(Australia) A type of vehicle largely unique to Australasia, based upon a coupé utility with its design derived from that of the car company's (generally) large passenger car. Originally from the mid-1950s and used for commercial and goods transport use, they eventually became popular by young men (especially
surfie culture) in the mid-late 1970s) as both a camper vehicle or a mobile boudoir. Built by GM Holden (
Kingswood, Sandman), Ford Australia(Falcon,
Sundowner) and Chrysler Australia (Valiant, Drifter), the recreational variants being the latter name in the brackets.
"Hey, check out
Bob's rusted-out
Falcon panel van."
"Well, somehow it's still chuggin' along 30 years later"!
