take one in a heartbeat.
I know some of you are thinking “1956”, but this body style served through 1958, with some minor trim changes. And here’s another one, so we can savor the details of the front end:
This restored and somewhat-lowered ’57 was posted as a comment to Hugo90’s shot, by Squizzy, Thanks!
The lower rear quarters look like they have a lot of 1952-54 Ford in them. Understandable since the 55-56 American Ford was a heavy restyle of the 52-54.
I have never seen one of these either. But I like it. The alternate universe down under continues.
I was looking to see if the Aussies had a ute to go with a 53 Ford. I found the 52 Ford had a style change and it persisted till 55. JPC sure is right about the lower rear quarters. They look like they came right off a 53 ford.
I think the Aussie Fords displayed a lot more common sense than we did. Get some time out of each style and lower the cost. I saw a 57 chevy that was El Camino-ized a while back and could only think “what if”. I thought it again when I saw the ute that Keven (I think) saw at Bonneville.
Contrary to some of my prior comments not all change is bad. It’s good to have a reason for it though and I think we should still be making these and sedan deliveries.
Did that “What if” “Phantom 1957 Chevy Ute” looked a bit like this diecast I saw at http://www.diecast.org/diecast98/html/asp/list_reviews/xq/ASP/id.DM1529/qx/reviewpix.htm ?
Shocking rust buckets these things NZs humid climate ate Mainlines quickly very few left now though we didnt get them for as long as Aussie the US style 57 was sold in NZ including the ute.
I’m not sure why Ford Australia didn’t take the new 1957 model, but the 1959 also ran basically unchanged until it was replace by the 1963. No ute versions of those models though – the Falcon took over.
Doesn’t that back window look like the rear roof section from a ’49-’51 Ford?
chrysler also made a ” ute” out of a valiant. down under. never understood why they didnt sell it in the states
I saw last year a red one like the one in the first picture. In Collins St.
My favorite vintage utes are the ones based on the HQ-HX Holden, I particularly like the simplicity and honesty of the ones with trays. The Kingswood (or mini-Chevelle in my mind) looks very nice too.
And then… there are the feral utes (I LOL’d at the pink one I saw in QVM). Those things can have a mano a mano with any Latam vehicle.
I actually get to see a lot of cool cars in this city. Thursday to Sunday seem to be the “drive your classic” days.
that’s 1956 in North America