Quote:
Originally Posted by Mart
I am wondering if the Aussie coupe body was made shorter in length and taller so that it could be compatible with the coupe utility body. You want to minimise cab length to maximise load area. I don't know what the ratio of coupes to coupe utilities was, but with my automotive production background I'm thinking the possible relatively high ratio of utility bodies may have put restraints on the proper coupe body styling. In other words it paid to make as much of the two bodies the same, and the proportions of the American coupe body, if adopted for the coupe utility body, would have compromised the load area. I believe Ford of Australia would have been wanting to keep up a certain amount of localised content. You can see the body id welded together from smaller panels. This would indicate a smaller press capacity available to the Aussie plant.
A question. Who made the Aussie Ford Coupe and Coupe Utility bodies? Was it Ford themselves or an outside supplier?
Mart.
|
Ford Aust. was set up as two companies in 1925. These were Ford Manufacturing Aust. & Ford Motor Co. Aust. It was Ford Manufacturing that produced the bodies, & Ford Motor Co. organised the plants & marketed the products. The last Model T, Model A & early V8 bodies were produced with local made & imported components with local content increasing through the years. The Aust govt. only allowed Ford to set up at Geelong if it was to manufacture & not just assemble vehicles [ as occurred at Seaview Plant, NZ.] - Cheers.