Coupé utility

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

Acoupé utilityis a vehicle with a passenger compartment at the front and an integratedcargo trayat the rear, with the front of the cargo bed doubling as the rear of the passenger compartment.

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

The term originated in the 1930s, where it was used to distinguish passenger-car-based two-door vehicles with an integrated cargo tray from traditionalpickup trucksthat 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","car-based pick-up" or "car-based truck".

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)

1937TerraplaneUtility Coupe, convertible to Pickup

The body style originated in Australia.It was the result of a 1932 letter from the wife of a farmer in Victoria, Australia, toFord Australiaasking for "a vehicle to go to church in on a Sunday and which can carry our pigs to market on Mondays". In response, Ford designerLew Bandtdeveloped a vehicle to meet the client's request. Commencing in October 1933, with assistance from draftsman A. Scott,Bandt used the passenger compartment and roof from theFord V8five-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.In his bookEarly 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.Darwin also suggests that the idea was being developed by other manufacturers simultaneously, becauseGeneral Motors-Holdenreleased Bedford and Chevrolet coupe utilities in September 1934,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.

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

In 1951, Holden released a model based on its48-215 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 theFord Rancheroin 1957 andChevrolet El Caminoin 1959.

North American models

1958Ford Ranchero

Ford Ranchero

The first modern American coupe utility was theFord Ranchero,introduced by theFordin 1957 and produced until 1979. Unlike a standardpickup truck,the Ranchero was adapted from a two-doorstation wagonplatform that integrated the cab and cargo bed into the body. A total of 508,355 units were produced during the model's production run.Over its lifespan it was variously derived from full-sized, compact, and intermediate automobiles sold by Ford for theNorth Americanmarket.

The original Ranchero sold well enough to spawn a competitor fromGeneral Motorsin 1959, theChevrolet El Camino.

1969 Chevrolet El Camino

Chevrolet El Camino

TheChevrolet El Caminois 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 theFord Rancheropickup, its first run lasted only two years. Production resumed in 1963 (for the 1964 model year) based on theChevelleA-platform.In 1977 (for the 1978 model year), it was shifted to theGM G-bodyplatform. 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, theSprint,was introduced in 1970 (for the 1971 model year). It was renamedCaballeroin 1977 (for the 1978 model year), and produced until 1987.

Other North American coupé utilities

• 1936–1942Chevrolet Coupe Delivery
• 1982–1984Dodge Rampage
• 1981–1982Ford Durango
• 1971–1987GMC Sprint / Caballero(GMC rebadge of the El Camino)
• 1937–1939Studebaker Coupe Express
• 1983Plymouth Scamp

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, theFord Courierwas based on theFord FiestaMkIV. Current examples include theChevrolet Montana,based on theOpel Corsaand later on theChevrolet Agile,thePeugeot Hoggar,based on the South AmericanPeugeot 207,the Volkswagen Saveiro, based on theVolkswagen Gol,and theFiat Strada,based on theFiat Palio.

Other South American coupé utility models:

Fiat Fiorino pick-up

• 1983–1994Chevrolet Chevy 500(Brazil)
• 2003–2021Chevrolet Montana
• 1994–2004Chevrolet Corsa Pick Up(Argentina and Brazil)
• 1953–1979Citroën 2CV "Citroneta"(South America only)
• 1977–2013Fiat Fiorino
• 1971–1990Dodge 1500(Uruguay)
• 1996–presentFiat Strada
• 1998–2013Ford Courier(Brazil)
• 1973–1991Ford Falcon Ranchero(Argentina)
• 1982–1997Ford Pampa(Brazil)
• 2010–2014Peugeot Hoggar
• 2015–presentRam 700(Mexico-exclusive rebadged version of the Fiat Strada)
• 1982–presentVolkswagen Saveiro/Pointer coupé utility

