|
|
05-02-2023, 07:44 PM | #1 | |||
Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 11,709
|
Quote:
Keep in mind, NONE of those cars were dealer or customer orders, they were making cars to keep the line running. So, the colours on these vehicles were just random or of popular choices. The cost to idle an assembly plant is astronomically expensive, hence they preferred to at least make cars rather than burn cash standing down employees, not to mention the implications it would cause with their supplier base contracts.
__________________
PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten |
|||
06-02-2023, 11:55 AM | #2 | ||
Mopar! But Own F6's..
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: F6DELAIDE
Posts: 3,163
|
Wow mate thankyou for spending the time getting all of this together for us to enjoy!
Amazing stuff right there. To be honest its the little things these companies did back then like sending out kids brochures of their fpv models etc (i was a driving teenager when the BA came out). Holden and HSV did it too. I'm sure something as simple as this, plus things like an open day planted alot of seeds in all of us. I remember having the brochures in our rooms, or pics from the brochures etc cut out and displayed somewhere. All the time looking at those photos for me is probably what made me a fan. Probably why i also like some of the HSV GTS/GTO coupes etc also. There wouldn't be any more pics from that rapid yellow BA typhoon from the 2005 FPV day by any chance? Also what month was the 2005 fpv day?
__________________
F6 TYPHOON FPV 335 GT |
||
06-02-2023, 08:20 PM | #3 | |||
Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 11,709
|
Quote:
Looking at the date codes on the 2005 pictures, its listed as 27/02/2005.
__________________
PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten |
|||
This user likes this post: |
06-02-2023, 08:41 PM | #4 | ||
Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 11,709
|
The next collection of images don't relate to an official FPV Open day, in fact the signs on the building were long gone by now, the blue buildings were the only clue remaining.
The event held at Prodrive Racing Australia (nee FPR) on October 2nd, 2016 was all-inclusive goodbye celebration to signify the end of the local production. From memory, this event was organised so as to not be in the workers face when the factory officially closed down, giving them a dignified exit while also showing our appreciation. I think I have described that correctly, it was a few years ago now. This would be the last time I visited the Tickford/FPV/FPR/PRA/Tickford Racing site, many familiar cars were there on the day. This car had a lot of attention on the day, the very last GT-F assembled in Victory Gold. I got a little confused the regarding the Narooma TS50 in a previous post, it was actually the owner of this TE50 I spent a while speaking with. Again, I think he was a member of this forum. I remember this day being quite pleasant despite the sadness in the air. Five days later, Ford made their very last car and so ended over 90 years of Ford manufacturing in Australia.
__________________
PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten |
||
06-02-2023, 09:20 PM | #5 | ||
Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 11,709
|
One week later on the 15th of October, 2016, I was invited to an event Wheels Magazine organized to celebrate Ford manufacturing in Australia. Called Ford Falcon - The Legacy Lives On, the day was held at the Geelong Airfield, with both morning and afternoon groups.
This was a day for the fans! Wheels then editor Glen Butler was the MC, with presentations made by then Ford President Graeme Whickman, as well as another Ford executive who, from memory, was in charge of the local product development team. This part of the day was all about conveying that while Ford would no longer make cars in Australia, the legacy of the Falcon would live on in the future vehicles they were still very much actively developing in Australia. The second part of the presentations included Justin Capicchiano speaking of his involvement on high-performance Fords, mostly the recently released Sprint and GT-F models. Also present was respected journalist Peter Robinson and drivers Mark Winterbottom and Cam Waters. We actually gave the owner of this Falcon Squire a ride back into Melbourne, where I was shown some very tasty old Falcon's. This EA was stunning, probably better than the day it rolled out of Broadmeadows. Part of the day included getting a picture taken with the very last Ford's to come off the line. I of course have those pics, but I can't reveal my secret identity! A lot of the cars present on the day were also used for Wheels photography and video content - And that concludes this look back to a time when we had access to such wonderful machines. If anyone feels like contributing their own images, the more the merrier.
__________________
PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten |
||
07-02-2023, 10:07 AM | #6 | ||
Long time lurking
Join Date: May 2007
Location: murtoa
Posts: 175
|
image
I think my Devil R is in this image, 2nd from the end. There were many good examples of local production on display that day.
