Whilst I am Ford biased I can appreciate a good car/ute, hence the last build being my wifes WB ute. This time I was asked to build a vehicle for my daughter as she is coming up to that age.
The brief was simple:
Had to be small
Cheap to run
Easy to get parts for
preferrably a ute
manual on the floor

This rules out the falcon ute and she definately wasn't getting a commdore.
Originally aimed at maybe a Datsun 1200 ute but couldn't get one that was in reasonable nick for a reasonable price. I knew of a Mazda 1000 ute that had been driven by an "older gentleman" right up until he wasn't allowed to drive anymore. We went out and had a look and $250 changed hands and the old girl was trailered home. Now some of you may not know that the Mazda 1000 ute is a cab chassis meaning I could take the tub off and turf it in favour of a flat tray, something not so easy to do to the monocoque shell on a Datsun. Fist job at hand was a wash and cleanout. Found the original dealer delivery certificate from 1972 in the glove box along with a full service history. Wheel brace and jack had never been used. Quick check for rust revealed very little other than around the battery tray which was going to be modified anyway to take a bigger battery. After the wash etc it was time for the obligitory shed burnout which every vehicle I own must complete before it is considered mine .
Any way on with the pics.












The last two picture show the tray under construction. The wheels were put on as a joke but as side note the stud pattern is actually the same as a Torana and I already have a nice set of Jelly Beans sitting here looking for a home
Before anyone asks the obvious "When does the rotary go in?" remember this is to be driven by a young girl on her ps etc.......she don't need that kind of excitement......
Colour(s) have already been chosen: Phantom Purple with Toxic Green highlights (you always knew it would be a Ford colour didn't you??? Bucket seats look like coming from a Hyundia hatchback
Now where was I???oh thats right the burnout......
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Will update as work progresses.

LOL at the vid.. Are you going to update the motor or anything like that? transplant?

Chuck a rotary in it

Nice little project, ill be watching this thread with interest

good stuff, mate of a mate picked up one of these in similar circumstances!
was gonna go a little 12A into it, but it think he abandoned the project
1200s are going for crazy money these days.

Should be a good first car.
You keeping the original donk?
I'd be tempted to whack something like a CA20 or CA18 in it, cheap cause no C*** wants one, and a good way to get a reliable little injected motor.

nice little ute, looks like could be a bit of fun.
love the old mirrors.

Mechanically I aim to change nothing other than a sports air filter and a bit sportier exhaust note. The thing had sat for two years in a shed without being started. I put a new battery in it, cranked for about 15 seconds and it fired up and ran like a dream, so I don't think anything needs to be touched at this stage except for a major service.

The mirrors, while "interesting" have been relegated to the big scrap bin in the sky.........

Shell has been almost completely stripped back and should be in primer this weekend. This build definately won't take as long as the last but doesn't need to be as thorough either.

Are you goign to pull the donk out and clean it up abit? eg paint the motor?

Hey, cool Ute.

Should look great in new paint.

BenJ

Not really keen to pull the engine but will clean it up and colour code a few bits here and there.
Got it in primer this weekend. Now the fun begins. Daughter thought we were getting somewhere when we got the spraygun out but was shattered when I told her that the hard work starts now.

Is that high fill aka spray putty? If so why is it so dark..?

Yeah its a primer/spray putty (one step). The grey is just the colour it is.. I've had three different colours in primer/spray putty:blue, beige and grey.

How ya going with this?

Looking good so far Brad. Are you gonna get a 5 poster made up for it? I reckon she'd look great with a 5 poster and a nice roll bar....A 4 cylinder B&S rig.

Sorry guys. Has been painted and tray is finished (almost). Interior is almost done; just waiting on the Autotechnia racing seats. The roll bar is in the wings but there will be no bullbar on this one. Instead it is getting a nice 3 inch nudgebar...oddly enough it come from an XH ute .
The lack of pics can be explained by a broken camera which should be rectified by the weekend.

BTW The toxic green got canned as it was too hard to get but it is definately purple...

got the pic's yet? cant wait to see it!