Is this an FE or an FC?

[AstraTony]

Gentlemen.

This is my first time here, so I hope you'll forgive me if I don't get it right the first time.

I am not an owner of an FE/FC, and the closest I come would be my current car, a 2001 rebadged Euro Opel Astra, after having spent 35 years in 4 Corrolla's and a Camry.

We live here on Queensland's Gold Coast, and recently, my wife and I visited our daughter and her family in Rockhampton.

On one of her days off midweek, she took us on a 300 Km road trip, mostly to show her mother the craft shops in some of the far flung towns.

Just outside Biloela, we stopped at at the entrance to one of the large farms where a covered trailer was parked. It was loaded with lovely huge pumpkins and was parked there about a mile or so from the homestead using a sort of honesty approach. You know, take a pumpkin, drop a dollar in the tin, or 3 for $2.00. Huge pumpkins too. Made some lovely soup.

Parked in the huge paddock of the farm on the opposite side of the road was this, which I just couldn't help pointing the digital Kodak at, and snapping.



Later when I downloaded the days photographs to my daughters computer and worked on them with the Kodak, and the Adobe Programs, I closely looked at this photo of the car.

My 9 year old grand daughter was watching me work with the photographs and she asked me what it was, showing an inordinate amount of interest in what was in all reality, just a rusting old hulk.

I looked closely, knowing that it was one or the other, but sometimes the difference between the slight cosmetic changes of those early Holden's becomes a little blurred, accentuated more in the Commercial models.

She was inordinately insistent, and I told her that it was an FE Holden Ute. I based this mostly on the strip of rust just in front of the door there where the chrome strip or the stylised chrome 'Holden' badge might have been, as I think this was one of the designators on that model.

Now that I'm back at home, I looked around for someone to provide the definitive answer, and this is where I hope you guys may be able to help me.

The Ute obviously has a broken back, and it looks like it might have actually made it into a third life, after being originally purchased as a farm vehicle, but the fact that it was in a farm paddock encourages me that it might actually still be with the original owner.

Third life! Well it appears to have been lowered, and wide wheels and rims fitted, and look at the filler cap there. Is this standard, a replacement or has it ended life with an LPG tank?

Man this guy waffles on some of you are saying.

I'm constructing a photo album for my precious 9 YO grand daughter, and what I would like is to include this photograph, and immediately underneath include a current photograph of an original restored Ute of the same vintage, and I was hoping that one of your readers might direct me to a photo that he wouldn't be offended if I was to download and print for the album.

Again, gentlemen, Thank you for taking the time to read this long Post, and for those of you who have persevered this far, I apologise for taking so much of your time.

AstraTony.

[TAYZ]

I disagree with you Tony, its great to read a post that has a story about an old Fe or FC.  There is nothing better in my opinion of going for a drive through some unchartered water (coutry side) and still be able to fing these old cars still sitting idle in their final resting place.  Thanks for putting up the pic and I guarantee you this post will definatley take some interest here on this forum.  If you go into members cars you will find many many pics of whatever you are looking for or type in what you want in the search part.  maybe you might even decide that you might like one of these old cars which now have become very very popular, cheers

                                                                       tayz

[fe hotrod]

[fe hotrod]

 ;)Howdy Tony be carefull if you hang around here too long we might be calling you FC,UTE,TONY!!! heres a pic of my best mates FE ute,its not restored but in real good condition,you can use it in your album if you like!!to some people these are just old cars but to me these are a part of our heritage,and are important to australian history,which we need to teach our younger Australians about !!cheers jamie

[REDMR2RED]

Here you go AstraTony, here's a pic of my un-restored FC Ute.  Kevin

[customFC]

Hey Tony.
Welcome to the forum.
My guess is that it is an FC. Hard to tell from the limited angle of the picture, but as you rightly mentioned there is a difference on the front guard, with the script on FE and spear on FC. Looking at the mark where either would have been, it appears to be around the same length as the FC spear. See pics posted above.
As for the fuel filler......this is standard for an FE FC. On the sedan, the filler is in the center of the lower panel, below the boot. On a ute, the spare wheel door occupies this space, thus the filler has been positioned to the side panel.
The current owner of the FC obviously has a sense of humour, showing that there is always a use for an old Holden, even in such a poor state.
Great to hear that your 9 yr old Grand Daughter has good taste in cars.
Regards
Alex