By Corporal Simone Liebelt
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CPL
Nathan Reed from 75SQN takes out the Best Feral Ute Award
at the Katherine Show with his 1982 Ford Falcon XE.
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Photo by LAC Greg Pierce
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IT’S
dirty, rough and loud, but that’s what makes this “feral”
ute a winner for owner Corporal Nathan Reed, from RAAF Base Tindal.
The 1982 Ford Falcon XE claimed first prize in the feral ute contest
at the Katherine Show, held on July 15.
Corporal Reed said his V8 beast scored top points with its roaring
exhaust – which deafened the judges – and rough-around-the-edges
exterior.
“In the feral ute category, it basically has to be noisy
and dirty, with lots of mud on it, dints and scratches and lots
of stickers as well,” he said.
“Some people even go to the trouble of putting animal carcasses
in the back, but I’m not really keen on that idea.
“I’m actually hoping to sell it to the producers of
Mad Max 4 to use in the new movie they are making.”
He also claimed the feral ute award at the Pine Creek show two
weeks earlier.
The aircraft technician – and self-confessed dodgy backyard
mechanic – from No. 75 Squadron said it took him three years
to restore the ute to feral show condition, in what was a laborious
and expensive mission.
“I’ve always built cars over the years, and I enjoy
it, but sometimes I wonder why I do it to myself,” he said.
“Sometimes I hate the thing, especially when I have to fix
it.
“I wouldn’t like to add up what it’s cost me, it’s
a bit scary to think about.
“I initially rebuilt this car in about three months from
a bare shell, but I wasn’t happy with it, so I did it again.
This time it took me three years.
“I stripped it back down again, replaced all the rear quarter
panels, bonnet and front guards, painted it and got all the upholstery
done.
“It’s got a combination of XE, XF XG and XA Falcon parts
on it, as well as a bit of Mustang, so I suppose you could say
it’s a ‘bitsa’.
“It’s got a solid five-post bull bar, which I built
myself but never bothered to polish, so it’s pretty rough.
“I also made up the back bumper bar, which is half finished
... there’s a lot of things on it that are half finished.
It’s been going to B&S balls for quite a few years so
it’s always been feral. One day I might get around to polishing
the bull bar.”
His next project is to rebuild a 1970 V8 XW Falcon, which he hopes
to enter into the Variety Club Bash to raise money for sick and
disadvantaged children in Australia.
“In order to enter the 1970 ute in the Variety Bash, I will
need to raise $4500 through sponsorship and other means,”
he said.
“The best thing about Variety as a charity is that 98 per
cent of funds raised go to that charity, so it will be a worthwhile
project to carry out.”
