Ford F-Series for Oz

Queensland-based vehicle importer Performax International has announced it will double its annual sales by ramping up production of right-hand drive conversions for the Ford F-250 and F-350 pick-up trucks.

And it's enlisted two ex-GM Holden engineers to add polish to the conversions.

Expected to be priced from the high $120,000 bracket, similar to the converted Chevrolet Silverado models, the new Ford pick-ups are expected to be sold via Performax dealerships nationally in 2014.

Performax currently sells around 300 vehicles per year, chiefly US imports converted to RHD, and plans to sell the same number of F-Series trucks in 2014, with the F-250 expected to be the most popular model.

The Australian company says it has been given the green-light to convert a lot more than 300 F-Series vehicles, claiming it "recently won Federal Government approval for full-volume (unlimited) production of the Ford Super Duty". That includes the Ford Super Duty F-250 and F-350 pick-ups in Australia.

The Queensland company has found a profitable niche converting large pick-up trucks and US muscle cars to RHD for Australian customers. The former are finding favour with buyers who need to tow oversized/heavy trailers.

By adding more Ford trucks to it repertoire, the company will offer several big pick-ups, including the Chevy Silverado, Dodge Ram and Toyota Tundra.

"The Ford Super Duty project is aimed to eventually double production volume at Performax International to around 600 vehicles a year and to achieve this we need to install the latest factory systems," said Performax International General Manager Glenn Soper.

He said the appointment of two experienced mechanical engineers from Holden highlighted the company's desire to produce factory-quality conversions.

"The F-250 and F-350 project has been a long time coming, but we know there is enormous interest in these products from business and private users in Australia," said Soper.

Performax International's factory in Gympie, near the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, is being upgraded to cope with the doubling of production and even has an eye on export markets.

"Performax is placed to not only consolidate itself as the industry leader in Australia but also to seek new opportunities internationally."

Soper told motoring.com.au that several export markets are on the radar for the new Ford pick-up trucks now that production is expanding.

Potential customers range from mining companies in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, to the general South African market and even the Singaporean military.

He said he expects to sell the company’s entire allocation of 300 vehicles in 2014, and said there was scope to convert the F-150 too.

"In the mind of buyers, these cars are Fords from the factory, not even converted," said Soper, stressing the attention to detail his company affords the vehicles.

Former Holden engineer Mary Lorenzo and ex-Ford staffer Oliver Spiess have already started work on the interior and mechanical changes required to ensure compliance with Australian design regulations.

Having worked for Holden in the past and more recently as an integral member of the Ford Ranger ute development team in Australia, Spiess says his experience puts him in good stead to ensure the project delivers on its promises.

His main focus will be on "three areas" of the Ford Super Duty trucks: "Compliance, designing the vehicle for right-hand drive and production systems to ensure consistent quality and conformity, including spare parts".

"Mary [Lorenzo] and I will take our experience from large-scale manufacturing systems and apply them to the Performax International operation," said Spiess.

"Performax is a small company that has done a brilliant job over the past 20 years and which now wants to move forward with significant production volume of the Ford Super Duty," he added.