1969 Ford GTS 350

sgo · 15-04-2021, 11:03 AM

I'm aware of a new HT Monaro GTS purchased in late 1969 by Ford Broadmeadows from GMH in Port Melb.
I don't expect it's unusual for companies to obtain the oppositions product, but am curious if anyone has any knowledge of how these vehicles were used or what their usual fate was after they served their purpose?
If anyone has any details on this it would be much appreciated?
cheers; sgo.

**Polyal** · 15-04-2021, 11:24 AM

I can answer that in modern terms.

Yes competitor vehicles are routinely bought for comparison testing and evaluation.

In my time with them I personally drove cars to Holden/HSV, we would borrow a car in return for one of ours (or not). If it was just eval then usually returned in a week, if it was required for testing then they are bought and torn down.

Was good times cruising up the highway, grabbed a Statesman for the last Fairlane testing, a HSV for some FG XR8 eval etc..good times, I was a young bloke too (early 20's), promise I treated them well.

Citroënbender · 15-04-2021, 11:46 AM

Imagine if this were a prerequisite for marriage!

jaydee · 15-04-2021, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Imagine if this were a prerequisite for marriage!

Try before you buy.

ford71V8 · 15-04-2021, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Imagine if this were a prerequisite for marriage!

It is, isnt it?!

Citroënbender · 15-04-2021, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ford71V8

It is, isnt it?!

In small towns, definitely how it seems!

BENT_8 · 15-04-2021, 02:45 PM

I recall back in around 2002 the Toyota dealership i worked for supplied a Hilux to the GMH plant at Elizabeth for what i vaguely remembering being about leak testing of door seals.

Bossxr8 · 15-04-2021, 04:17 PM

They are called benchmarking cars. Ford has a whole fleet of them to do side by side evaluations on with their new products.

Sometimes they are completely torn down, and piece by piece they are costed to know how much their competitors spend. Or as a way of seeing how their rivals save money on building them.

Dr Smith · 15-04-2021, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

They are called benchmarking cars. Ford has a whole fleet of them to do side by side evaluations on with their new products.

Sometimes they are completely torn down, and piece by piece they are costed to know how much their competitors spend. Or as a way of seeing how their rivals save money on building them.

You can probably confirm this but IIRC, Ford Aust imported the first ever X5 before the local BMW importers got to see one.

And Geoff Polites let some of the engineers see his XR6T eval. vehicle while on an industry meeting at Holden HQ in Fishy Bend...stories of rubber laid on departure...

wodahs · 15-04-2021, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

In small towns, definitely how it seems!

but i never took full ownership of anything from a small town

and i lived in a few

foxtrot3 · 15-04-2021, 06:53 PM

Hi. When I worked for a mazda dealer in melbournes northern suburbs ford purchased 3 mazda 323s from us prior to the release of the laser/meteor range. When the office sent out first service reminder letters some one at ford rang back to book in 1 car for service and told us that another would be coming in in the future, once it was put back together and the other had been cut up to see how mazda had made the body from the floorpan up. When the second car came in it had all ford lights and front panels on it. Cheers MD

BENT_8 · 15-04-2021, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

And Geoff Polites let some of the engineers see his XR6T eval. vehicle while on an industry meeting at Holden HQ in Fishy Bend...stories of rubber laid on departure...

That would have been priceless if accurate, imagine the collective gulp as they realised the performance market was about to be turned on its head.

Bossxr8 · 16-04-2021, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

You can probably confirm this but IIRC, Ford Aust imported the first ever X5 before the local BMW importers got to see one.

And Geoff Polites let some of the engineers see his XR6T eval. vehicle while on an industry meeting at Holden HQ in Fishy Bend...stories of rubber laid on departure...

Sounds about right. I know they had a deep look at the X5 as inspiration.

We always get cars from overseas long before they go on sale here. Probably purchase them from the home market they go on sale in first, before they become available in export markets. I actually wouldn't be surprised if they had arrangements with other manufacturers to get some of the first cars built. They scratch each others backs with deals like this. It's give and take.