FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

About time we had another poll.

Have you seen this?

http://www.australiancardirectory.com.au/index.cfm?page=news_details&section=6&id=1739

The new Holden Crewman looks like this:
(http://www.australiancardirectory.com.au/upl_images/A_crewman_1e.jpg)

(http://www.australiancardirectory.com.au/upl_images/A_crewman_1d.jpg)

cheers
RET

I think that it looks great - another icon for GMH

in a CLASS OF ITS OWN         destined for big things

I think they should spend a bit more time getting the one tonner right first.Its great if you want two bucket seats,but what about the guys that need a 3 seater.
ANSWER.You have to buy a BA Falcon one tonner.They offer you 3 seats,column auto and dedicated gas and all the other goodies at a price that GMH couldnt come near.
Regards Geoff ,owner of 1 Fe Ute,2 Ek sedans and the unthinkable ,a Ba one tonner.

Dear God Geoff


(Loudly)   Someone cancel geofs subscription
:o

Hi guys,
I think the crewman is awesome!! They won't be able to keep up with production.

Holden hasn't bothered doing a bench seat option, because of the very small take up of that option on their VG-VS utes. It's a situation of supply & demand. If there's no demand, there's no need to supply!! Hope you suffer in your BA. Besides, if you want more than 2 seats, buy a Crewman!

Cheers,

Graham.

Builder we use here in 'land of snow & ice' bought a new F@#D table top (Not even consider calling it a 1 tonner) and in first week (900K's) was told it would need new clutch, flywheel and gearbox, of course this was after being told that all the F@#D manual gearboxs where noisy and the clutch always vibrates.
He is not happy. :'( :'(
The only reason he bought the F@#D was because a very wise Holden 'salesman' told him that Holden was not going to release a new one tonner,he placed a deposit on the F@#D and a week later Holden released the one tonner, he was very unhappy. :( :( >:(
Long Live the one tonner and all its derivitives. ;D ;D
John M

Was lucky enough to be invited to the Melbourne launch of the Crewman and Adventra a few weeks ago.
All the utes displayed were "Pilot" vehicles (as they call the prototypes now) and weren't totally as they will end up. The SS versions are just grouse.
The only outstanding problem was the rear seat position was too vertical and leg room a bit squeezy. It will still be a great great ute though if they recline the rear seat back another 10 degrees as they said they were going to.
Holden have gone back to leaf springs on it and it has a full size tub so they'll sell heaps of them.
cheers,
Leigh

Yes, VERY nice.
ford able compete with Holden utes, phooey!
You all may have noticed how VERY, VERY quiet Ford is, now that they are having trouble with their V8's & Gearboxes. Remember when every ford man & his dog were having a ball taking the piss out of the Gen 3 problems? I am yet to hear one of those guys say "Look here, the ford V8 is rooted too!!".
All I can say is, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha etc.
Every dog has his day!!
Rob J

the very day the tonner hit our local show room, i was there looking & drooling  .    a bloke had his au(awfully ugly) tray back parked outside & he was talking turkey with the dealer  .    i think blue oval brigades biggest advantage was that holden didn't have a"big"tray back for a while.....f#@d owners also used to tell us how clever f#@d was for coming up with this concept.....30yrs after holden  . i wonder if they would have bothered if gmh hadn't dropped the tonner
                                           trev

Guys,I would love a Crewman,but it would be too impractical for my needs as a Plumber .I grabbed a crewman brochure a couple of weeks ago and I thought it was fantastic.However I dont want 5 seats,only need 3 and thats mainly so I can pick my two kids up and drive them home safely!.
How much money would it cost Holden to put a 3 seater in the new one tonner anyway.
My Holden dealer said 1 out of 3 people who ask about the one tonner ask about the third seat option.
Time will tell how good the F%#d will be and I'll be the first to tell you guys if the cam welds itself into the head.

PS .Isnt the 3 seater an option on Middle East and other overseas models.Im not sure but I thought I read that somewhere.

Still Holden Lover     Geoffs Fe Ute.

Guys,

Being a bit harsh on the competition aren't we?

We bought four XL Falcon AU's two years ago with the bench seat, dedicated LPG and tray. They get driven by the site boys and have clocked up 60,000km or so each and run like the day they were new. Very well appointed for an entry level ute.

One year ago we bought a couple of SS utes. The first one had the motor rebuilt at 25,000km, and mine ticks and slaps away merrily at the moment, just need to find the time to take it down to Suttons for its engine rebuild.

Over the 1st year of ownership I had it back to the dealership eight times for minor repairs. Not as bad as my VS Maloo I had a couple of years ago, mind you, but don't start me on that lemon!

I think the best thing about the current situation of Ford vs Holden is that they are finally listening to the public about what they want, and throwing great new models at us.

With a baby due in November, the SS ute's days are numbered. While the Crewman & Adventura are tempting options, I might just wait to the Cross 8 hits the showrooms before opening the wallet.

Now that will be a ute worth having!

