Last Friday marked the end of an era in Australia, when Ford’s Broadmeadows plant produced its last-ever Ford Falcon utility (or “ute” for short).
According to Australian website Drive, the Windsor White Ford Falcon ute was an XR6 model with a 4.0-liter inline-6 engine and a 6-speed manual transmission. The car-pickup hybrid will be kept as part of a collection of historic Ford Australia vehicles, although the second-to-last ute produced – a gray XR6 Turbo model with a stick – will be auctioned off for charity.
The production of the final Ford Falcon ute was commemorated with a private staff party for Broadmeadows workers. No members of the media were invited.
Ford Australia producing its last car-based utility forms the poignant bookend on a 55-year run; the first Ford Falcon utility was introduced in 1961, quickly becoming a staple of the country’s car market. In fact, Drive reports that more than 467,000 Ford Falcon utes were produced since its first appearance, although Ford’s history with the popular car-turned-pickup format in Australia stretches back even further, to 1934.
The Broadmeadows plant still has some distance to go before it shutters forever; both it and Ford’s Geelong facility are scheduled to go dark on October 7th, 2016.
It can still be ordered as a standalone option.
A former SEMA star and magazine car.
Disappointing, but not unexpected.
Sales increased 42 percent to 33,513 units during the first eight months of 2025.
With just 825 miles on the clock.
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