It’s the beginning of the end… Ford's last ever Falcon Ute will be produced today, marking the end of an era for both the Australian automotive industry and fans of the iconic Blue Oval load-lugger.
The final Falcon Ute – a white XR6 – is due to roll off the Broadmeadows production line in Melbourne at around 2:45pm this afternoon and will be retained by Ford Australia.
Bringing to an end a model line that was first born with the XK Falcon Ute in February 1961, the end of two-door Falcon production precedes the retirement of the Falcon sedan and the termination of Ford's Australian manufacturing operations on October 7.
Ford axed its long-running Falcon wagon in mid-2010, when the brand's large wagon duties were essentially handed over to the home-grown Territory SUV. That vehicle – at least in its current form -- will also be killed off in October.
The passenger-vehicle-derived ute is a vehicle configuration widely recognised as being born Down Under with the 1934 Ford Coupe utility.
Today marks the end of more than 55 years of continuous Falcon Ute production in Australia, starting in February 1961 with the XK Falcon ute at Broadmeadows and Eagle Farm in Brisbane.
Seven generations and 467,690 vehicles later, and Ford Australia's sole pick-up offering becomes the locally-developed, Thai-built Ranger – currently Ford Australia's top-selling model.