Quote:
Originally Posted by warren brown
Hello Brains Trust!
As I understand it, during the '50s and '60s Willys Motors had an assembly plant in Brisbane, Queensland - and as part of some local input agreement, there was some sort of requirement for Australian content - and a deal was struck with Ford Australia, fitting CJ5s with six-cylinder Ford Falcon engines (initially 144 ci OHV). These were linked up with specific bell-housings to the standard three-speed CJ5 jeep gearbox and drive train .
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I don't know much about your brother's jeep other than what you have posted, but just wanted to add a bit more to the Jeep/Ford partnership. The "Jeep" parent company had a potted history, and at the time of the Combat 6 CJ5 was owned by Kaiser, the Australian operations of which went belly up in the late 60's. They were declared bankrupt while still owing Ford Australia payment for the Aussie-sourced engines. To recoup part of the debt, Ford took possession of Kaiser Australia's remaining stock of gearboxes, transfers and diffs/axles and used them to create 432 4wd XY Falcon Utilities.
Ford had sold standard 2wd XY Falcon Utes to the Aust Army and thought there might be a market to sell them a 4wd version. Unfortunately, the Aust Army had already discounted the Jeep vehicle in earlier trials and was not interested in anything using a Jeep drivetrain. They were sold on the civilian market, but were not a commercial success.
Following the collapse of Kaiser Australia in 1969, there was not a Jeep assembly presence in Australia until the then owner of the Jeep brand, American Motors, re-opened a brisbane factory in 1980.
There is one of these 4wd Falcons listed (and pictured) in a clearing sale already mentioned on this forum, the sale at Louth:
http://www.landmarkharcourts.com.au/...gSales/View/29
Anyway, back to your brother's CJ5!
19-06-11, 16:11
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