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Coupé utility

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This article is about the vehicle body style in general. For "ute" vehicles produced or sold in Australia and New Zealand, see Ute (vehicle).

1934 Ford, the first coupe utility model. On display at the National Motor Museum, Birdwood, South Australia

A coupé utility is a vehicle with a passenger compartment at the front and an integrated cargo tray at the rear, with the front of the cargo bed doubling as the rear of the passenger compartment.

The term originated in the 1930s, where it was used to distinguish passenger-car-based two-door vehicles with an integrated cargo tray from traditional pickup trucks[1] that have a cargo bed separate from the passenger compartment. Since the 2000s, this type of vehicle has also been referred to as a "pick-up",[2][3] "car-based pick-up" or "car-based truck".[4][5]

In Australia, where the traditional style of coupé utility remained popular until it ceased production in 2017, it is commonly called a "ute", although the term is also used there to describe traditional-style pickups.

History

Main article: Ute (vehicle)
1937 Terraplane Utility Coupe, convertible to Pickup

The body style originated in Australia.[6] It was the result of a 1932 letter from the wife of a farmer in Victoria, Australia, to Ford Australia asking for "a vehicle to go to church in on a Sunday and which can carry our pigs to market on Mondays". In response, Ford designer Lew Bandt developed a vehicle to meet the client's request. Commencing in October 1933, with assistance from draftsman A. Scott,[7] Bandt used the passenger compartment and roof from the Ford V8 five-window coupe and extended the rear section using a single fixed side panel on each side, with a hinged tailgate at the rear to create the load carrying compartment.

The model was released in July 1934 as the coupe utility.[7] In his book Early Australian Automotive Design: The First Fifty Years, Australian motoring historian Norm Darwin suggests the idea was not a big leap in design from existing roadster utility models produced by various manufacturers as early as 1924.[8] Darwin also suggests that the idea was being developed by other manufacturers simultaneously, because General Motors-Holden released Bedford and Chevrolet coupe utilities in September 1934,[9] only two months after Ford, with the main difference being the use of the three-window coupe roof on the GM-H products. Other manufacturers were quick to follow, with coupe utilities based on various passenger and light truck chassis.[10]

In North America, the idea was also trialed by some manufacturers. Studebaker created the Studebaker Coupe Express and sold it between 1937 and 1939.

In 1951, Holden released a model based on its 48-215 sedan, reinforcing the Australian tradition of home-grown two-door passenger-car sedan chassis-based "utility" vehicles with a tray at the back, known colloquially as a "ute", although the term was also applied to larger vehicles such as pickup trucks.

America followed suit with the release of the Ford Ranchero in 1957 and Chevrolet El Camino in 1959.[11][12]

North American models

1958 Ford Ranchero

Ford Ranchero

The first modern American coupe utility was the Ford Ranchero, introduced by the Ford in 1957 and produced until 1979. Unlike a standard pickup truck, the Ranchero was adapted from a two-door station wagon platform that integrated the cab and cargo bed into the body. A total of 508,355 units were produced during the model's production run.[13] Over its lifespan it was variously derived from full-sized, compact, and intermediate automobiles sold by Ford for the North American market.

The original Ranchero sold well enough to spawn a competitor from General Motors in 1959, the Chevrolet El Camino.[14]

1969 Chevrolet El Camino

Chevrolet El Camino

The Chevrolet El Camino is a coupé utility/pickup vehicle produced by Chevrolet from 1959 to 1960 and from 1964 to 1987.

Introduced in 1958 (for the 1959 model year) in response to the success of the Ford Ranchero pickup, its first run lasted only two years. Production resumed in 1963 (for the 1964 model year) based on the Chevelle A-platform. In 1977 (for the 1978 model year), it was shifted to the GM G-body platform. Production finished in 1987.

Although based on corresponding Chevrolet car lines, the vehicle is classified and titled in North America as a truck. GMC's badge-engineered El Camino variant, the Sprint, was introduced in 1970 (for the 1971 model year). It was renamed Caballero in 1977 (for the 1978 model year), and produced until 1987.

