Lewis Thornet Bandt (26 February 1910 – 18 March 1987)[1][2] was an Australian car designer, most famous for designing and building the first ute (coupé utility) cars in the 1930s.
Bandt was born the eldest of five children in the South Australian town of Moonta. The family moved to Adelaide after World War I, and in 1924 he began a fitting and turning apprenticeship with Duncan & Fraser Ltd who specialised in modifying Model T Fords.[2]
He moved to Victoria in 1927 and worked for the Melbourne Motor Body & Assembling Company. In 1929 he moved to the Ford factory in Geelong as the subsidiary's first designer.[2]
Ute designedit
The design of the ute was a result of a 1932 letter from an unnamed Victorian farmer's wife asking for "a vehicle to go to church in on a Sunday and which can carry our pigs to market on Mondays".[1] In response, Bandt developed the ute and the model called a "coupe utility" at the time was released in 1934.[1] When the Australian version was displayed in the US, Henry Ford nicknamed it the "Kangaroo Chaser". A convertible version, known as the roadster utility was produced in limited numbers by Ford in the 1930s.[3][4]
Later careeredit
During World War II, Bandt helped to design long-range fuel tanks for Spitfire and Thunderbolt fighter planes.[1] He also worked on design innovations for the UK-sourced Ford Zephyr, the 1967 Australian Ford Fairlane, and the never-approved Falcon convertible, of which six were built outside Ford in 1962.[1]
Personal lifeedit
Bandt married Nellie Rowe on 6 September 1941. He was a lifelong member of the Methodist (later Uniting) Church. He was known for his charity work. Lewis and Nellie had three daughters: Sylvia, Val and Ros. Later in life he also had four grandchildren: Brad, Tate, Eden and Joe. He was an accomplished artist, and painted Ford’s nativity scene at Christmas.[5] He retired in 1975.
Deathedit
Bandt was killed on 18 March 1987, while coming home from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation television studios where he had been recording a documentary about the ute. He was driving a 1934 model home when he collided with a truck near Bannockburn. He was survived by his wife and three daughters.[5]
^ abcdeWarner, Gary (8 August 1999). . Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
^ abcVeltri, Damian (2007). Bandt, Louis Thornett (Lewis) (1910–1987). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 5 July 2015. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^. Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
^"History". pickuptrucks.com. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
^ ab"A Tribute to Influential Australian Christians". 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
January 01, 1970
lewis, bandt, lewis, thornet, bandt, february, 1910, march, 1987, australian, designer, most, famous, designing, building, first, coupé, utility, cars, 1930s, contents, early, life, design, later, career, personal, life, death, referencesearly, life, editbandt. Lewis Thornet Bandt 26 February 1910 18 March 1987 1 2 was an Australian car designer most famous for designing and building the first ute coupe utility cars in the 1930s Contents 1 Early life 2 Ute design 3 Later career 4 Personal life 5 Death 6 ReferencesEarly life editBandt was born the eldest of five children in the South Australian town of Moonta The family moved to Adelaide after World War I and in 1924 he began a fitting and turning apprenticeship with Duncan amp Fraser Ltd who specialised in modifying Model T Fords 2 He moved to Victoria in 1927 and worked for the Melbourne Motor Body amp Assembling Company In 1929 he moved to the Ford factory in Geelong as the subsidiary s first designer 2 Ute design editThe design of the ute was a result of a 1932 letter from an unnamed Victorian farmer s wife asking for a vehicle to go to church in on a Sunday and which can carry our pigs to market on Mondays 1 In response Bandt developed the ute and the model called a coupe utility at the time was released in 1934 1 When the Australian version was displayed in the US Henry Ford nicknamed it the Kangaroo Chaser A convertible version known as the roadster utility was produced in limited numbers by Ford in the 1930s 3 4 Later career editDuring World War II Bandt helped to design long range fuel tanks for Spitfire and Thunderbolt fighter planes 1 He also worked on design innovations for the UK sourced Ford Zephyr the 1967 Australian Ford Fairlane and the never approved Falcon convertible of which six were built outside Ford in 1962 1 Personal life editBandt married Nellie Rowe on 6 September 1941 He was a lifelong member of the Methodist later Uniting Church He was known for his charity work Lewis and Nellie had three daughters Sylvia Val and Ros Later in life he also had four grandchildren Brad Tate Eden and Joe He was an accomplished artist and painted Ford s nativity scene at Christmas 5 He retired in 1975 Death editBandt was killed on 18 March 1987 while coming home from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation television studios where he had been recording a documentary about the ute He was driving a 1934 model home when he collided with a truck near Bannockburn He was survived by his wife and three daughters 5 In 2008 the Lewis Bandt Bridge which crosses the Moorabool River as part of the Geelong Ring Road was opened and named in his honour References edit a b c d e Warner Gary 8 August 1999 Who built the first utility where when Archived from the original on 29 May 2015 Retrieved 5 July 2015 a b c Veltri Damian 2007 Bandt Louis Thornett Lewis 1910 1987 Australian Dictionary of Biography Retrieved 5 July 2015 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help Page Title Archived from the original on 9 October 2012 Retrieved 5 July 2015 History pickuptrucks com Retrieved 18 April 2023 a b A Tribute to Influential Australian Christians 2010 Retrieved 5 July 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lewis Bandt amp oldid 1150508324, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
