The Story of Australia’s Ute 

A national flag, a national anthem, a national flower:  symbols to swell a patriot’s heart with pride. Every country has its national treasures, but Australia must be the only country with a national vehicle. The ute is as Australian as Waltzing Matilda and Uluru, and you can count the Australian streets without one on your fingers and toes. But where did the classic utility vehicle come from, and why has it become such a national obsession, boasting song lyrics, festivals and April Fools’ Day spoofs in its honour?

Smart And Practical

The story goes that the original coupé utility was designed by Ford in 1934. It was created in response to a written request from a Victoria farmer’s wife for a vehicle equally suitable for travelling to church on Sunday and taking sheep to market on Monday.

Although the original ute inspired by this letter was designed by Australian Lew Bandt, pick-up trucks (which are somewhat similar) had been sold over the Pacific for about a decade. Holden got in on the act in the ‘50s and, with two major car companies competing, it wasn’t long before the two-door passenger car with a tray at the back become commonplace, particularly in rural areas.

As a result, Australia’s ute has become a legend, celebrated in country songs and hundreds of ute musters. BMW even created a spoof ute vehicle, based on a factory prototype, to celebrate April Fools’ Day in 2011.

Ultimate Utility

Driven by everyone from farmers to firefighters, utes are the workhorses of the Australian motor scene. Taking out a car loan to buy one can be a great investment for small business owners, as they combine flexible transportation with a comfortable ride. Holden’s HSV Maloo is even a record breaker, with its powerful V8 engine helping to break the speed record for a utility vehicle at 271kms.

They might not be the most glamorous vehicle you’ll ever own, but taking out car finance to buy a ute as a second vehicle can make practical sense. No car can provide the space a ute affords for carrying tools, equipment and yes, even livestock. A standard van, meanwhile, can cost more in insurance and is much more difficult to clean and maintain than a ute.

A Car For The Everyman

As Lee Kernaghan put it in Baptise The Ute, “I saw the ute, I heard the voice, I knew I had to make her mine. Shiny and red on the showroom floor, I scratched my name on the dotted line.” Arranging car finance through 360 Finance can put the money in your pocket before you enter the showroom, giving you more bargaining power and securing the best car loan deal from a wider market than just car showroom financiers.

Whether it’s a high-performance ute for day-to-day use with the odd load, a practical work vehicle or a customised ute for ute musters and B&S balls, a 360 car loan can bring that Australian dream a little closer to becoming a reality.

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