Au Coupes - Page 2

Stagg · 31-01-2012, 02:13 PM

Well, I had the guts to actually talk to them and got to talk to Troy Hillier, and got to shed some light on the whole subject:

They build 3 coupes, the green and red XR coupe, and the AMC Arrow. The green XR coupe was turned into the 300+ coupe.

As we already know, the 300+ coupe is owned by mr Lane ford in Mandurah WA, Troy has just told me that he still owns the AMC arrow coupe, at his home in Tenterfield NSW.

As for the red XR coupe, he said that his friend in Brisbane now owns that, I thought if I asked him which friend it might actually creep him out a bit.

And my heart skipped a beat when he said that THEY WILL STILL DO A COUPE CONVERSION!!!

They would do an AU conversion for $40k. That obviously includes the custom bodywork, but includes interior re-trimming, and a bare metal respray.

He actually sounded like he was reminiscing about the prospect of doing another AU coupe conversion, although he suggested that he would do a conversion for a later model for around the same price. Apparently they're working on a Chrysler 300C coupe currently, wonder what that would look like.

So yeah hope that answers your question, we know where the coupes are now, how many were made, what they would charge for a conversion and yes they would still do a conversion. Happy to shed some light on the subject

Cam · 31-01-2012, 07:27 PM

That's some great info above. 40k is a very reasonable price IMO for the work that'd be done.. Would seem that minus the interior + respray that a rolling shell could be turned into a coupe for a very reasonable sum of cash... Where's Daniel (CAT600) when you need him???

T3man · 31-01-2012, 08:46 PM

Well done - good info. Thanks for sharing.

chazza · 31-01-2012, 08:51 PM

Thats great info.

Where did I put my check book. MMMM

falconnut · 01-02-2012, 04:12 PM

Wow i didnt know they where so close, ive driven through tenterfield a couple of times.

If only i had $40k :p

T3man · 01-02-2012, 08:50 PM

Time to go hunt down a hail damaged AU in Melbourne I reckon.

gd1969 · 01-02-2012, 09:39 PM

seen the red AU Coupe in ipswich a couple of weeks ago should have taken a photo .bloody hell they look good

**Mechan1k** · 03-02-2012, 08:54 AM

$40K is a good price if you ask me for the conversion with interior and bare metal respray.

**Polyal** · 03-02-2012, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T3man

Time to go hunt down a hail damaged AU in Melbourne I reckon.

Damaged? You can get a good one for cheap enough..hehe

Imagine an AU coupe with say a new NA 5.0 Coyote

Stagg · 03-02-2012, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

Imagine an AU coupe with say a new NA 5.0 Coyote

That there would be my dream car... T3 TS50 coupe, in Poison Ivy green with a twin turbo Coyote V8 under there... An FG dash conversion would be the icing on the cake

MGGT RAA · 26-02-2012, 01:22 PM

From yesterdays Lane ford perfomance show. I didnt notice untill a mate of mine pointed it out but the wing and wheels have been changed from the original pics.

Also parked next to it was the 1 off 300+ sedan, which i wasnt aware existed until yesterday. I had to go home and have a cold shower...

Stagg · 26-02-2012, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MGGT RAA

image

From yesterdays Lane ford perfomance show. I didnt notice untill a mate of mine pointed it out but the wing and wheels have been changed from the original pics.

Also parked next to it was the 1 off 300+ sedan, which i wasnt aware existed until yesterday. I had to go home and have a cold shower...

image

Both those cars are serious pornography

chazza · 27-02-2012, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stagg1991

Both those cars are serious pornography

Second that.

**Polyal** · 27-02-2012, 12:10 PM

Although te rim choice is pretty horrid for such a car

Stagg · 27-02-2012, 12:48 PM

Man oh man, I'm drooling over both those cars here.....

Dan (CAT600) actually test drove the black 300+ sedan at Millard some years ago, it's what inspired him to build his SVT powered TS50.

**CAT600** · 27-02-2012, 04:18 PM

Hey!............ that's my Motivator!.... the car that made me build Terminator!

First 6 speed, first Modular (and first blown car for that matter) that I ever steered.

Nice bit of gear that one, not many know but its the actual showcar that Tickford presented to the public back in '99 when the T-series was showcased.... it ran TS wheels but TE bodykit then AEC bought it from Ford/Tickford.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MGGT RAA

Daniel

Dezza · 27-02-2012, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAT600

Hey!............ that's my Motivator!.... the car that made me build Terminator!

First 6 speed, first Modular (and first blown car for that matter) that I ever steered.

Nice bit of gear that one, not many know but its the actual showcar that Tickford presented to the public back in '99 when the T-series was showcased.... it ran TS wheels but TE bodykit then AEC bought it from Ford/Tickford.

Daniel

You mean this one here?

**Polyal** · 27-02-2012, 06:46 PM

Holy crap that TS is perfect

**Peuty** · 27-02-2012, 06:58 PM

Dare I say it looked nicer as a TS?

