Alternative AU concepts

[Steve]

Hey guys,
As with most new models, manufacturers normally consider more than one style concept. When the AU was being considered, surely there must've been other style directions thrown about. Are there any pics floating around of any such concept or was the AU styling, one given from above from the outset?

[Raptor]

There's a few sketches in this thread; http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11390802

Maybe not AU but think of what could have been.

[Steve]

Cool. I asked because the AU, to one degree or another, has set the general style for everything that came after it. Had we had a different starting point, the current car would most likely be a totally different looking one.

[satria]

One picture I would love to see again was a small one I found in a WHEELS or MOTOR magazine I had when I was a kid. It was the concept AU V8 Supercar and it had a pretty crazy front bumper, from memory it looked wicked (to me as a kid anyway). The actual V8 Supercar ended up getting a toned down version of it.

If I recall correctly it was silver and the pic was taken at an indoor car show. Anyone got the pic?

[Fordman1]

Believe me.

The Alternate clays were uglier than the AU Mk 1 Forte.

[satria]

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

Believe me.

The Alternate clays were uglier than the AU Mk 1 Forte.

Well that's easy because the AU was widely recognised as being beautiful!

[FalconXV]

I entered that competition when I was 10, when I thought the AU was awesome. Those aren't alternative concepts, they are entries for the Wheels Young Designer of the Year competition, which Nick Hogios won.
I have been looking for that issue for years.

[Nikked]

Yep, America had a few idea's for what they wanted. Uglier then the AU. The very first AU concepts looked alot like an EL actually, before the went down the 'Edge' design style.

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by Nikked

Yep, America had a few idea's for what they wanted. Uglier then the AU. The very first AU concepts looked alot like an EL actually, before the went down the 'Edge' design style.

There were some designs that looked like something out of "Alien".

[fgpsi]

While we're here can we have the sketches of the full fgx fpv range

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by fgpsi

While we're here can we have the sketches of the full fgx fpv range

Lol, good luck with that

[fgpsi]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

Lol, good luck with that

Eventually we'll get to see them

[Chopped]

Extremely rare pics of the first GTHO AU prototype







(Pinched from LS1)

[Trump]

Originally Posted by Chopped

Extremely rare pics of the first GTHO AU prototype

image

image

image

(Pinched from LS1)

[nstg8a]

The body kit is also made from timber...

[Road Games]

Originally Posted by Chopped

Extremely rare pics of the first GTHO AU prototype

image

image

image

(Pinched from LS1)

*koff*

[GTENVY]

Originally Posted by Chopped

Extremely rare pics of the first GTHO AU prototype

image

image

image

(Pinched from LS1)

Oh my god, that hurt my eyes. Seriously, there should have been an OH&S warning prior to putting that up.

Rich

[Syndrome]

What will happen to all documents, drawings, concept designs, clay models etc when Ford ceases local production? This history should be saved and not turfed into a bin.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

What will happen to all documents, drawings, concept designs, clay models etc when Ford ceases local production? This history should be saved and not turfed into a bin.

The design studio is staying put so it will all stay there, and i'm sure they have archives where they keep all the old design work.

[Dauphin]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

The design studio is staying put so it will all stay there, and i'm sure they have archives where they keep all the old design work.

Hopefully it will be offered to an author one day when production ends who can write a definitive book about the Australian Ford Falcon from start to end. They will sell thousands of copies I am sure.

[jpblue1000]

Originally Posted by Dauphin

Hopefully it will be offered to an author one day when production ends who can write a definitive book about the Australian Ford Falcon from start to end. They will sell thousands of copies I am sure.

Problem is they need to sell tens of thousands to make it worthwhile writing a book!
HAHAHaaa ...yeah

[Paull]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

What will happen to all documents, drawings, concept designs, clay models etc when Ford ceases local production? This history should be saved and not turfed into a bin.

I visited the Ford archives back in 2007. At that time, they had truck loads of boxes in a holding area. Adrian Ryan told me that they were EL design documents and as 7 Years had passed, they were in preparation for throwing out. He said Ford would only hold that stuff (hard copies), for 7 years. You would think however, that they would keep everything in soft copy.

[XR Martin]

Original AU concept looked alot like this.

[Uninvitedgest]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Original AU concept looked alot like this.

image

That looks awesome what could have been.....

[AUwindsor]

the flared quarter panels on the black one above look good. front is too overkill

[ozpacman]

That black AU must have been owned by an employee at the Bunnings store in the pic. No one could afford to pay full retail for that much chain without the benefit of a staff discount!

Hopefully he got a good deal on the towel rail for the front spoiler as well . . .

[flooded one]

that black AU used to be yellow and blue.

[malazn mafia]

If only the BA was the AU. Dimensionally and stylistically if you sit a BA Falcon next to an EL Fairmont, you can see a design progression.

[CobraJet351]

The AU was ahead of its age. I personally think, with a few minor alterations in styling and a bit of imagination, the AU looks like a progression of the BA.

[Dauphin]

If I recall correctly, the True Blue book has some good stuff about how we got to the AU:

http://www.amazon.com/True-Blue-Year.../dp/1875359729