FC "Special" ute

[tonyh]

Hi All,
          Just a few photos - I will up load some more when I get time. The first one is when we pulled her out of the farm shed at near Roma after 12+ years on blocks - 2 owners. 10+ years resto and two paint jobs ater are the last two.









Cheers, TonyH

[RET]

Tony,

Thanks for posting the photos. The ute looks real sharp, you must be very pleased with it.

You've probably seen pics of John W's ute from the Vic club. It also has the Special treatment, and in similar colours. They'd look great side by side.

cheers
RET

[Shayne]

Wow, great looking ute.

The 'N' in the number plate must stand for Nice, Neat or New (or maybe all of these).  I assume you've seen Harry's ute (Toowoomba) with the Special treatment?

[tonyh]

Hi all, yes Ret I am very happy with the final outcome (it has been a long time coming with a lot of heartbreaks â€" but we all know about those) and after a small drive (unfinished with no windows) I can't believe how good it drives, steers and stops as everything has been replaced or rebuilt so I can't wait to get it finished to go for a decent drive. I only recently saw photos of John's ute - looks great - they could be twins.
Thanks for the complements Shane and I guess all three match â€" I was just trying to get close to the plate for the era, my mum had an Fe and the number plate was NFQ 624, I have got some photos of it and I will upload them after I scan them etc. I don't know Harry's ute - are there any photos on site?
Cheers, TonyH.  :) :) ;) ;D

[TTV6FC]

Very nice ute Tony,how did you do the rear stainless strips,as these would normally be two pieces?Cheers,Jamie.

[FC427]

Cool Ute Tony One day we might out number the sedans with our Ute's . Has anyone ever thought of a one piece rear windscreen for a Ute??....... FC427.......

[tonyh]

Hi all,
Jamie the left strip is a shortened right hand strip - so no joins - and the right side I overlapped the two strips about 1mm - just enough so you have to look for it. I have been told since I fitted them that the stainless repair guys can weld them together and you can't tell - something for the future maybe.
FC427, I have never seen one and I suppose the glass guys can make it but I don't know if I would like to try and fit it - I guess they made it in 3 pieces for a reason.





These photos are of my Mums Fe that they bought off Cottees with low miles- it was a ex reps car -which was rare as they usually only got business sedans not specials - it also had a camping conversion done on the front seat, which you moved the seat forward and with a pull on a lever the back of the seat would drop down to make a full size level bed. It was two tone green.
Cheers TonyH

[TTV6FC]

Very cool photos.Love the sag .....

[FantaC]

That looks Kool
has anyone done the trim thing to a van ?

[tonyh]

Hi All, Just thought I would post some more photos.


Ready to weld in a donor fuel tank boot/floor out of a written off FC Van from Stanthorpe


All welded in - the rotisserie made life easy


Just before I had to take off the 9 coats of acrylic after it all crazy cracked


Close up of the cracks -- heartbraking !!!!!!


Under bonnet shot twin carbs,headers,alternator(air cond unit is below)


Light blue  2 Pack on


Dark blue  2 pack on


Bonnet up showing louvers - Peter the panel beater/painter lost finger tips on these!

More soon, TonyH

[tonyh]

Outside to warm up before fitting new windscreen ans tinted rear windows







Windscreen in  ;D ;D



Rear windows in  ;D ;D

[TTV6FC]

Nice work Tony.I just worked out how you did the stainless strips (I'm a bit slow),I forgot about the fuel filler and was thinking the strip had to go all the way from the flash to the tailights!Keep up the photos,not far off now.

[tonyh]

Getting close now, only a small list to finish. :D Have to wait to put the rear floor in because when I was finishing up the rear wiring I checked the sender - catus - had to remove and get it rebuilt - will be ready in a bit over a week. Finished assembling the doors only to find a couple of handles the splines were u/s so found some good second hand ones and when we go to the USA I will buy new Chevy ones. Here's a couple more photos after her first bath.









Have had to send my NFC-059 number plates back as the paint was falling off - should be back in 2 weeks.
Cheers, tonyh ;)

[Paul In Ireland]

Ya know, forget the spears - send the whole ute over!!

[tonyh]

Well I've done it  :D - finally  ::) - It's been a very long drawn out process but -the ute is registered and done nearly 100 miles and other than a partly blocked main jet in one of carbies it's running perfectly.  ;D











I thought it would be good to drive because all the old Holdens I had years ago were worn out and this ute has had everything rebuilt from the ground up but I can't believe how good it is and an absolute joy to drive. I can't get the smile off my face. ;D ;D  The great reaction from the general public was something I wasn't prepaired for, from old people that remembered "the old days" to younger people giving a wave and thumbs up. I think I am going to enjoy this car.
It does make all the hard times and the pain worthwile. :)
I contacted the old owners tonight and they were as happy as I am the "Tilly" is back on the road.

See Ya on the road somewere,
Cheers, Tony H

[EffCee]

Well done, what a great ute you have.

Looks great in the pictures, would love to see it one day. Are you going to Orange?

Keith

[JB]

The ute looks great, an you will get looks and comments from people everywhere you go...

Looks like he Nationals are going to become a ute muster!!!!

Bring it on.

Cheers
Jason.

[zulu]

nice one Tony, like the air cleaner, did you make it?
Good to see it on the road at last, happy trails
Gary

[graham_fuller]

Great looking Ute Tony. Can you show us more of the Air Con under dash and engine bay? Does it slow the old gery down much? Well done, better than new.
Cheers,
Graham

[jasonr70002]

Very nice ute mate a job well done. Louvering not my cup of tea but very nice indeed