Other North American coupé utilities

South American models

2000–2010 Ford Courier

Since the 1970s, utes have been built in Brazil under European car-maker badges, usually based on hatchbacks. For example, the Ford Courier was based on the Ford Fiesta MkIV. Current examples include the Chevrolet Montana, based on the Opel Corsa and later on the Chevrolet Agile, the Peugeot Hoggar, based on the South American Peugeot 207, the Volkswagen Saveiro, based on the Volkswagen Gol, and the Fiat Strada, based on the Fiat Palio.

Other South American coupé utility models:

Fiat Fiorino pick-up

Asian models

Proton Jumbuck
2003 Subaru Baja

South African models

Australian Holden Kingswood, Ford Falcon and Chrysler Valiant utes were sold in South Africa as the Chevrolet El Camino,[18][19] Ford Ranchero,[20][21][22] and Valiant Rustler[23][24] respectively. Some re-badged versions of South American utes are sold in South Africa (where the term "bakkie" instead of "ute" is popular) under different names, such as the Chevrolet Montana and the Ford Courier, sold there as Opel Corsa Utility (later as Chevrolet Utility)[25] and Ford Bantam respectively.

Other South African coupé utility models:

  • 1975–1979 Dodge Husky (South Africa)
  • 1989–2002 Mazda Rustler (rebadged 2nd generation Ford Bantam)
  • 2008–present Nissan NP200 (rebadged Dacia Logan Pick-Up, built and sold in South Africa)
  • 2011–2017 Chevrolet Montana
    2011–2017 Chevrolet Montana
  • Nissan 1400 Bakkie, South Africa
    Nissan 1400 Bakkie, South Africa
  • 2008-2023 Nissan NP200 with a rear canopy, South Africa
    2008-2023 Nissan NP200 with a rear canopy, South Africa

European models

1975 Austin Marina truck
1972 Mini pick-up
2009 Dacia Logan

Austin Marina A coupé utility, based on the 1971–1980 Morris Marina, with a 1275 cc engine, was badged as an Austin.[26] Not many of them were sold.

Mini Variously badged pick-up variants were built on the chassis of the Mini estate/wagon.

Other European coupé utilities

Middle Eastern models

Australian models

Main article: Ute (vehicle)
2014 Holden VF Commodore Ute

Coupe utilities have been produced in Australia since the 1930s. The three major Australian manufacturers (GM-Holden, Ford and Chrysler) offered coupe utility versions of their most popular models, and many of the smaller manufacturers also offered coupe utilities in their range.[29][30][31][32] In many cases, if a coupe utility was not available as part of the regular model range an aftermarket coachbuilder would build one to customer order. Coupe utilities were also offered by various manufacturers on light truck style chassis,[10][33][34][35][36] alongside their regular style pickup and cab-chassis offerings.

Ford Falcon XR6 Ute

Examples include:

