Howdy all,

Thought some of you would be interested to know that fat tyres are back. Wish I had known sooner as have just got 215 50 13 Nankang tyres sitting at my mates tyre shop awaiting my rims back from Powdercoaters. I just spent some time googling and Antique Tyres have now got 235 50 13s in. Tyres are called Vitour Formula and have raised white letters like the Nankangs, but look cooler than the Nankangs. Pricey though at $297 each, and are similar outer diameter to 205 60s. Maybe I should drive the tyres of the ute so I can get some of the Vitours? Smaller diameter of the 215s doesn't concern me too much though with the 5 speed, but it may be a problem for others. Great to see em back, Richo

I'm picking up the rest of my Grille badge tomorrow, my FC ute I sold 8 years ago! Bloody hell I am just a bit excited about it. Box o lemons wouldn't get the smile of my dial.

A quick plug for a company I hope are still operating. When I sold my Fc ute to do a Fargo pickup I got a ratty leaping Ram bonnet emblem of a mate  and sent it to Diecast Wizard. Came back faultless and cost me about 240 bucks plus postage. It really was faultless and was pitted to buggery when I sent it. Hope this helps, Richo

Howdy Camxsmith, appreciate the pics. Am probably modifying for the sake of modifying. Apparently the EH button has been replaced with a better one than when i owned the ute 8 odd years ago. Am happy with how it steers etc as was all new when I owned it, and that part of the car hasn't been changed in its new guise. It has HR front and rear ends, with air bags on the rear and it handles awesome. It used to run 13X6 widies all round but i kept those and I think it now runs 6s on the front and 7s on the rear. I have a great set of 13x7 Dragway 5 spokes and new 215 50 13s that I look forward to fitting to it, but Dragways are prone to rust so I really only use them in the dryer times. Really like the look of the FJ button, and looks like it would be straight forward, just gotta find one now. I probably should say at this point that I haven't seen the ute for 8 years but has only done about 1500ks  since I sold it, and am picking it up on the 18th of this month, and am bloody pleased to be getting it back. I bought it sight unseen out of Adelaide from a guy who had owned it since 72, and will get some pics on here somehow as would love to get back in touch with him. It is an FC but had a FE front when I owned it, is now back in FC guise and was white. Is originally blue and is now back to the original blue on compliance. Hoping someone might know who used to own it, maybe the airbags might jog someones memory? Had Camry bucket seats, 192 and 5 speed, now has HQ trans tunnel and uncut bench
Cheers again  for all responses, Al, Camxsmith and HSV001

Wow, a reply already, cheers HSV001. I don't have an Fc just yet but am buying back an Fc ute I owned about a decade ago. Ute is fitted with Eh column and wheel and was wondering if the centre button has same dimensions as an Fc Button. Reason being I can purchase a repro Fc Button for it through Rares. I am thinking it will be difficult to find an Fc Wheel complete in good condition. Ute is running 5 speed and 192 so is modified, therefore originality not so important, but would like to run an Fc Button in the Eh wheel if possible, as wheel painted to match the ute. Cheers Richo

Anyone know if an Fc Centre button will fit on an Eh Wheel, or better still if an Fc wheel complete will fit on asn Eh Column?

Mucho Grasias in advance, Richo

Another original one on ebay, has a buy it now of $650, starting at $500. Mine might not be original but looks the part. All I need now is an FC to fit to it!

No Probs Stewy, that original one on ebay is climbing!

Howdy FeFcrs, have been in hiatus for a bit as went to the dark side for a while. Have just sold my Eh ute to a fella in Tassie as am buying back my Fc ute that I used at my wedding in 2008, and will be back with me in a couple of weeks! Anyway to cut the story a bit shorter I was trawlin ebay on Sunday 18th Feb and saw Grille Badge through Rare spares Brisbane South. Figured I would wait till Monday and ring em and make it mine. Bugga sold that night. They suggested I ring all stores in Oz as it is a discontinued item. There are none in Qld, Inserts only in NSW, Inserts only in SA and I got one complete in Roxburgh Park in Vic that was the last one. Paid $338 for it plus postage which was more than one in Qld at about $307 plus postage. The guys in Brissy said the one they had in stock they had had since July and were difficult to shift. Quality of the one I received is great and a lot cheaper than an original. Currently an original on ebay at $585 and counting, but is NOS. Inserts are about $140, but dunno if any complete ones left. Good Luck

FE FC Bonnet Hinges, finished in silver, operate perfectly $150 ono Richard 0467495395

Carbs sold, they have found a new home in Tassie!!

