Ok, as some may know, others don't, I am currently in the means of making a road legal Magna Utility (Ute). Labeled the MU11 lol (Magna Utility, Generation 1, Prototype 1)
I'll post the progress etc in here as I go, saves me making a webpage journal as I usually do for everything.

The design is very El Camino style with the rear quarter glass to look into the tray, the main reason for the slanted cabin rear is due to structural strengthening for the B pillar which will be made the flex bearer.
The final product will of course look different, as I'm not skilled enough to create an accurate enough jpeg of the car. The design and all is in my head and I know exactly how to go about it.
I am in the means of trying to find a wagon. Doesn’t matter what model it is, it can be glx TN with only 3cyls going and a half dead auto box, so long as it runs and the car is straight body wise. rust, dents, crap paint, doesn’t matter at this point, this prototype will be the test bed and outlook on what the car will look like when roadworthy.
2 seater red Elite interior with customised bits and pieces to make life easier will be the inside.
Currently in the need for the following
A> Picture of wagon roof inside with no trimming so I can see the ribs of the roof, or information on the weak points of the wagon design/ i.e. load points, stress point. Etc.
B> Picture of underbody of wagon. mainly from under the engine to looking to the rear axle.
C> and the same picture but with a sedan.

lol, it looks a bit funny in the pic, but its definately gonna be unique lol

I had a decent example for his purpose, bar three problems. It doesn't run, due to a defective motor and gearbox, it's in Melbourne, and I've broken a rail...

those rims look cool, what are they and do they actually fit on a first gen or are they for illustration purposes

this is why they made the 2.6L triton with the astron in it

Dude...

too much time on your hands.

those rims look cool, what are they and do they actually fit on a first gen or are they for illustration purposes
no idea what they are, thought white wheels would look cool with yellow paint job... just google 'white wheels' thats how i got the pic, mind you they would be nice if i went yellow paint, but can't see it being yellow in the end.

this is why they made the 2.6L triton with the astron in it
so... name someone with a triton ute.... now name someone with a magna ute... :D

Dude...

too much time on your hands.
yep :D don't be jealous lol

has potential.. i saw a hyundai excel converted into a ute once and it looked kinda tough actually

interesting, but i dont like utes enough to justify turning a magna into one, me i'd rather put the effort into ur current wagon, but hey, it'll be interesting none the less :)

The car to be prototype MU11 has been found. Thanks to EZ Boy from the forum for finding me a seller.
the start of creating will begin hopefully soon with completion of the prototype to be in december of this year... hopefully. time is the factor that will halt me, being ski season most my time will be spent boarding.
Time will now be spent in car yards looking at the designs of other utility vehicles as to how they make the tray work and how there B column is done. may see if i can make mine a lil different to how i plan.
Tailgate design is still an unknown issue as im having trouble deciding on a way of doing it. but im sure the way i was going to do it originally is the best and most practical way.
the tray length is set to be 5' 6" or 1m 67cm which i think is quite sufficient.
will post pics up of the prototype to be when i pick it up hopefully this week.
end plans and outlook so far is a metallic black car with red interior and red tauna cover. lil surprise for how the car will turn out from prototype to production models as money will be spent to make the prod model as yummy as possible :D
well. enjoy, and keep coming back as this one of a kind is made.
edit: ok, in trying to allow others to visualise the rear, as much as i suck with adobe, here is a shocking interprutation of what the tray area will look like. kinda reminds me of the 'lancer ute'

Just don't do your conversion this poorly...

haha, the prototype will somewhat resemble the poor conversion of that landcruiser. but the final result will be in show form. it'll look factory created :D

how much money are u actually going to be investing into this?

if u are wanting to make it look perfect as in came off a production line and looks completely stock, alot of money i believe would need to be invested into this venture.

will the car see much use? is it really going to be worth the money? what else on your current car, or things in your life could use that money? it dosen't all seem worth it to me.

