Conrod's new Sundowner

[conrod]

The Sundowner has landed a small role moonlighting as a Paddy Wagon in a TV mini series set in the 1970's. I put some standard steel wheels on (so that it didn't look like something out of the original Mad Max movie!) and refitted all of the parts I had taken off. Sorry I can't show it in Police drag, I am not allowed to! It peformed like a pro last night on its first mission





I do not have it road registered in NZ yet, so had to trailer it to the shoot, the irony being that my tow vehicle is actually an old Police van!

[conrod]

Dragged the two vans out on Saturday, I haven't driven or done anything on them in ages, as I have been so busy. Anyway, gave them both a good cleanup, fitted the freshly painted wheels and new tyres to the Sundowner, and then me and a mate drove back and forth to the All Ford Day so I could put them in the "Transit only parking" stand:) Managed to get 5x Mk2's and 2x Mk1's on display, probably a record for NZ!

[Altransit]

The Sundowner has landed a small role moonlighting as a Paddy Wagon in a TV mini series set in the 1970's. I put some standard steel wheels on (so that it didn't look like something out of the original Mad Max movie!) and refitted all of the parts I had taken off. Sorry I can't show it in Police drag, I am not allowed to! It peformed like a pro last night on its first mission





I do not have it road registered in NZ yet, so had to trailer it to the shoot, the irony being that my tow vehicle is actually an old Police van!

I missed this when you posted it Great pictures, and liking the Transit with its period wheels

Have they shown the series yet Do you know if we'll see it in the UK

[conrod]

I missed this when you posted it Great pictures, and liking the Transit with its period wheels

Have they shown the series yet Do you know if we'll see it in the UK

The white 8 spoke wheels are what my van had fitted when new, it was one of the extras fitted to the Sundowner. TV series has not been shown yet. Probably be a NZ only programme, although quite possibly will be viewable on the interweb. Might have another movie gig coming up soon for one or both Transits, this will be made in NZ, but set in 1980 in London of all places!

BTW, this was only the second time I have actually driven the Sundowner since I bought it. Was terrible the first time, could not go over 80kph due to a bad vibration. With new tyres fitted vibration was gone, and it drove really well, felt really good for an old bus. Steering is effing heavy at parking speed though!

[Altransit]

I love these series set in the 60's to 80's, so please let us know when you know what they are going to be called.

I love seeing all the old restored vehicles that they seem to manage to find

[transitandy]

I love these series set in the 60's to 80's, so please let us know when you know what they are going to be called.

I love seeing all the old restored vehicles that they seem to manage to find

X2

[conrod]

a couple more pics a friend sent me from Sunday's show:

[conrod]

To those who asked, here is the series my vans were used in. The Mk1 is fairly obvious,and in both programmes, the Sundowner is the paddy wagon in Ep.3:

http://www.tv3.co.nz/WESTSIDE-Season-1- ... fault.aspx

http://www.tv3.co.nz/WESTSIDE-Season-1- ... fault.aspx

[conrod]

Here is the last episode that the Sundowner appears in. It is the armoured cash van that is stolen, and later has the doors blown off, as well as a few body parts from the explosives expert!

******** no Transits were harmed in the making of this production****************

http://www.tv3.co.nz/WESTSIDE-Season-1- ... fault.aspx

I have just found and bought another Sundowner. Sneak peek here, more to follow

[Altransit]

Have you considered Transitaholics anonymous

[Altransit]

To those who asked, here is the series my vans were used in. The Mk1 is fairly obvious,and in both programmes, the Sundowner is the paddy wagon in Ep.3:

http://www.tv3.co.nz/WESTSIDE-Season-1- ... fault.aspx

http://www.tv3.co.nz/WESTSIDE-Season-1- ... fault.aspx

We're not allowed to watch it over here

[DodgeRover]

Blimey another one! Any idea what the total production run was?

[conrod]

:roll: Have you considered Transitaholics anonymous

I do get a bit of ribbing over it:) Three Transits at the moment, although I have been up to four at one stage! Always wanted a Sundowner, and this one I have just bought looks like a rare colour, of what is already a very rare van

To those who asked, here is the series my vans were used in. The Mk1 is fairly obvious,and in both programmes, the Sundowner is the paddy wagon in Ep.3:

http://www.tv3.co.nz/WESTSIDE-Season-1- ... fault.aspx

http://www.tv3.co.nz/WESTSIDE-Season-1- ... fault.aspx

We're not allowed to watch it over here

Bugger, I thought it might be geo blocked There are ways to get around it so you can watch, here is one of them :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odZKZSytTt0

[conrod]

Blimey another one! Any idea what the total production run was?

Of the Sundowner? It seems there were only 140 vans built in total. I have started a bit of a register of them. I have 12 vans on it so far, although most are restoration projects, only one or two are usable. Of that, all were 1978 built, except the one I have just bought, which is a 1979 build. I think there would be less than 30 survivors now. I have written to Ford Australia trying to find out some more details about them,colours, years of production, options etc. & still waiting for a reply.

They can still be bought for quite cheap, and do not seem to have attracted the high prices that the Escort and Falcon Sundowner vans are getting. That said, I have been searching for years for one, without seeing any for sale, then recently there have been several for sale, including the white one you put me on to Several of them have had the stripes removed, and the owners do not know what they have, just selling them as regular Transit vans.

[RustWidow]

Well done conrod, you're saving them!