Project : Fairmont Ghia ute!!! - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

02-03-2002, 16:08

Hi all,

I'm toying with the idea of making a Fairmont Ghia ute.. AU. If the project goes ahead, it will have the full Ghia front end (bonnet, headlights, grill, bumper assemblies), full Ghia badging, Ghia wheels. Interior-wise, it will have full Ghia leather interior, the "high-line" Ghia dash, Ghia door trims, all Ghia controls (including cruise control). Also thinking about transplanting the VCT motor too, but not sure on this one...

Does anyone know if all this will fit straight on? Are the doors on the ute identical to the sedan doors? (Just trying to work out whether any modifications will be required for the Ghia door trims to fit).

I suppose the best way to do this project would be finding a Fairmont Ghia which had been rear-ended (and written off), and buying an AU XLS ute. ..Or will the XLT do?

Keenly awaiting your replies :)

G!

PigDog · 02-03-2002, 16:22

Sounds like a pretty cool idea actually. Tho instead of stuffing around trying to put a VCT engine just grab a ute with the 175kW V8 engine (should be pleanty of those around!), optional in Fairmont Ghia :s5

AusXH · 02-03-2002, 16:28

Sounds like a great idea. I'd imagine all the parts would fit without a problem, but not 100% on that.

It's be anoying if after you finnish this project the Barra has a fairmont ute...

Welcome to the boards, and have fun. :s5

RAPTOR · 02-03-2002, 16:37

Yep, can be done, I have seen one.

I hope your weren't hoping on being the first. It was in Victoria, silver, sorry no pics. It looked real good though. Doors, dash etc all the same ute-sedan.

Broady Boy · 02-03-2002, 19:08

Yep front doors are the same for all models. Ditto for front guards with respect to sedan and ute

.

The Ghia bonnet is different than the ute bonnet (ute is the same as AUI Forte) so this is the only problem you may encounter?

02-04-2002, 10:08

Yep, I am aware of the different bonnets. Remember that the front bumpers will also be different - I plan to transplant this too.

Out of interest, how much would a wrecked AU Series I Fairmont Ghia fetch? (Rear end damage preferable, as long as the front end and front doors/interior is perfect).

Also, are the Ghia brakes any bigger/better than the ute? Is ABS easy to transplant, if the AU ute I buy doesn't have ABS?

What about cruise/climate control? Easy to transplant?

G!

Road Warrior · 02-05-2002, 03:47

Why dont you make a Fairlane ute.

"Hey, look there goes a TL50 ute!":s5

02-05-2002, 15:07

Hmmm. Fairlane Ghia ute. Sounds interesting...

How easily would the Fairlane panels fit? Surely there would be a bit of modification required to fit 'em on? (Isn't the Fairlane wider, with a longer bonnet?).

Oooh actually, the Fairlane is based on the Falcon wagon (which in turn was the base for the AU ute?), innit?

Mmm. Interesting. This has got the creative juices flowing..

G!

botch · 02-07-2002, 00:42

cruise control is the same for utes and sedans. The only differece in series one au's (all models) use a different plug on the steering colomn switches. but this shouldnt be a problem if you are transplanting all the stuff from one car to another.

the climate control should be the same as above, rember to get all the sensors and stuff out of ghia. A/c system runs the same compressor, condensor, evap & hoses on all au models, but the evap will have the extra controls for climate control

Road Warrior · 02-07-2002, 05:05

A Fairlane ute would look sensational, would look damn tough too if you did it right.

Front sheetmetal will bolt straight onto the ute body. There is no difference in shell width.