__________________
BA Falcon XR8 Devil R - UA Everest Sport - Next Gen Ranger XLT v6 - BA Fairlane G220 |
||
This user likes this post: |
06-02-2023, 12:26 PM | #7 | ||
T3/Sprint8
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 15,960
|
As mentioned lovely to see......
DFB 1 of T3 TL50 still with same owner. The other T3 you mention was Jason's, he's moved it on since. Quite a few other owners Fords I recognise from those forum days. That STFORD plated one was Jasons, editor of Street Fords, has featured many forum cars in that mag back then and attended many Club days. All gone never forgotten. I've struggled what to buy ever since.
__________________
Tickfords T3/TS50 '02 Sprint8 manual Sept 24 '16 Daily Macan GTS "Don't believe everything you read on the internet. Abraham Lincoln" |
||
06-02-2023, 08:56 PM | #8 | ||
AKA "the other bloke"
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,960
|
Remember that day very well, was a day we all knew was special but sad… got to meet a lot of the main team and my son still talks of it.. wow still had the r-spec rims and L plates on my car too !
__________________
Her's: 2000 AU II Fairmont Ghia 75th anniversary VCT meteorite & 2014 yaris - white His Toy: 2012 fg II GT-E, emperor red His: VS Ute 5 Litre 5 speed (povo pack) His: 2012 FG II GS, Vanish His: 2003 BA GT-P, Lightening Strike Jnr: 2002 AU III Falcon XR6 ST, 5 speed Blueprint & 1978 XC Fairmont Neptune Blue Previous: 1976 HX 50th Anniversary Kingswood 2014 FGX G6E Turbo 1980 XD Falcon GL 2003 BA Falcon XR6 1991 EB Falcon S 1989 EA Fairmont 1982 XE Fairmont 1968 XT Falcon |
||
06-02-2023, 09:51 PM | #10 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Canberra Region
Posts: 8,829
|
My Sprint was there (not in those pics)
__________________
2016 FGX XR8 Sprint, 6speed manual, Kinetic Blue #170 2004 BA wagon RTV project. 1998 EL XR8, Auto, Hot Chilli Red 1993 ED XR6, 5speed, Polynesian Green. 1 of 329. Retired 1968 XT Falcon 500 wagon, 3 on the tree, 3.6L. Patina project. |
||
This user likes this post: |
09-02-2023, 12:02 PM | #12 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 1,978
|
Bitter sweet, thanks for sharing. Proud to say I was somehow involved in the birth of many FPVs, either as customer orders or stock orders. Got to choose some pretty far out combos throughout the years of the entire life of FPV. All good memories. These days the closest I get to ordering exciting cars is Mustang, that's it. Pretty sad.
__________________
2021 Fiesta ST find me on instagram @adm.history for daily automotive historical Australian advertisements. |
||
10-02-2023, 08:35 PM | #13 | |||
Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 11,709
|
Quote:
__________________
PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten |
|||
This user likes this post: |
11-02-2023, 04:48 PM | #15 | |||
AKA "the other bloke"
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,960
|
Quote:
And into a dust filled swap meet car park..enjoy em I say
__________________
Her's: 2000 AU II Fairmont Ghia 75th anniversary VCT meteorite & 2014 yaris - white His Toy: 2012 fg II GT-E, emperor red His: VS Ute 5 Litre 5 speed (povo pack) His: 2012 FG II GS, Vanish His: 2003 BA GT-P, Lightening Strike Jnr: 2002 AU III Falcon XR6 ST, 5 speed Blueprint & 1978 XC Fairmont Neptune Blue Previous: 1976 HX 50th Anniversary Kingswood 2014 FGX G6E Turbo 1980 XD Falcon GL 2003 BA Falcon XR6 1991 EB Falcon S 1989 EA Fairmont 1982 XE Fairmont 1968 XT Falcon |
|||
11-02-2023, 05:07 PM | #16 | |||
Barra Turbo > V8
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 25,197
|
Quote:
Im bad enough with my current car not getting driven, let alone an FPV. Rarely see FPV/Tickfords on the road where iam, i can see why. But i do get excited when i see a nice one driving around!
