Last Ford engines roll out at Geelong

THE last ever engines to be produced at Ford’s Geelong factory have rolled off the production line ahead of the car-maker’s full manufacturing closure next Friday.

As Ford continues to wind down its operations, the shut-down of the engine plant is the latest milestone, following the production of the final Falcon Ute in late July.

Ford’s last two engines to roll down the line in Geelong were a 5.0-litre V8 that is imported from the United States but tweaked here in Australia and a home-grown 4.0-litre straight six found under the bonnet of the Falcon and Territory.

An image from Twitter shows the two final examples with a sign saying they were “proudly built in Geelong” on September 26, with a sign off that reads, “A job well done”.

Ford Australia communications and public affairs director Wes Sherwood said the end of engine production was just one of a number of milestones that make up the full closure of manufacturing.

“We’re obviously working towards the end of production and to support that there will be different milestones that happen along the way including the end of engine production,” he said. “But all our employees will be with us until October 7, that’s when we’ll pay tribute to them on that day.” Ford’s Geelong engine plant was built in 1925 and has undergone a number of expansions since then to accommodate increased volume and changing engine technology over the years.

Most recently the Geelong plant has been the production base for Ford’s all-Australian ‘Barra’ engine that first surfaced in the BA Falcon and the SX Territory in 2002.

With natural aspiration, the Falcon engine pumps out 195kW and 391Nm, while the turbocharged version under the bonnet of the XR6 Turbo delivers 270kW/533Nm. The more recent limited edition XR6 Sprint pushed that figure to a maximum of 370kW.

As reported, Ford’s Broadmeadows production line will shut permanently on Friday October 7, leaving about 850 employees without work, although 350 positions have already been cut.

Keep your eye on GoAuto.com.au for more news about Ford’s factory closure in the coming weeks.