Venomous1 · 28-02-2012, 07:20 AM

The wheels let both down.

Mr Hardware · 28-02-2012, 11:25 AM

I agree Venomous1, the wheels on the cars that MGGT RAA posted have horrendously tasteless wheels.

But Damn! Dezza, i think you just posted the perfect AU.

b2tf · 28-02-2012, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cam

Agreed! I love the 300+ Coupe..

image

This one has Kahn RS wheels under it. Same as what Herrods used for a while. Love em.

Stagg · 06-09-2013, 09:08 PM

Thought I would dig this old thread up...

I found an opportunity to make a work trip to Tenterfield today to see a few customers, and I couldn't leave Tenterfield without at least stoping by the Hilliers workshop to see where my dream cars were built.

Ended up meeting troy, and he even remembered me from the phone call way back (because I said "The moment I win lotto my car is being sent your way")... anyway when I mentioned to him that those 2 door AUs were my dream car, he said that there isn't any way he can't show me his pride and joy. These pictures were taken earlier today

Also FYI Troy if you're on AFF and see these pictures and don't want them here, I'm sorry!! Just shoot me a text!)

Troy said he hadn't even fired the engine up in almost 5 years! Car has just been sitting in immaculate condition, unregistered (just with a layer of dust over the surface). He is just too afraid of anything ever happening to the car, just wouldn't ever want a single scratch on the car.

There was only 3000km on the clock of this car. It was unbelievable that this car has been hiding and hasn't even seen the road in years. It was literally jaw dropping to see it in person!

He also told me that he wouldn't ever sell it for any amount of cash. When he saw me jumping up and down taking photos like a 12 year old fangirl, he all of a sudden stopped and just stared at his car and just from the look in his eyes I could totally respect that he can never sell his car, it was obviously his absolute pride and joy!

FYI apparently he added up all his receipts, and the car cost him out of pocket $156,000 to complete!

I did however ask him if he would ever consider bringing the Arrow out of its hiding place and showing it to so many people who would be so happy to see it. Then he mentioned he is actually building a car museum in Tenterfield that will be finished soon, and it's going to be shelved there for all to see. But there is a Hilliers hosted show & shine every November as well, and by the look of how excited I was to see this car he said he MIGHT consider taking the Arrow to the show & shine this November on a trailer for all to see. Also encouraged me to take my AU down in November

If you can't tell, I was way too excited to actually see one of these coupes in person

Stagg · 06-09-2013, 09:13 PM

Also I picked his brain about the actual modifications lol...

The original AU wheelbase is used so the car is just as long as any AU sedan. However the front doors were extended 8 inches and the entire rear quarter panels were manufactured.

The roof was lowered, bit the front fenders, boot lid, and (mostly) original hood were used too. Of course custom front and rear bars, and side skirts. Entire interios was fully custom as well, Because he hadn't seen the keys to the car in years he couldn't remember where he put them so sadly I didn't get any clear shots of the inside.

SantoAU · 07-09-2013, 03:03 PM

so $40k for coupe conversion, new interior and bare metal respray... say $20k for an svt terminator transplant (guess, dan would know better)... the look on peoples faces when they see you rollin' - priceless

Stagg · 07-09-2013, 03:21 PM

Truly was such an incredible piece of work...

He also said something about the 300+ coupe that I probably shouldn't write on here, but it all of a sudden doesn't seem so special compared to the Arrow...

Sox · 12-09-2013, 08:58 AM

I really appreciate the work that's gone into that green coupe, but why oh why did he fit such and ugly front end?

Stagg · 12-09-2013, 10:42 AM

He said he wanted the arrow coupe to be 'arrow shaped' so he made the bumper a lot pointier he said haha

standing next to it really didn't make it seem bad though, looking at the craftsmanship of the whole car including the front bumper was pretty nuts

Still I always figured the wheelbase was shortened but nup, it probably wouldn't handle much different to an AU sedan which also had aftermarket shocks & brakes

**Polyal** · 12-09-2013, 10:56 AM

Are those other AU coupes on the market? What happened to that green AU1 XR?

Stagg · 12-09-2013, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

Are those other AU coupes on the market? What happened to that green AU1 XR?

The Green AU XR was stripped and the shell slightly modified, and turned into the 300+ coupe, which the owner of Lane Ford in MAndurah, WA owned the last time I checked (May 2012).

The Red AU XR is owned by Mark Rovera in Ipswich, who was actually a big help in building the original coupes, and I doubt he would be selling his red AU XR any time soon.

The Arrow coupe troy said he will be holding on to forever! He showed me all the cars that he has (some nice old XP's!) but the arrow was his favourite. He will be putting the Arrow in the Hillier Museum when the museum is built.

So there aren't any on the market but the Red AU XR gets driven around quite a bit in Ipswich so it would have a fair few km on it. The 300+ makes its way around WA to car shows and is part of apparently quite a large collection of Fords, but this arrow coupe is probably never going to be driven or sold again... probably the only chance of someone buying one of those cars is if they offer a substantial amount of money for the 300+