This is my 1973 XB ute in the condition it was before I decided to get a little to creative with her.As you can see not much to look at but at this stage but she was a work horse running a stock old 250 pre-crossflow motor and three speed manual.Pretty plain and boring I thought.

She ran fine untill the motor decided to cough and splutter and die half way home one day.So then it all started first I thought well the motors had it and I need a car so in went the 302 windsor motor,not original I know but the car wasn't staying like that for long.So after countless hours in the shed wondering why she wouldn't idle properly or for that matter even reverse out the driveway I decided to get some professional help.

Enter the mechanic.....We decided to start from basics and check the firing order was correct and as it seemed it was.....so onto the compression test...At first glance we thought maybe a blown head gasket was the course of all my trouble, so off came the heads to be machined and new gaskets fitted all round but alas my problems still troubled me.....so next it was time to check the dizzy ,points, plugs and leads all was fine there too.

I was left standing there tearing out my hair wondering WHAT THE HELL THE PROBLEM WAS...Then it was suggested I try the other firing order...little did I know there was two,one for the 351 and one for the 302.....well anything was worth a try at this stage so off with the leads change the firing order and turn the key.....To my delight she was running again and as sweet as ever I must say.

Well as the story goes she was driven around like this for some time then, it happened.It was out of pure boredom to start with and the came the inspiration.

I once again had the car in the shed and decided to start and create something quite different.I started with the angle grinder removing parts I thought were unecessary and would improve the old girls appearance.As you can see from the pics she looks quite different from anything I have ever seen and I am hoping it will be the first of its kind on the road.

Although far from finished it has started to take shape and resemble something from the inner depths of my imagination.

So far I have spent about 4 months cutting, welding and grinding away to get to where I am at now..It is hard to make progress when you are only allowed a couple of hours of light each night to work but rest assured she will get there.

As you can see from the picture on the left the interior is yet to be touched. Other than the B&M V-Gate shifter and the Speco shiftlight tacometer mounted just to the right of the steering wheel on the window pillar (for the odd occassion when it is needed) it is all still very much original. I do, however, plan on changing this.

I am planning on sourcing an EA falcon dash and modifying it to fit so then hopefully it will obtain the new into old look that I am after.

The interior will most likely be done in grey with recaro bucket seats or similar and new door trims to match.