"but i'll have something original"... that will b cool for about a week or 2, then everyone, including you, will get over it. will it just end up as a basher then? y couldnt u just buy a crappy old ute for next to nothing and bash that around? or another rwd car of some sort?

explain all of this to me. y dont u put the money into a reward savers account and let it build up over a few years. let it all build up, then u will have a substantial amount to put towards a boat or car or anything else u need/want. could even go towards a house loan or something.

wise choices are usually the best choices. but hey, its ur money, do wat u want i spose

but hey, its ur money, do wat u want i spose
yep, i will :D

for those who wanted to see, here are the pics before hand.
for those who dont wanna see, bugger off :D
well, i picked up the car to be the mu11 today. yes, it's a mess. but id rather not cut up a perfectly good car... besides panel damage this thing has major leaky exhaust, tappets that'd verse any bamboo shoot choir and a water leak that deems it irreperable and unroadworthy.
so basically, i got what i wanted :)
dunno when i will be starting on it. weather started raining today, so all i could do is remove the roof racks which are now for sale (with key) and remove the left over goodies from the pervious owner. joy. i got a hard cover gregories manual. so i now have 2. joy again.

lol what to say .. it looks angry and from the pic's whatever you do from here is going to improve it least it hasnt got the stock exhaust manifold.

lol what to say .. it looks angry and from the picks whatever you do from here is going to improve it least it hasnt got the stock exhaust manifold.
yeah, it has extractors funny enough. the ugly factory ones. but hey, lol, im gonna remove the muffler and make it sound as mean as it looks. due to panel damage at the front, im going to remove the bar and nose and have only lights, bonnet and panels.
in the end its gonna be cut up and made into an attachment trailer.... so *shrug*
tailgate currently doesnt open, at all, even tried to manually open it, and it seems to be wedged... gonna have fun there. but first things to do is remove all the plastic fantastic stripping that wont be needed. mirrors are going, interior out, engine clean up and get it running atlast for driveability, front removal. slight electrics customising, and then i move on.
but thats starters.

that beast is oozin with potential haha, the model first gen :D but hey, its a start

Awsome :D

Update, 9/7/05
there was one a while ago, but not big enough to be a bump for the thread.
the muffler and tailgate gas struts were removed a while ago, and all the crud removed from the cargo area, that was about 3-4 weeks ago.
today the 9th i didnt think id be doing anything, but managaed to removed
all of the dash, so cluster, guages., steering colum, steering wheel, centre console, and alot of the electrics.
this is now all junk, so inevitably, for sale.
i am willing to let the entire interior go, that is seats, trimming, all you need to make your interior the dark blue color for only 20$
so if you hae the cruddy brown color, here's your chance to upgrade!
so the car has now had some weight reduction done :D all the electrics are fine.... like that matters.
and i have now done a large chunk of making this project get off the ground.
mind you the car would be a shell right now if i didnt own so many damn cars and had no room for this one. so it being 2hrs away only allows me to get so much done at a time.
well, thats my update. if you want all te interior, its not completely removed yet, but is for sale and if ure in sydney i can even help ya put it in :D
enjoy.

hey man its good to see your a motivated person but this is taking to a little too far. Im sorry but you wont ever get it road registered. When you start cutting away at that car your taking away the crumple zone, no engineer is going to let that pass. I think you should carefully think about what your doing with this thing and re read some of the wise posts in this thread! Im not trying to cut you down but rather just giving you a neutral perspective on this thing. hows about putting the money into a uni degree or something that would be useful. I mean im all for being original but this project is just asking for trouble and deep pockets that will eventually leave with bugger all at the end of it.

dunno how many times ive said this.
the prototype is costing nothing........ period.
the prototype as stated is to see if the car can work as an on road vehicle.
No money what so ever is being put into the prototype!!!!
and fyi, the crumple zone is not being removed. the design of any ute is exactly the same as a station wagon with a reinforced B pillar which is what I am creating for it. I have already talked to several engineers who do conversion with sedans to tray backs, and they all state, what i am doing is far easier due to not removing any major part of the body, with the roof design of the wagon it has enough strength to endure even a roll on its roof!
i wouldnt be doing this if A: i couldnt, and B: it couldnt be done.


*no more info posted on here, sick of double posting, all new info go here.* (http://www.classiccarcruises.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=11)