I just received the latest edition (CA,
June 2026), and I can't help thinking
you'll be flooded with Aussies wanting
to tell everyone the story of the Aussie
Falcon coupe utility a.k.a. the ute, and
its companion panel van—in the States it
would be called a sedan delivery—post
the period of this article. This letter is
slightly different.

The ute certainly did run from the first
generation in Australia until the last Fal-
cons were assembled in 2016—the panel
van not quite so long. All differed from
Rancheros in the States, mostly because
they had shorter front doors, sourced
from the four door sedans, because we
did not sell two doors—except for a lim-
ited run of hardtops in 1964-5, and then
again 1972-7.

But the third-generation Falcon was
the first truly unique Aussie design and
borrowed the hardtop doors, so it had
a smooth sporty looking cabin like the
Rancheros. It was also now built on a
longer wheelbase, borrowed from the
Falcon-based Fairlane. Our wagon and
panel van did the same.

The Falcon ute also had a brief life in
South Africa where it sold as a Ford Ran-
chero, and GMSA similarly sold Holden
utes as Chevrolet El Caminos! Here's an
ad for a third-generation Falcon ute as
sold in South Africa.
Bryan Thalbourne
Adelaide, South Australia