On today’s episode of Aussie Garage, we catch up with Fred and his one-of-a-kind XC Ford Sundowner Panel Van—a mythical machine that turns heads wherever it goes.
Fred’s journey with this van began back in the early 2000s when he rescued it from a rusted-out shell. Rather than restoring it to original factory specs, Fred took a different route: he rebuilt the Sundowner to reflect his own bold and creative vision.
The result? A show-stopping masterpiece painted in Purple Thistle Pearl, a colour that absolutely pops in the sunlight and demands attention. Under the hood, it’s powered by a trusty 351 Cleveland V8, matched to a T5 manual gearbox, and running an XH 2.92 diff ratio with disc brakes—all carefully chosen for performance and street cred.
Inside, Fred didn’t hold back either. The interior’s been fully retrimmed, featuring AU Falcon seats up front and a custom rear setup with magenta inserts. Adding to its mythical status is a collection of purple dragon accents throughout the van, giving it a fantasy flair you won’t find anywhere else.
This Sundowner isn’t just for show—it’s seen plenty of action at Van Nationals events across the country. And coming up in April 2025, it’ll be making its way to Mildura for the 50th Van Nationals, ready to impress all over again.
But Fred’s garage isn’t all about this iconic van—he’s also the proud owner of not one, but two rare Ford Edsel’s. Want to know more? We’ll be checking those out in our next episode of Aussie Garage, so stay tuned!
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XC Ford Falcon Sundowner Surfboard Yellow
Limited Edition only 20 per design will be made XC Ford Falcon Sundowner Surfboard – Yellow (Licensed Ford Products)
$999.00 + Freight
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