Utility vehicle
The Aussie Ute Has Great Storage Space And Was A Popular Get Away Car!
In 1932 there were half a million motor vehicles in Australia. Most of these were passenger cars with rest mostly trucks. Australian farmers were changing their horses and carts for cars. Some farmers cut the back off a passenger sedan and fitted a table top making a useful vehicle that carried goods and people and the ‘ute’ was born. They could cart produce around during the week and take the farmer and his wife to church or the cinema on weekends.
In 1934 the Ford company produced their first utility vehicle. These vehicles had a comfortable cab with a useful tray behind and they were very popular. Australians call them utes as in short for utility vehicle. The expedient backyard adaptation had achieved manufacturer acceptance and the realization there was a demand for this type of motor vehicle. In the 1930’s,many utes were used by bank robbers as they could quickly leap into the open cargo compartment and escape, even firing upon pursuers if need be.
Today utes are a popular form of transport for tradesmen and young blokes who want the rugged practicality of the cargo carrying element but appreciate the comfortable sedan like cabin for after work use.
