Whereas car-based pickup trucks such as the Ford Ranchero and Chevrolet El Camino left the US market back in the 1980s, they continued to be part of the Australian landscape for decades.
However, the Blue Oval’s Falcon-based ute is no more, since the brand has decided to terminate it for good, as the final example came out the company’s Broadmeadows facility last Friday, according to Motoring.
Marking the end of an era for the model that was born in February 1961 with the XK Falcon Ute, the white XR6 Ute, which is the last of its kind, will be kept by the manufacturer’s local arm.
Ford’s latest model loss Down Under comes after the Falcon Wagon was discontinued in mid-2010 and will continue with the retirement of the Falcon Sedan. Moreover, the company’s entire local manufacturing operations will cease on October 7, as it was announced three years ago. The decision was blamed on the strong Australian dollar and increased manufacturing costs, and will lead to the loss of approximately 1,200 jobs at the Broadmeadows and Geelon production sites.
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