Ford

General Motors-Holden

Chrysler

BMC

Standard

Rootes Group

Lightburn

  • 1935 Ford Model 48 coupe utility
    1935 Ford Model 48 coupe utility
  • 1946 Ford Super Deluxe utility
    1946 Ford Super Deluxe utility
  • 1950 Ford Prefect utility
    1950 Ford Prefect utility
  • 1947 Ford Anglia utility
    1947 Ford Anglia utility
  • Ford Pilot utility
    Ford Pilot utility
  • Ford Popular utility
    Ford Popular utility
  • 1951 Ford utility
    1951 Ford utility
  • 1957 Ford Mainline utility
    1957 Ford Mainline utility
  • 1960 Ford Zephyr Mk II utility
    1960 Ford Zephyr Mk II utility
  • 1962 Ford XL Falcon Deluxe utility
    1962 Ford XL Falcon Deluxe utility
  • Ford XB Falcon utility
    Ford XB Falcon utility
  • 1999 Ford XH II Falcon utility
    1999 Ford XH II Falcon utility
  • 1940 Bedford JC coupe utility
    1940 Bedford JC coupe utility
  • Holden 50-2016 utility
    Holden 50-2016 utility
  • Vauxhall Velox utility
    Vauxhall Velox utility
  • 1947 Chevrolet Stylemaster utility
    1947 Chevrolet Stylemaster utility
  • 1952 Chevrolet Styleline utility
    1952 Chevrolet Styleline utility
  • Holden FB utility
    Holden FB utility
  • Holden HQ Belmont utility
    Holden HQ Belmont utility
  • 2005 Holden VZ Ute
    2005 Holden VZ Ute
  • 1935 Plymouth coupe utility
    1935 Plymouth coupe utility
  • 1936 Dodge D2 coupe Utility
    1936 Dodge D2 coupe Utility
  • 1947 Plymouth Special Deluxe utility
    1947 Plymouth Special Deluxe utility
  • 1956–57 DeSoto Diplomat Plaza utility
    1956–57 DeSoto Diplomat Plaza utility
  • Chrysler AP3 Wayfarer utility
    Chrysler AP3 Wayfarer utility
  • Chrysler AP6 Valiant Wayfarer utility
    Chrysler AP6 Valiant Wayfarer utility
  • Dodge VG utility
    Dodge VG utility
  • Chrysler CL Valiant utility
    Chrysler CL Valiant utility
  • 1953 Austin A40 utility
    1953 Austin A40 utility
  • Austin A55 utility
    Austin A55 utility
  • Austin 1800 utility
    Austin 1800 utility
  • 1961 Standard Vanguard utility
    1961 Standard Vanguard utility
  • 1946 Fargo utility
    1946 Fargo utility
  • 1953 Dodge 108-A utility
    1953 Dodge 108-A utility
  • 1946 Chevrolet Commercial utility
    1946 Chevrolet Commercial utility
  • 1952 International AL-110 Deluxe utility
    1952 International AL-110 Deluxe utility

Prototypes

  • AMC Cowboy: Derived from the Hornet, it was intended to compete with small pickups from Japan, but the project was canceled after AMC acquired Jeep, which already sold small pickups.[52]
  • Austin Metro Ranger: A concept based on the first generation model, it featured a full roll bar, flood lights, and a rear-mounted spare.[53]
  • BMW M3 ute/pickup: On April Fools' Day 2011, BMW announced the BMW M3 ute/pickup.[54][55][56] This vehicle was based on the E93 Convertible and featured a structured aluminum pickup bed and removable targa roof. It was created by BMW's M Division as a one-off workshop transport vehicle for use within the company.[11][57] It was actually the second such ute that BMW built for this purpose: they had previously built one using a first generation M3 convertible in 1986. This coupe ute served the factory for 26 years before the April Fools car was built to replace it.[58]
  • Pontiac G8 ST:[59][60] A rebadged Holden Ute (which is based on the Holden Commodore sedan, although rebadged as a Pontiac G8 in North America) was shown at the New York International Auto Show in March 2008. It was slated for release in the third quarter of 2009 for the 2010 model year, but was quickly cancelled before any were sold due to budgeting cuts and Pontiac's near bankruptcy.[61][62]
  • Toyota X-Runner: Concept vehicle displayed by Toyota Australia at the 2003 Melbourne and Sydney International Motor Shows.[63] The body shell was largely based on that of the first generation Avalon (production of which picked up in Australia a few months after it left off in North America, and lasted until 2005), while the suspension and AWD parts were borrowed from the contemporary Lexus RX. It was intended for production, but Toyota of Australia could not get approval from the parent company.[63]
  • Toyota X-Runner concept utility as displayed at the 2003 Sydney International Motor Show
    Toyota X-Runner concept utility as displayed at the 2003 Sydney International Motor Show
  • 2010 Pontiac G8 Sport Truck concept prototype model showcased at the San Diego Auto Show
    2010 Pontiac G8 Sport Truck concept prototype model showcased at the San Diego Auto Show

