To fully explain what this is, a bit of background information is required. Back in the 1980s a politician by the name of John Button decided to bring in a plan that was bashfully named the Button Plan. I can't remember the details, but the result was that all of the major manufacturers in Australia with the except of Mitsubishi, had to join forces and model share. This got complex.
Holden did panels and engines for (and I think actually built some models of) the Nissan Pulsar/Holden Astra twins, but then Holden forged a deal with Toyota. This resulted in:
- The Toyota Camry being re-badged as a Holden Apollo
- The Toyota Corolla being re-badged as a Holden Nova
- Perhaps most ridiculously, the full-sized Commodore (VN, VP, VR and VS-models) being sold as a Toyota Lexcen (named after designed of the winged keel of the Australia II yacht that won the America's cup in 1983, it was released around the same time as the Lexus, which was widely known to be a subsidiary of Toyota, resulting in much confusion due to the similaries of the names).
The deal between Toyota and Holden resulted in cars with minimal changes; different lights and brightwork, along with different quarter panels for the VP Commodore-based Lexcen was about the greatest difference that could be picked.
Ford started sharing models with Nissan. This resulted in:
- The Australian-'designed', Bluebird-based Nissan Pintara sedan and hatch being sold as the Ford Corsair. The Ford version had significantly different lights and grille and looked nice and smooth compared to the Pintara. However, either way, they were Australia's biggest flop since the Leyland P76 and spelled the end of Nissan as a manufacturer in Australia.
- The Nissan Patrol 4WD wagon being sold as a Ford Maverick in a move that was surprisingly popular.
But this was the good one....
For some reason, Ford and Nissan decided to share the Ford Falcon; specifically in utility or 'ute' form only. The XF Falcon model, for all the extolling in the world by Ford that it was European in influence, was never more the quintessential big, Aussie family six cylinder. Being similar in design to the previous-model XE Falcon and just so obviously a Ford Falcon, to disguise it's origins would take some cunning.
Here's what the Ford Falcon ute looked like:
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So what did Ford and Nissan do? Well, perhaps they thought it would require too much cunning, because they just put badges on it. Then released it.
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Specifically, a large NISSAN badge for the grille, big enough to cover the recess for the blue-oval badge in the centre. On the back, an individually-lettered NISSAN sticker was emblazoned across the back left-hand side of the tail gate (missing on this example) and on the sides, stickers showing it was, indeed, a 'Nissan Ute'. And that was it's name. It was normally listed in price guides and Glass's Guide as 'Nissan The Ute'!
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Inside, it was pure Ford Falcon, although they did appear to get special Nissan centres for the definitely Ford Falcon steering wheel, rather than just stick a sticker over it.
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These are all but gone from the road now; most have been re-badged back to being Fords so they can be moved a bit easier in the used car yards, while I'm sure plenty have just succumbed to overwork like most 20 year old utes.
I saw this one parked near work the other day; it was in mint condition, with only a bull bar, mags and the sticker missing from the tailgate to deter from it's originality.
You know what? I reckon it would be hilarious to go to All Japan Day in something like that. I mean, it's a Nissan isn't it?
