Vital Statistics |
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| Make: | Ford |
| Model: | 1980 XD Sundowner panel van |
| Engine: | 302 ci Cleveland V8 |
| Gearbox: | 4 speed single rail |
| Mumbo Sticker: | V8 MUMBO |
About the same time this Ford XD Sundowner panel van rolled off the production line a tee shirt hit the stands that proclaimed "Old Fords Never Die - They Just Go Faster!". Never a truer word was spoken in the case of this particular old Ford because ever since it found it's way into the hands of owners Terry and Sandi Nostrini in 1988 this panel van has just been getting faster and better.
It seems that Terry has always had a soft spot for Ford cars and panel vans in particular. Needing a new work car in 1988, Terry parted company with his modified Escort panel van and headed north to Geraldton to check out the Sundowner on the advice of a friend.
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Arriving in Geraldton, the Sundowner immediately caught Terry's attention due to the previous female owner having lavished care and attention on the van to the tune of $20,000. Aside from various mechanical improvements she had decked out the rear of the van and painted horse murals down on both sides and on the tail gate. The name "Wildfire" had been given to the van by virtue of an engraved plaque on the passenger side crash pad. |
A decade later and Wildfire is starting to show the effects of 10 years service as Terry's work vehicle. Inspired by its modified past, Terry knew that the time had come to see what this car could become.