See also

References

  1. ^ Oastler, Mark; Kenwright, Joe (7 February 2012). "Editorial: Australia DID NOT invent the Ute!". Truck Jungle. Australia. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  2. ^ "Pick-up Skoda Auto". Skoda. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011.
  3. ^ "Chevrolet Montana 2018". Brazil: Chevrolet. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  4. ^ "List of Car-Based Pick Ups (Utes)". Opposite Lock. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  5. ^ "Is The Car-Based Pickup Truck Doomed To Be A Cyclical Fad?". Jalopnik. 14 May 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  6. ^ "Ford Milestones 1930′s » Ford Discovery Centre". Forddiscovery.com. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  7. ^ a b Early Australian Automotive Design; The First Fifty Years. Norm Darwin page 179
  8. ^ Early Australian Automotive Design; The First Fifty Years. Norm Darwin pages 178-179
  9. ^ Early Australian Automotive Design; The First Fifty Years. Norm Darwin page 184
  10. ^ a b Early Australian Automotive Design; The First Fifty Years. Norm Darwin page 185
  11. ^ a b "Will the Coupe Utility Ever Come Back to the United States?". rides.com. Archived from the original on 18 July 2013.
  12. ^ "TruckFest Rewind: Rare Australian 1946 Ford Ute Delights". OnAllCylinders. 4 October 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  13. ^ "Ford Ranchero History and Production Figures". Dearborn Classics. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
  14. ^ "Chevrolet El Camino". OldRide.com. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  15. ^ Strohl, Daniel (April 2010). "1936 Chevrolet coupe-pickup". Hemmings Motor News. US. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  16. ^ Johnson, Davey G. (1 March 2007). "Avengermino! The Dodge 1500 Pickup!". Jalopnik. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  17. ^ "75 Years of TOYOTA | Vehicle Lineage | Publica Pickup | Description". Toyota. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  18. ^ "Chevrolet El Camino - HK Holden ute | The El Camino ute broc…". Flickr. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  19. ^ "Chevrolet El Camino - HQ Holden ute | The Kingswood ute was …". Flickr. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  20. ^ "1969 Ford Ranchero (South Africa) | Based on the XT Falcon U…". Flickr. 5 March 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  21. ^ "1974 Ford Ranchero (South Africa) | Based on the XA Falcon U…". Flickr. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  22. ^ "1997 Ford Ranchero XR6 (South Africa) | In 1997 Ford reintro…". Flickr. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  23. ^ "1973 Valiant Rustler (South Africa) | Michael". Flickr. 2 October 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  24. ^ "1974 Valiant Rustler (South Africa) | Michael". Flickr. 2 October 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  25. ^ "Chevrolet Utility, our new Corsa Bakkie, for sale in South Africa (archived)". Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  26. ^ Morris Marina Archived 2013-08-02 at the Wayback Machine
  27. ^ "Flickr: DedliNZ's Photostream". Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  28. ^ Advertisement for Singer SM1500 Half Ton Coupe Utility, The Nambour Chronicle, Friday, 29 February 1952, page 10. Retrieved 1 December 2013
  29. ^ "Comfort And Utility". The Herald. Melbourne. 9 March 1936. Retrieved 22 February 2019 – via Trove.
  30. ^ "International's New Utility". The Herald. Melbourne. 13 April 1936. Retrieved 22 February 2019 – via Trove.
  31. ^ "The Willys 77 Coupe Utility". The Daily Standard. Brisbane. 2 September 1935. Retrieved 22 February 2019 – via Trove.
  32. ^ "COMMER 8-CWT. COUPE UTILITY". The Herald. Melbourne. 30 November 1936. Retrieved 22 February 2019 – via Trove.
  33. ^ "21 Feb 1938 - LATEST REO UTILITY - Trove". Trove.nla.gov.au. 21 February 1938. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  34. ^ "11 Aug 1952 - Trucks Help Keep Industry Turning - Trove". 11 August 1952. Retrieved 19 June 2019 – via Trove.
