Clinton Hornes' 1934 coupe ute is a masterpiece of careful modification and a testament to his passion for early Ford vehicles. First featured in Street Machine's Hot Rod magazine #1 in 2004, this rare Aussie coupe ute is a stunning example of a nostalgic rod in the style of the 1960s. Clinton's journey began with a deep-rooted connection to the Ford family, as his parents and brother all owned 1933 or 1934 Ford models. His love for these cars started early, and he was determined to own one of his own. When he spotted a 1934 coupe ute at a Melbourne swap meet, he knew it was meant for him. Despite the rarity of the vehicle, Clinton was prepared to sacrifice his XW Falcon GT replica to acquire it. Upon bringing it home, he discovered a complete body, minus the tailgate, with a previous owner's modifications. Clinton envisioned a nostalgic rod in the 1960s style, but he also wanted to drag race it, creating a dilemma. He decided to focus on the racing aspect, tubbing the ute to accommodate racing tires, but soon realized the challenges of maintaining a dual-purpose vehicle. He ended up dropping the race idea and focusing on the road-worthy aspects. The foundation of the rare Aussie ute is built on original 1934 chassis rails, tubbed three inches, stepped up three inches at the rear, and braced by custom crossmembers. A custom four-bar setup is used under the rear, with a Falcon Watts link mounted on the front of the nine-inch diff, along with Firestone airbags and Monroe gas shocks. Up front, an HR Holden cross-member, chopped and sectioned, runs custom stainless wishbones, Firestone airbags, and stainless shocks. The body of the ute is a result of meticulous work, mainly by Laurie Gray, who fabricated the stainless bed liners, crafted the hard tonneau, and smoothed the rear pan with its inset license plate and '59 Caddy bullet tail-lamps and turn signals. Clinton chose the Surfer Orange color, inspired by Ford's 1970 XW concept ute, the Surferoo. Inside, Pat Mesiti of Sunshine Motor Trimming crafted the pearl white vinyl with traditional tuck-and-roll and orange piping. The interior features a custom bench seat, black carpets, a Hurst Indy shifter, an XR Falcon steering wheel, and Stewart Warner Wings-series dials. The engine is a powerhouse, boasting a 302 Windsor type with a standard 302 Windsor crank, 289 Windsor rods, TRW forged pistons, 302 Windsor heads, Manley stainless 351 Windsor valves, and a John Knight custom-grind cam. It's dressed to thrill with chromed and finned rocker covers, an air cleaner, and a full set of shiny accessories. The drivetrain includes a four-speed top loader, a shortened XW Falcon tailshaft, a nine-inch limited-slip differential with 4.11 gears, and a combination of P76 discs and Holden HQ calipers for braking. Clinton completed his unique ute in time for the Valla Rod Run in September 2003 and has since become a regular sight at rod runs around Victoria, racking up 10,000 trouble-free kilometers. It drives like a dream, living up to its status as a dream come true.
