Wikipedia

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 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

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Main article:Ute (vehicle)
1937TerraplaneUtility 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, 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,[7]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.[7]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.[8]Darwin also suggests that the idea was being developed by other manufacturers simultaneously, becauseGeneral Motors-Holdenreleased 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 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.[11][12]

North American models

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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.[13]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.[14]

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

South American models

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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

Asian models

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Proton Jumbuck
2003 Subaru Baja

Iranian models

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South African models

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AustralianHolden Kingswood,Ford FalconandChrysler Valiantutes were sold in South Africa as theChevrolet 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 theChevrolet Montanaand theFord Courier,sold there as Opel Corsa Utility (later as Chevrolet Utility)[25]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

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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.[26]Not many of them were sold.

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

Other European coupé utilities

Australian models

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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.[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
  • 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

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  • 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 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.[61][60]
  • Toyota X-Runner:Concept vehicle displayed byToyota Australiaat the 2003 Melbourne and Sydney International Motor Shows.[62]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.[62]
  • Toyota X-Runner concept utility as displayed at the 2003 Sydney International Motor Show

See also

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References

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  1. ^Oastler, Mark; Kenwright, Joe (7 February 2012)."Editorial: Australia DID NOT invent the Ute!".Truck Jungle.Australia.Retrieved29 September2016.
  2. ^"Pick-up Skoda Auto".Skoda. Archived fromthe originalon 16 July 2011.
  3. ^"Chevrolet Montana 2018".Brazil: Chevrolet.Retrieved4 March2018.
  4. ^"List of Car-Based Pick Ups (Utes)".Opposite Lock. Archived fromthe originalon 5 January 2018.Retrieved4 March2018.
  5. ^"Is The Car-Based Pickup Truck Doomed To Be A Cyclical Fad?".Jalopnik.14 May 2016.Retrieved4 March2018.
  6. ^"Ford Milestones 1930′s » Ford Discovery Centre".Forddiscovery.Retrieved19 June2019.
  7. ^abEarly 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. ^abEarly Australian Automotive Design; The First Fifty Years. Norm Darwin page 185
  11. ^ab"Will the Coupe Utility Ever Come Back to the United States?".rides.Archived fromthe originalon 18 July 2013.
  12. ^"TruckFest Rewind: Rare Australian 1946 Ford Ute Delights".OnAllCylinders. 4 October 2012.Retrieved19 June2019.
  13. ^"Ford Ranchero History and Production Figures".Dearborn Classics. Archived fromthe originalon 9 October 2019.Retrieved30 October2009.
  14. ^"Chevrolet El Camino".OldRide.Retrieved16 October2011.
  15. ^Strohl, Daniel (April 2010)."1936 Chevrolet coupe-pickup".Hemmings Motor News.US.Retrieved12 April2020.
  16. ^Johnson, Davey G. (1 March 2007)."Avengermino! The Dodge 1500 Pickup!".Jalopnik.Retrieved5 March2018.
  17. ^"75 Years of TOYOTA | Vehicle Lineage | Publica Pickup | Description".Toyota. 2012.Retrieved26 November2017.
  18. ^"Chevrolet El Camino - HK Holden ute | The El Camino ute broc…".Flickr. 28 August 2009.Retrieved19 June2019.
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  23. ^"1973 Valiant Rustler (South Africa) | Michael".Flickr. 2 October 2017.Retrieved19 June2019.
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  25. ^"Chevrolet Utility, our new Corsa Bakkie, for sale in South Africa (archived)".Archived fromthe originalon 11 September 2017.Retrieved19 June2019.
  26. ^Morris MarinaArchived2013-08-02 at theWayback Machine
  27. ^"Flickr: DedliNZ's Photostream".Archived fromthe originalon 4 November 2013.Retrieved18 January2017.
  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.Retrieved22 February2019– via Trove.
  30. ^"International's New Utility".The Herald.Melbourne. 13 April 1936.Retrieved22 February2019– via Trove.
  31. ^"The Willys 77 Coupe Utility".The Daily Standard.Brisbane. 2 September 1935.Retrieved22 February2019– via Trove.
  32. ^"COMMER 8-CWT. COUPE UTILITY".The Herald.Melbourne. 30 November 1936.Retrieved22 February2019– via Trove.
  33. ^"21 Feb 1938 - LATEST REO UTILITY - Trove".Trove.nla.gov.au. 21 February 1938.Retrieved19 June2019.
  34. ^"11 Aug 1952 - Trucks Help Keep Industry Turning - Trove".11 August 1952.Retrieved19 June2019– via Trove.
  35. ^"26 Mar 1940 - COMFORT AND STYLE FEATURES OF MODERN COMMERCIALS".26 March 1940.Retrieved19 June2019– via Trove.
  36. ^"26 May 1936 - MOTORING - Trove".26 May 1936.Retrieved19 June2019– via Trove.
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  38. ^"02 Oct 1934 - MOTORS & MOTORING - Trove".Trove.nla.gov.au. 2 October 1934.Retrieved19 June2019.
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  44. ^"09 Apr 1935 - 1935 STANDARD DODGE - Trove".Trove.nla.gov.au. 9 April 1935.Retrieved19 June2019.
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  50. ^"18 Apr 1939 - NEW HILLMAN" 14 "UTILITY - Trove".Trove.nla.gov.au. 18 April 1939.Retrieved19 June2019.
  51. ^"1964 Lightburn Zeta Ute Brochure Cover - Australia".Flickr. 5 August 2018.Retrieved19 June2019.
  52. ^"AMC Cowboy".all-car-brands.Archived fromthe originalon 16 January 2013.
  53. ^Adams, Keith (27 September 2011)."Metro Ranger".AROnline.UK.Retrieved5 March2018.
  54. ^Davis, Brett (16 March 2011)."2011 BMW M3 ute spotted on Nurburgring".Car Advice.Australia.Retrieved1 July2017.
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  62. ^ab"Australia's best concepts: 2003 Toyota X-Runner".Whichcar.au.Retrieved19 June2019.
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