__________________
2011 XR6 Turbo Ute - Manual - Lux Pack - Twin 2.5" Stainless Exhaust - Antz Turboside Intake - CCForged Phatlux wheels |
|||
This user likes this post: |
09-02-2023, 02:39 PM | #17 | ||
Barra Turbo > V8
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 25,197
|
Awesome pics again mate, keep em coming if you have more!
__________________
2011 XR6 Turbo Ute - Manual - Lux Pack - Twin 2.5" Stainless Exhaust - Antz Turboside Intake - CCForged Phatlux wheels |
||
11-02-2023, 10:31 PM | #20 | ||
Youth worker
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Ipswich QLD
Posts: 6,879
|
Like everyone else, I really appreciate your write up and photos.
I'm sad to say I never got to visit the Tickford/FPV factory or even Ford HQ itself actually being from north of Sydney at the time. Shame really. I did go to almost every Sydney motor show though to see the new FPV offerings from 2004 until 2013. I remember walking past Lambos, Ferraris etc just to get to see the new FPVs and Falcons... Then I'd go look at everyone else's offerings. I'm sad that there's no car that interests me enough to take my son and daughter to any new cars show (I'm not even sure there is such a thing anymore). If I were to take them, it would only to go and see the exotics. Nothing in a working man's wage is even worth viewing a motoring website now days, let alone a motor show. It's a sad time in Aussie motoring, especially compared to the FPV years for me.
__________________
2007 FPV F6 Typhoon BFII, Neo. Build Number 325 2011 SZ Territory Typhoon Thread: Mr Brooksy's BFII Typhoon Territory Thread: Mrs Brooksy's SZ Territory Resurrection Old Futura thread:
Brooksy's Ex Build |
||
11-02-2023, 10:55 PM | #21 | |||
Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 11,709
|
Quote:
High end Falcon's could satisfy the itch for something powerful, while also being somewhat practical for a family man. The only "desirable" enthusiast cars in that working man's price range seem to center around hot hatches. There is certainly fun to be had in those cars, but they would struggle to be a multipurpose purchase. I would say that for me personally, there are still a few interesting options available on the new car market, Mustang, Supra, BMW M2, but then I don't need to purchase for a growing family. Also, the way car prices have inflated over the last 3 years, cars like the Mustang for instance are creeping out of the "affordable" price range. I paid $58,000 for a manual Mustang GT in 2017. Same car is beyond $70K now. I have a S650 on order, but it won't be the bargain my S550 was.
__________________
PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten |
|||
This user likes this post: |
12-02-2023, 07:15 PM | #22 | ||
Starter Motor
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 20
|
A massive thanks for posting all the pictures DFB FGXR6.
I never went to an official FPV open day, only the 'unofficial' event the week before the end of manufacture. It was the weekend before Bathurst if memory serves me correct, which is why FPR wasn't opened up on the day, all the merchandise was on the trucks ready to go upto the mountain. Whilst I can understand Ford managements descision not to formally commemorate the end of manufacture (thinking of the workers) it really gave Holden an example of how not to do it. Considering how they handled their end of manufacture, as a Ford fan, in my opinion, sadly, there's no comparison in terms of who did it better. Sadly all in the past now. Including Holden, who'd have thought that back when Ford stopped Australian manufacturing? |
||
This user likes this post: |
12-02-2023, 10:36 PM | #23 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Canberra Region
Posts: 8,829
|
I went to the first Tickford open day, and the last.
They had an auction at the latter, the Tickford building signage went for $800 (I think the emblem and wording sold separately) Wish I bought them, although at the time I had no idea how to get them home (you had to take it on the day and was on a pallet) Anyone know who bought them? Someone must have it on display somewhere.
__________________
2016 FGX XR8 Sprint, 6speed manual, Kinetic Blue #170 2004 BA wagon RTV project. 1998 EL XR8, Auto, Hot Chilli Red 1993 ED XR6, 5speed, Polynesian Green. 1 of 329. Retired 1968 XT Falcon 500 wagon, 3 on the tree, 3.6L. Patina project. |
||
13-02-2023, 08:06 AM | #24 | |||
Barra Turbo > V8
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 25,197
|
Quote:
__________________
2011 XR6 Turbo Ute - Manual - Lux Pack - Twin 2.5" Stainless Exhaust - Antz Turboside Intake - CCForged Phatlux wheels |
|||