One of the best looking Falcon Ute Concepts that Ford Australia put out in 1998. XR8 XH.
Nostalgia for Aussie tradies of the late 90s.
A standout from Ford Australia at the 1998 Melbourne International Motor Show:
* 5.0 EFI V8
* Side Pipes
* Sandfire yellow powder pearl mica paint
* XR(8) front panel, seats etc
* Cut away Guards
* Bumperless rear
* Chromed alloy Speedlime wheels
* Ford Capri parts-bin tail lights
* Zip-up fastback canopy over a checkerplate tray floor
Concept looked like a likely product, but it didn’t happen. Pics here probably don’t do justice to the paint job (at that time).
It is/was (as of 2011) now at the Geelong Ford Discovery Centre.
***Has anyone here seen this one?
I wonder where it is now?***
Pics from @Five Starr Photo and @Phat Aussie Rides FB/IG.
* Ford Australia’s official blurb*
> Drive Ford’s show car Sandfire Falcon Ute on to your average work site and you’re sure to see a tools down work stoppage, according to Ford light truck marketing specialist David Hosking.
> “Sandfire has got to be the flashest toolbox carrier in town, with its brilliant ‘Sandfire Yellow’ powder pearl mica finish by Dulux, raked black neoprene canopy and lots of outrageous chrome wheels and side pipes for a good kerbside look,” Hosking said.
> “The Sandfire V8 Ute continues the customer capable show car theme of last year’s rural Terra Ute, but makes an urban street machine statement for the enterprising ute owner with access to high quality body craftsmanship and some off the shelf parts,” he added.
> Special bodywork features of Sandfire include XR Ute nosecone, cutaway and ‘eyebrowed’ front wheel arches, plus a seamlessly bobbed and bumperless rear end featuring round Capri Clubsprint taillights.
> Big bore, full length chrome side exhaust pipes dress up the lower sides as do 18″ chromed alloy Speedline wheels shod with 265/35 Bridgestone tyres.
> Contrasting is a stylish black neoprene-trimmed fastback canopy with a zip up centre section covering its polished alloy checkerplate load floor.
> Sandfire sits lower and flatter than XR8 Ute and its 185 kW V8 engine covers are finished in matching Sandfire Yellow.
> A high output Alpine CD audio includes a 600W subwoofer under the loadbed and a pair of bass-synched seat vibration drivers for added big sound effect.
> Seats are standard XR front buckets with centre pads retrimmed in black neoprene with race suit style diamond pattern cross stitching in yellow.
> An EL Falcon GT type Momo steering wheel with leather grips is fitted with colour matched yellow rim sections replacing wood.
Ford Falcon XH Sandfire Ute concept, 1998