Asian models

Proton Jumbuck

2003 Subaru Baja

• 1991–1995Daihatsu Mira P1/Miracab
• 2004–2007Geely Rural Nanny
• 1975–1990Hyundai Pony
• 1965–1971Mitsubishi Colt 800
• 1971–2007Nissan Sunny
• 1990–1998Nissan NV(Thailand domestic models built under license)
• 1955–1957Prince Commercial Pickup AIPC-1/AIPC-2
• 1957–1967Prince Skyway pickup
• 2002–2010Proton Arena/Jumbuck
• 2002–2006Subaru Baja(sold in the United States, Canada and Chile)
• 1978–1993Subaru BRAT/Brumby/Shifter/MV/Targa
• 1983–1988Suzuki Mighty Boy
• 2000–2001Toyota bB Open Deck
• 1960–1969Toyota Corona coupé utility
• 1959–1971Toyopet/Toyota Crown Masterline coupé utility
• 1955–1959Toyopet Masterline
• 1968–1974Toyota Mark II coupé utility
• 1964–1988Toyota Publica coupé utility/Toyota coupé utility

Iranian models

• 1969–2015Paykan "Vanet" /IKCO Bardo(based onPaykan)
• 2014–presentSAIPA 151(based onFirst-generation Ford Festiva)
• 2015–presentIKCO Arisun(based onPeugeot 405/Peugeot ROA)

South African models

AustralianHolden Kingswood,Ford FalconandChrysler Valiantutes were sold in South Africa as theChevrolet El Camino,Ford Ranchero,and Valiant Rustlerrespectively. 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 theChevrolet Montanaand theFord Courier,sold there as Opel Corsa Utility (later as Chevrolet Utility)and Ford Bantam respectively.

Other South African coupé utility models:

• 1975–1979Dodge Husky(South Africa)
• 1989–2002Mazda Rustler(rebadged 2nd generation Ford Bantam)
• 2008–presentNissan NP200(rebadged Dacia Logan Pick-Up, built and sold in South Africa)

• 
  2011–2017 Chevrolet Montana
• 
  Nissan 1400 Bakkie, South Africa
• 
  2008-2023 Nissan NP200 with a rear canopy, South Africa

European models

1975Austin Marinatruck

1972 Mini pick-up

2009Dacia Logan

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

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

Other European coupé utilities

• 1949–1952Armstrong Siddeley Whitley 18Utility Coupé
• 1949–1952Armstrong Siddeley Whitley 18Station Coupé (extended cab with a rear seat)
• 1956Austin A35
• 1957–1973Austin A55 Cambridge
• 1950–1954Austin A70 Hereford
• Commer Light Pick-up(commercial variant of theHillman Minx)
• 2007–2012Dacia Logan Pick-Up
• 1975–2012Dacia Logan/Logan II
• 1972–1982Emelba 127 Poker
• 1977–2013Fiat Fiorino
• 1953-1973Morris Minor
• 1974–2001Moskvitch/IZh 27151
• 1955–1966Peugeot 403
• 1979–1996Peugeot 504
• 1975–1985Simca 1100
• 1991–1995Škoda Pick-up
• 1994–2001Škoda Felicia Pickup/Fun
• 1954–1960Standard 6 cwtutility (commercial variant of the Standard Ten)
• 1950–1964Standard Vanguardutility (also sold as "Standard Pick-up Truck" )
• 1979–2007Volkswagen Caddy Typ 14/Rabbit coupé utility
• 1996–2001Volkswagen CaddyTyp9U(rebadgedŠkoda Felicia coupé utility)
• c. 1952Singer SM1500
• 1966–1991Wartburg 353 "Trans"

• 1971-1993Ford P100

Australian models

Main article:Ute (vehicle)

2014 HoldenVF CommodoreUte

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.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,alongside their regular style pickup and cab-chassis offerings.

Ford Falcon XR6 Ute

Examples include:

Ford

• 1934–1940 Ford coupe utility
• 1941–1948Ford
• 1949–1951Ford
• 1946–1953 FordAnglia A54A (1946–48)andAnglia A494A (1949–53)
• 1956–1962Ford Consul Mark IIandFord Zephyr Mark II
• 1960–1999Ford Falcon(from 1999 to 2016 the Falcon utility had a separate pick up bed and was therefore no longer strictly a coupe utility)
• 1952–1959Ford Mainline
• 1949–1951Ford Pilot
• 1953–1955Ford Popular 103E
• 1939–1953 FordPrefect E93A/E03A (1939–45),Ford Prefect A53A (1946–48)andPrefect A493A (1948–53)
• 1937–1938Ford Ten6 cwt coupe utility
• 1946–1958Mercury Club Coupe Utility
• 1989–1991Nissan Ute(badge engineered version of theFord Falcon (XF)utility)

