Off-roading Holden Commodore?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by steane

Yep, a great or maybe great x 2 relo of mine ran a Dodge 4 and then I think a Dodge 6 (if that's what they called the later six-cylinder version), always with a buckboard ute arrangement on the back. There's one (a 6) out at the ruins of his old date palm property on the edge of Lake Harry in SA and we have pics of the Dodge 4 getting about out in the middle of nowhere.

---

The sixes were introduced in 1928. Standard Six and Senior Six. The Senior was a bit upmarket with a bit more power and probably some better quality fittings. These were Dodge Bros. engines although Dodge were by then owned by Chrysler. and in a few years went to Chrysler design engines. The Dodge engines were quite advanced for the times with full pressure lube and seven main bearings. Even had rudimentary air and oil filters. This was the first year for 4 wheel brakes on Dodge Bros. product. Midland self-energising mechanical brakes even though Chrysler had hydraulic brakes for 4 years. Good strong simple reliable cars, easily repaired.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by steane

Yep, a great or maybe great x 2 relo of mine ran a Dodge 4 and then I think a Dodge 6 (if that's what they called the later six-cylinder version), always with a buckboard ute arrangement on the back. There's one (a 6) out at the ruins of his old date palm property on the edge of Lake Harry in SA and we have pics of the Dodge 4 getting about out in the middle of nowhere.

---

Here's a link to a 1920's promotional film for the Dodge 4

"Oilfield Dodge" Promotional Film 1920s Dodge Brothers Wild Ride - YouTube

We still had road conditions like that around Winton in the wet seasons (now rare, drought seeming to be the normal condition in the west) through the 70's and 80's when I was running trucks through there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LRT

Came across this on Instagram...

Instagram

---

Haha I had a '76 Celica Rally Car / daily drive that used to find itself in places like that when I was young enough not to have joined the dots between how I drove and the running costs of the vehicle[bighmmm] .

Amazing where you can get a non 4wd if you really try[biggrin]

Inskip [biggrin]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...2018/02/91.jpg

Only need a Hundi in the desert... glad there all ok...

Goldfields rescue: Missing five ate Witchetty grubs to survive

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bigbjorn

Here's a link to a 1920's promotional film for the Dodge 4

"Oilfield Dodge" Promotional Film 1920s Dodge Brothers Wild Ride - YouTube

We still had road conditions like that around Winton in the wet seasons (now rare, drought seeming to be the normal condition in the west) through the 70's and 80's when I was running trucks through there.

---

That's amazing! :cool:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Geez Brian, someone should have told Tom. [wink11]

---

The Leyland Badger has a Thornycroft tandem drive back end salvaged from a crashed truck belonging to Harry Ding, who had the Birdsville run before Tom.
It's a very brittish truck.
Don.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bigbjorn

The sixes were introduced in 1928. Standard Six and Senior Six. The Senior was a bit upmarket with a bit more power and probably some better quality fittings. These were Dodge Bros. engines although Dodge were by then owned by Chrysler. and in a few years went to Chrysler design engines. The Dodge engines were quite advanced for the times with full pressure lube and seven main bearings. Even had rudimentary air and oil filters. This was the first year for 4 wheel brakes on Dodge Bros. product. Midland self-energising mechanical brakes even though Chrysler had hydraulic brakes for 4 years. Good strong simple reliable cars, easily repaired.

---

We have a couple of Dodge 4's and a Senior Six in the family, i cant remember which one but Dodge also used a Continental 6 at some stage.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bigbjorn

Here's a link to a 1920's promotional film for the Dodge 4

"Oilfield Dodge" Promotional Film 1920s Dodge Brothers Wild Ride - YouTube

We still had road conditions like that around Winton in the wet seasons (now rare, drought seeming to be the normal condition in the west) through the 70's and 80's when I was running trucks through there.

---

Looking at this,, makes you wonder what all the fuss is about with 4x4's,,, they obviously didn't need them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chops

Looking at this,, makes you wonder what all the fuss is about with 4x4's,,, they obviously didn't need them.

---

That's what my dad used to say, except he still bought a Jeep in 1971.

Said he could definitely get in and out of dairy farms when it rained, instead of wondering if he needed to get the farmers tractor to assist.