Ford dismisses ‘final ute’ pictures

Ford has dismissed images purportedly showing the final Falcon ute on the Broadmeadows production line, as “not accurate”.

The pictures show a ute shell with a sheet of paper stuck on it which reads “Last Ford Australia ute” above a serial number.

The word “LAST” (sic) is also written on the front bumper.

The pictures were shown on the Rare Spares Facebook page, and have been met with a strong reaction from Ford fans who expect the company to provide a more fitting send off for the final ute.

“Good to see Ford giving it the respect and ceremony it deserves,” Dave Moy wrote, sharing a sentiment expressed in a number of comments pinned to the images. “A little printed bit of paper stuck on the body. Sadly, this is partly why the Falcon is going.”

Lincoln Godwin pointed out how Ford Australia invented the ute concept “a result of a 1932 letter from an unnamed Victorian farmer's wife asking for “a vehicle to go to church in on a Sunday and which can carry our pigs to market on Mondays”.

The pictures even upset Holden fans, who used the post to lament the general demise of Australian car manufacturing.

For its part, Ford Australia denied knowledge of the pictures. In a very brief statement a spokesman said “… this is not accurate!”

The company stressed that production of all Ford Falcon and Territory models is continuing in the lead up to the Broadmeadows factory’s October closure.

While Ford is yet to announce what it will do with its final Australian-built cars, it is believed to have very specific ideas about what will happen to them once they’re built.