Behind the Wheel: 1934 Ford Coupe Ute Hot Rod

"My husband and I can't afford a car and a truck but we need a car to go to church on Sunday and a truck to take the pigs to market on Monday. Can you help?" This letter, supposedly sent by a Gippsland farmer to the Ford Motor Company in 1933, is the myth (never truly verified) behind the creation of the 1934 Ford Coupe Utility by young designer Lew Bandt. This design laid the foundations for a much loved Australian icon - the ute. Very few of this very first generation of ute survive today (the Museum also has one in poor but original and unrestored condition)... at one point this Hot Rod was believed to be the only one left! The model's creator, Lew Bandt, was killed in a tragic accident at the wheel of his own restored '34 Coupe Ute in 1987. Converted to be a Hot Rod in the 1970s, this car has a long list of non-original features, including bits from later Chryslers and Holdens. Step behind the wheel with Matt and Nigel and take a closer look at this important landmark in Australia's motoring history.

Added 13 Jul 2026