Regards

Ed

Hi all.
Yes, the Cross * looks very nice. What is the 4 wheel wagon going to be called? My wife likes the SS Crewman, but loves the 4x4 wagon! It will be so easy to get one, if she gives the OK!! But, I may have to sell one or 2 of my cars :'(

As for my anti-Ford rant earlier, please excuse me. I must have had an "Angry Moment". I do quite like the look of the new BA XR8 & XR6. Just getting a bit sick of the bagging (Well deserved I might add) that Holden is getting for the Gen 3.

Rob J

Rob .Will one of those cars that you might sell be an FC Ute?

Regards Geoff

Yes, Geoff.
The ute may be on the market soon, but there is one fella at the head of the line, who gets first dibs if I decide to sell (I owe him). I have been playing around a lot with the performance stuff, & have got some ideas to try on the FB's, so the ute may go. Not sure yet, but if it does, it will go on the forum first.
Rob J

Was'nt the One Tonner Company building these years ago along with the 'Cab Chassis' Commodore Tray Back.(2nd hand of cause).
Some panel beaters were doing this to HQ-HZ sedans and wagons,some where rough but in the end manufacturer's woke up and now there you have it.


One FC Crewman with extended EK quarters and Continental Kit please. ;D

Regards  Seb   :)

Of course the Crewman theme has been around for years!
(http://users.tpg.com.au/omachen/FC_Showroom.jpg)

I'll take it sgo!! ;D

i remember those! ;Ddo you a pic of the red & white fc special crew cab ute too ;D

Believe it or not - a red&white FC crewman does (or did) exist. It took part in the 1999 Qld. Variety Bash. Some guys from the Air Force up there grafted an FC  ute tray onto a 186 powered FC sedan. They cut off the boot & rear quarters of the sedan behind the rear window & made it a dual rear wheel job. Looks great & they even carried a Bell helicopter in the ute.
I have some footage of it on video but unfortunately don't know how to transfer it to a computer image. Maybe some guys from the Qld. club could have a pic of it somewhere?
cheers,
Leigh

sounds like a wild machine  ed.i'd like to see the pics.you might be able to get a photo off the tv screen with a digital..i know its rough but you gotta do what ya gotta do! a bloke  here built a 4wd duel cab ,dropside tray back eh. i'll dig out the photo.it was an eye catcher

G'day guys... I reckon the Crewmen looks great!
I also found some long-forgotten pics over the weekend which show early Holden "proto-types" of the Crewman concept.... Also might shed light on why it didn't get off the ground all those years ago.... They couldn't decide between the wagon-ute combo, or the van-ute combo.... Maybe that's where Ford came up with the "Spacecab" idea from...??

(http://photo.starblvd.net/hewart/1-3-4.jpg)
(http://photo.starblvd.net/hewart/1-3-3.jpg)

Cheers....

these are great. i'llprint em & spin some bulldust
                                    trev

You know the Monaro prototypes have been around for long time too!
(http://photo.starblvd.net/~sgomachen/3-3-5.jpg)
(thanks to the original post)

Here is a picture of the unit now, it is for sale too.

(http://photo.starblvd.net/fcmayberry/6-1-3.jpg)

It is listed on the QLD eh site of all places, I hope they don't mind me posting a link to it but here goes.
http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/ejehqueensland/message/858
, it was built at the army airwing base at Oakey, I saw it in process of being built in the mid nineties
John M

john ,thats a big beast..did it have full rego
               trev

Trev
At the time I saw it it was awaiting painting in the aircraft hanger, it has been used on varity club bashers so I would think some sort of special rego but who knows with QLD. ::)
Once it has passed once unless it is sold or is picked up in roadside inspection, rego never want to see it again, just pay the money every year.
John M

got to sit in a crewman today in the showroom..we were right...way cool ;D ;D

this is the eh 4wd drop side tray back version from 64
                                 trev

Hi Guys
     I think this is one of the "crewman" Seb was talking about , this looks like a WB , from "Custom Vans & Trucks , No 33 , March '84.

(http://photo.starblvd.net/~normd/3-3-3.jpg)

   Norm

Trev
      That EH really looks the part. Who ever done it should be proud of it. As I am sore they are, but you know what I mean I hope.

Regards
Mark

mark  it was built by a local mechanic. the only thing  ( i thought ) that let it down is the motor..2.8 hilux
                                                 trev

Trev
     I would have thought that a Holden V8 would have been more suited. Then again if its on toyota hilux chassis, the orginal running gear was probably easyer. As just mounting the body would have been a big job on its own.

Regards
Mark

P.S I would still gladly have it parked in my driveway even with toyota running gear. ;D

On the subject of wierd and wacky conversions, I've seen a lime green 4WD HJ ute running about inner city Sydney (fancy that..).  The owner told me it was full rego'd as an International pilot, my first guess was that it was a rebodied "Overlander".  I'll see if I can snap  a pic with permission.

Perhaps the EH, is a rebodied hilux as u suggested for ease of rego? nevertheless an inspiring piece of work.

Maybe there are more wacky conversions out there.?

Cheers

Ed

hi ed & mark   it was built on a hilux chassis but the diesel hilux's did come with the option of 3.8l commodore motor.i remember the guy telling me there was a fellow in the licencing department who did everything he could to prevent it going on the road >:(..i guess there was nothing in his book to say it was ok