Hi Rocco, those Model E Vauxhall utes were an Ozzie-only 'abortion', mate! We, in NZ, had much more taste , and stuck with the Holden ute's, which were very popular with our Kiwi "cow-cockies" (farmers). I can't figure out why GM-Aust went to all the trouble to develop the Vauxhall E's into ute's (utilities), because the Aussie-designed Holden's were far more robust, and less-inclined to rust and suffer from front suspension woes, as did the Vauxhall utes!I would learn to speak New Zealand and immigrate for the chance to own a Vauxhall Ute!!!
Hi Ian,Hi Rocco, those Model E Vauxhall utes were an Ozzie-only 'abortion', mate! We, in NZ, had much more taste , and stuck with the Holden ute's, which were very popular with our Kiwi "cow-cockies" (farmers). I can't figure out why GM-Aust went to all the trouble to develop the Vauxhall E's into ute's (utilities), because the Aussie-designed Holden's were far more robust, and less-inclined to rust and suffer from front suspension woes, as did the Vauxhall utes!
Back in the late 1960's, some "entrepreneur" here in NZ attempted to develop an "off-roader" which supposedly would be attractive to farmers. It used a European Skoda engine/driveline/platform, with a NZ- produced body (a tax-saving venture). It was called a Trekka! A total disaster!
All these futile attempts to produce a locally-designed-built "off-roader' were in order to attract farmers, who could claim a significant tax-writeoff, being a farm-use "piece of machinery"
All this effort and "inventiveness" disappeared when Toyota introduced the Land Cruiser!!
cheers,
Ian - NZ
Hi Rocco. Not so, re your comment that "NZ got the Nth America vs the Euro spec"!....
.....noticed you guys got North America X 1/9 vs the Euro spec? Not sure why but I assumed that your market would have been the better Euro spec.
Regards
Hi Ian,
I somehow confused the Vauxhall with the Holden... The Holden it quite a bit cleaner looking. I am pretty sure Holden built our GTO and the Chevy SS and the Pontiac G8. There is an outfit in Colorado that offers the Holden Ute for sale in the States, or did... If I understand they buy truck bits and build from G8. It is titled as a kit. I was polking around on the wiki X1/9 page and noticed you guys got North America X 1/9 vs the Euro spec? Not sure why but I assumed that your market would have been the better Euro spec.
Regards