1946 Ford Utility Coupe hot rod

Anytime there is only six of something, we can’t help but take notice.

Especially when that something is Buffalo wings, or adult beverages, or in this case—a super-rare 1946 Ford Coupe Utility of Australian descent that we spotted at Summit Racing’s TruckFest last month.

It is one of only six registered in the United States.

Frank Beard, president of Twinsburg, OH-based Motorsports Factory LLC, bought the Australian-made Ute from a hot rodder in Canada who had acquired the vehicle while stationed in Australia as a member of the Canadian military.

The Canadian owner performed the following modifications to this ’46 Ford:

  • Installed a front and independent rear suspension from a Chevy Corvette
  • Dropped in a 4.6-liter Mustang engine to replace the original Flathead
  • Tied a C4 Corvette’s automatic transmission into the powertrain
  • Shaved the door handles and decked the hood
  • Added power door locks
  • Added an aluminum tonneau cover with a power lift
  • Installed a dash from a Ford Thunderbird
  • Installed a tilt steering column
  • Added billet aluminum wheels
  • Painted the exterior
  • Started the new interior, but didn’t finish

Eventually, the Canadian owner got married, bought a home, and had a child. So he put the Ute up for sale.

Beard was vacationing in Canada when he spotted the truck across the street from the restaurant in which he was having dinner.

“I bought the car in the summer of 2001, just before the 9/11 events,” Beard said. “The disaster in New York City that unfolded tightened up border security—creating havoc and severe restrictions on exporting.”

When the Ute finally made its way to Ohio, it came with a load of brand-new Ferraris, he said.

“Pretty good company for the 50-plus-year-old classic,” he said.

Once the Ute was in Beard’s possession, it was time to put his own touches on the truck.

Beard is responsible for the following modifications:

  • The truck’s upper half was painted two-tone purple, and it received a multi-colored belt line by Jerry’s House of Kolors
  • The interior was redone with baseball-glove leather by Portage Trim
  • Installed a Sony entertainment system
  • Reshaped the hood and trimmed out the engine compartment
  • Installed a new gas tank and fuel-delivery system
  • Dropped the ride height one inch
  • Installed a spray-on color-coordinated bed liner

These Ford Utes laid the foundation for companies like Ford and Chevy to introduce the Ranchero and El Camino—utility coupes that are still very popular with a contingent of hot rodders today.

The 1946 model year represents the first year of production following World War II. The Ute was designed to serve as a legitimate work vehicle during the week, but still offer the style families were looking for on their Sunday excursions.

There is something to be said for scarcity. Our aforementioned affinity for things in short supply makes it impossible to not love this rare Australian classic. Plus, we have a soft spot for all things Aussie not named Vegimite.

Get this—this ’46 Ute is for sale. $65,000. So, if you have an extra $64,983 handy, let’s talk about pooling our money.

See more of this beauty below:

Author: Matt Griswold

After a 10-year newspaper journalism career, Matt Griswold spent another decade writing about the automotive aftermarket and motorsports. He was part of the original OnAllCylinders editorial team when it launched in 2012.