General Motors-Holden

• From 1934 various GM chassis were available fitted with coupe utility bodywork
• Bedford HC6 cwt Carryall (commercial variant of the Vauxhall 10-4)
• 1946–1948 ChevroletStylemaster
• 1949–1952 ChevroletStyleline
• 1951–1968Holden
• 1990–2017Holden Commodore/Holden Ute(models from 2000 to 2017 were marketed as Holden Utes not Commodores)
• 1968–1984Belmont/Kingswood
• 1952–1954 VauxhallWyvern E seriesand 1952–1957Velox E Series

Chrysler

• From 1935, various Dodge, Plymouth and Fargo chassis were available fitted with coupe utility bodywork
• 1958–1961Chrysler Wayfarer
• 1965–1971Chrysler Valiant/Valiant Wayfarer
• 1971–1978Chrysler Valiant
• 1956–1957DeSoto Diplomat
• 1966–1976 Dodge (lower spec version of the Valiant/Wayfarer utility)
• 1956–1957Dodge Kingsway
• 1956–1957Plymouth Cranbrook/Savoy/Belvedere

BMC

• Austin A40 Devon(Several unique variants were offered on the Australian market, including the Austin A40 Panelside and the A40 Hi-Lite)
• 1956 Austin A50
• Austin A55 Cambridge
• 1968–1971Austin 1800

Standard

• Morris EightSeries II, Series E and Series Z
• Standard Vanguard
• Triumph Maylower

Rootes Group

• 1939 Hillman Fourteen
• 1956Hillman deluxe utilitybased on Mark VIII Hillman Minx

Lightburn

• Zetautility

• 
  1935 Ford Model 48 coupe utility
• 
  1946 Ford Super Deluxe utility
• 
  1950 Ford Prefect utility
• 
  1947 Ford Anglia utility
• 
  Ford Pilot utility
• 
  Ford Popular utility
• 
  1951 Ford utility
• 
  1957 Ford Mainline utility
• 
  1960 Ford Zephyr Mk II utility
• 
  1962 Ford XL Falcon Deluxe utility
• 
  Ford XB Falcon utility
• 
  1999 Ford XH II Falcon utility
• 
  1940 Bedford JC coupe utility
• 
  Holden 50-2016 utility
• 
  Vauxhall Velox utility
• 
  1947 Chevrolet Stylemaster utility
• 
  1952 Chevrolet Styleline utility
• 
  Holden FB utility
• 
  Holden HQ Belmont utility
• 
  2005 Holden VZ Ute
• 
  1935 Plymouth coupe utility
• 
  1936 Dodge D2 coupe Utility
• 
  1947 Plymouth Special Deluxe utility
• 
  1956–57 DeSoto Diplomat Plaza utility
• 
  Chrysler AP3 Wayfarer utility
• 
  Chrysler AP6 Valiant Wayfarer utility
• 
  Dodge VG utility
• 
  Chrysler CL Valiant utility
• 
  1953 Austin A40 utility
• 
  Austin A55 utility
• 
  Austin 1800 utility
• 
  1961 Standard Vanguard utility
• 
  1946 Fargo utility
• 
  1953 Dodge 108-A utility
• 
  1946 Chevrolet Commercial 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.
• Austin Metro Ranger:A concept based on the first generation model, it featured a full roll bar, flood lights, and a rear-mounted spare.
• BMW M3 ute/pickup:On April Fools' Day 2011, BMW announced the BMW M3 ute/pickup.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.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.
• Pontiac G8 ST:A rebadged Holden Ute (which is based on theHolden Commodoresedan, 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.
• Toyota X-Runner:Concept vehicle displayed byToyota Australiaat the 2003 Melbourne and Sydney International Motor Shows.The body shell was largely based on that of thefirst 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 fromthe contemporary Lexus RX.It was intended for production, but Toyota of Australia could not get approval from the parent company.

• 
  Toyota X-Runner concept utility as displayed at the 2003 Sydney International Motor Show

See also

• Car body styles
• Kei truck
• Pickup truck
• Roadster utility
• Truck classification
• Ute (vehicle)

External links

• Media related toUtesat Wikimedia Commons
• Media related toCoupé utilityat Wikimedia Commons