Got a 186A out to 192 with Yella Terra head up for sale as came with Eh ute just purchased. Am considering keeping the Box but motor not required as ute fitted with 179 fully rebuilt and painted. Money does not allow me to fit trans at this stage as ute fitted with a Trimatic which has problems. Ute is not registered yet but not too far off. Call Richard 0467495395 if interested also have HR X2 headers and a Holley 500? Both in excellent nick. Am in Bridgetown WA

G'day all,
Just bought an Eh ute so not really Fe/c related as I have sold my Fc ute. Anyway Eh came with brand new in box Triple 45 Webers on brand new Redline manifold. It is not required so thought I'd post on here. Ebay puts them at $2500 however I don't expect to get that. Also I have great condition FE FC Bonnet hinges. Call 0467495395 Richard In WA

G'day Rocko,
Any luck in your search? I put an ad in the Quokka a while back when I was looking and got a reply from a guy in Lynwood. I do have his number still as it was only a few weeks back. It may be what your'e looking for. Give me a bell or PM me if you like. Number is 0467495395 or 97611183. He has an FJ ute, an EK ute and an FC ute. I have not seen them but was looking at 15 big ones for the FC and was firm on price. Cheers Richo

Howdy Fe Fcr's,
Have removed weathershields from recently purchased Fc Ute. There in perfect nic as were only recently fitted so if any one is chasing a set give me a bell on 0467495395. Am also chasing some overriders for front bar if anyone out there has some, preferably in mint condition, thanks Richo

Howdy Stuey,
The ute has survived the trip across the Nullarbor without incident. Just spoke very briefly to Dean regarding the hard lid. He said he certainly wouldn't recommend going down the path he did with the hard lid. It is made out of wood [marine ply I think] and has also been covered in vinyl. He has had trouble with it in the past but has spent some time and I presume money on re strengthening it. Work was done in Kadina I think is what he said. I will see how it goes as I had a quote from a guy in Donnybrook over here to build one for my Dodge out of metal for $935 inc GST. Bloody good when you consider the one on my Commodore ute is around $1900 for something that's mass produced!! I do recall seeing something on the FBEK forum on a guy doing lids out of fibreglass over east somewhere, maybe try searching on their site. Good luck and let us know how you go, Richo

Flying over to Adelaide Saturday night to view club members FC ute with the Father in law. You guys may be familiar with the ute in question. It's like a culmination of my old FC ute and the Hotrod project mixed together. If you google 'Oldodgy' then click on images, then click on the yella Dodge ute, it will take you to the vintage van website, with pics etc of my previous rides. Fc ute had 192/ 5 speed and Dodge had 351/FMX auto. New Fc ute actually has the correct grill, 202 and Trimatic and finished in yellow like the Dodge. Hoping to get some travel pics of the trip home so maybe one of you guys out there can post on here as not sure on how you go about it. New ute runs combo of gas and petrol so should have plenty of range before needing top ups. Getting picked up Sunday morning from Airport motel then up to Port Pirie to check out the ute and hoping to be somewhere close to Ceduna that night in what I hope will be it for me when it comes to old cars. As I said before I really regret selling the white Fc [with Fe grill] as it really did have a great body and was great fun to drive. Looking forward to arriving in Port Pirie, I'll keep you posted, Richo

Howdy fellas,
Thanks for your responses. Old Blu's is a cracker and an absolute credit to him and all that had input into it. Unfortunately a bit more Johnny Cash than I have to spend though. However all is not lost as a deal has been struck and I will be wingin' out on a Big Bird and headin' east on a one way ticket to drive my new ute home in a coupla weeks. Have crossed the Nullarbor a couple of times in the past, but many years ago. I was about 21 the first time and was in a HX wagon a mate and I went halves in to travel OZ in. Had a bitchin mullet at the time, now I'm 41 and have got bugger all left up there!! Should be an interesting trip although a bit daunting as the missus is staying home to keep the dollars rolling in, and will be doin' the trip alone. Any travel tips, places to stay, cheaper fuel advice etc would be greatly appreciated. Will wing it out with a swag as luggage and small carryon with clothes etc as plan to swag it in the back of the ute to keep the costs down where possible. Probably prefer caravan parks as need a shower to wake me up!! I realise kippin' in the back may not be possible as rainy trip could well be on the cards, so any cheap pub/motel accomadation you guys may know of would also be helpful. Some of you out there must have travelled west to the Nationals and may remember some where worthy of parkin' up the FC for the night?

Thanks again for your replies, Richo

Wow long time since I've been on here. Long story short sold my FC ute a few years back, blew a lot of cash building up a hotrod and realised should never have sold my FC. VERY keen on getting back into a modded FC ute preferably with no to very little money to spend on it to bring up to scratch. Willing to go up to $30k for right ute. Hoping for one finished in original colours or close to it but any colour will be considered. Bought my old ute from SA sight unseen and the Rod project from NSW also unseen. Happy to do it again so interstate sellers welcome. It was an excellent car as well as my wedding car [along with modded FC wagon] So if you or someone you know has a good FC ute please call Richard Hughes 0467 495 395 or message through forum. Cheers guys, Richo

   Howdy FE/FCers
Not great with 'puters at all but have good FC ute for sale. It's modified with 192 red, extractors, 5 speed and boosted disc front. Nil rust and very straight. No dings at all including in rear tub. It is badged as FC, features FC dash, hard top tonneau, lowered [tastefully] and is now fitted with 13 x 7 polished jelly beans with 90 per cent 205 tyres. Has rego for 6 months in WA. Very regretful sale but unfortunately gotta go. It was my wedding car along with Trev Roberts [RIP Trev] FC wagon. Will post photos some time although there are photos on Vintage Caravan website. It does feature an FE front end[must have been bingled at some stage]. To find photos look in for sale 'FC Ute and Teardrop for Sale.
Cheers Richard  0427932285