  35. ^ "26 Mar 1940 - COMFORT AND STYLE FEATURES OF MODERN COMMERCIALS". 26 March 1940. Retrieved 19 June 2019 – via Trove.
  36. ^ "26 May 1936 - MOTORING - Trove". 26 May 1936. Retrieved 19 June 2019 – via Trove.
  37. ^ "22 Nov 1937 - FORD TEN COUPE UTILITY! RELEASED TODAY - Trove". Trove.nla.gov.au. 22 November 1937. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  38. ^ "02 Oct 1934 - MOTORS & MOTORING - Trove". Trove.nla.gov.au. 2 October 1934. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  39. ^ "22 Nov 1936 - Truck Likes The Going Rough - Trove". Trove.nla.gov.au. 22 November 1936. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  40. ^ "25 Oct 1939 - CHEVROLET OPEN COUPE UTILITY - Trove". Trove.nla.gov.au. 25 October 1939. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  41. ^ "13 Oct 1939 - MOTORING - Trove". Trove.nla.gov.au. 13 October 1939. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  42. ^ "New Bedford Carryall". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: 18. 9 May 1938. Retrieved 18 November 2020 – via Trove.
  43. ^ "24 Feb 1953 - Vauxhall Builds A Utility - Trove". Trove.nla.gov.au. 24 February 1953. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  44. ^ "09 Apr 1935 - 1935 STANDARD DODGE - Trove". Trove.nla.gov.au. 9 April 1935. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  45. ^ "12 Jul 1937 - COUPE UTILITY - Trove". Trove.nla.gov.au. 12 July 1937. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  46. ^ "07 May 1939 - CHRYSLER-PLYMOUTH UTILITY MODELS - Trove". Trove.nla.gov.au. 7 May 1939. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  47. ^ "AUSTIN WORKS Australian Utilities Page". Austinworks.com. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  48. ^ "05 Dec 1956 - A 50 UTILITY IS HERE - Trove". Trove.nla.gov.au. 5 December 1956. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  49. ^ "15 Aug 1952 - MAYFLOWER UTILITY - Trove". Trove.nla.gov.au. 15 August 1952. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  50. ^ "18 Apr 1939 - NEW HILLMAN "14" UTILITY - Trove". Trove.nla.gov.au. 18 April 1939. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  51. ^ "1964 Lightburn Zeta Ute Brochure Cover - Australia". Flickr. 5 August 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  52. ^ "AMC Cowboy". all-car-brands.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013.
  53. ^ Adams, Keith (27 September 2011). "Metro Ranger". AROnline. UK. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  54. ^ Davis, Brett (16 March 2011). "2011 BMW M3 ute spotted on Nurburgring". Car Advice. Australia. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  55. ^ Lavrinc, Damon (1 April 2011). "Officially Official: 420-HP BMW M3 Pickup hauls ass, nearly 1,000 pounds". Autoblog. US. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  56. ^ "BMW's 414bhp M3 pick-up: it's real". Top Gear. UK: BBC. 5 April 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  57. ^ LaVrinc, Damon (1 April 2011). "420-hp BMW M3 Pickup". US: Jalopnik. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  58. ^ Pleskot, Kelly (27 September 2016). "BMW Looks Back on Four M3 Prototypes That Were Never Made". Motor Trend. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  59. ^ Levine, Mike (2 July 2008). "Pontiac G8 Sport Truck Engine and Name". PickupTruck.com. US. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  60. ^ "2010 Pontiac G8 ST". Motor Desktop. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  61. ^ "GM shelves plan for US launch of Pontiac G8 ST". The Free Library. 8 January 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  62. ^ "2010 Pontiac G8 ST". Motor Desktop. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  63. ^ a b "Australia's best concepts: 2003 Toyota X-Runner". Whichcar.com.au. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  • Media related to Utes at Wikimedia Commons
  • Media related to Coupé utility at Wikimedia Commons
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