Off-roading Holden Commodore?

I used to run a VW type 3 wagon offroad in the late 70s.

I visited Fraser Island and did some tracks around Eildon etc.

I lifted the front by rotating the torsion bars and put air shocks on the back, and ran FR70x14? tyres.
Went well on Fraser and the tracks.

I learned quickly on Fraser that the approach angle was less than my FJ40 when I went to climb the dune just south of Ely Creek ( where the toilets are now) to camp and stopped very suddenly with the roofrack on the ground in front of the car and daughter in the speaker grille.

I was then "in irons" for a couple of hours as I couldn't get out of my own tracks. I progressively lowered pressures down to 5PSI and then got out.

Only bogged once at the Eurong petrol pump because 4WDs churned up the sand, and some old ladies from a bus helped out with a push.

The reason that I changed to the VW from The FJ40 was that I had been transferred to Melbourne and it was just too uncomfortable for both us and the kids to drive the 74 FJ40 from Melbourne to Fraser let alone the cost of fuel.

Ah those were the days. I learned a lot about sand driving. Next time was in a new Jackeroo

Regards Philip A

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Originally Posted by hodgo

Some time ago a Mazda 929 was driven up to the Cape York and back the on ly mod was it was fitted with larger wheels and a mate that is a member of the Mazda MX5 club has told me that an MX5 also did the trip

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In the 1960's the Holzheimers ran a freight service up the Cape with Leyland Super Hippos. A slow, hot, heavy truck. Near non-existent roads then. I have often wondered what the "look at me" adventurous 4WD types of the time thought when a battered Hippo and semi-trailer pulled up at a water crossing and "Toots" Holzheimer in a floral dress and Blucher boots alighted.

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Originally Posted by steane

As a kid I travelled in my parent's VB and then VL Commodores from Adelaide to Darwin and back (back when the road was more of a track), as well as all through Kakadu, the centre and a lot of places that most people bought 4WDs to travel through. People would line the banks of water crossings to watch dad take the VL through and clap when he made it across. Both cars had homemade bullbars, had been lifted a smidge and ran standard wheels and road tyres. They travelled extensively through outback WA, SA and NT in little Commodores and while there were plenty of places they couldn't go, they went more places than many expected.

They've been doing much the same in a Patrol for the last 17 years.

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Thats it isnt it.
Commodores and Falcons out in my parts have been places most people would only go with lifted and locked ete etc.
A little care a little knowledge and mechanical sympathy can achieve surprising results.
Similar stories with the FIL's 64 Corona and Dads 65 Humber. Not to mention their mates in Kingswoods and Falcons.

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Originally Posted by rammypluge

A beetle lives in birdsville that has crossed the simpson.

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Sadly, the girl that owned that beetle, rolled it on the Oodna track and was killed in 2016.
Super capable cars those Volksy's

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Originally Posted by Colmoore

Sadly, the girl that owned that beetle, rolled it on the Oodna track and was killed in 2016.
Super capable cars those Volksy's

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Oh thats shocking. I thought that couldnt be possible, but actually i crossed the simpson in mid 2016, so it presumably happened within six months after that.

I think i saw an article or something about it doing the crossing, then happened to see the car parked in birdsville.

Well, once cars with abs and airbags became super cheap secondhand, i do recall saying there is no point now in not having them.

Have done a quick Google on this but nothing came up however many years ago I had a book about the first west east crossing of Australia. Going across the widest point in a fairly straight line rather than following the roads. This would have been I think early seventies. There might have been factory backing of some sort. Book claimed they were the first to do it in a car. What car were they driving? A Mini.

I reckon a mini is going to be damn uncomfortable doing that.

There used to be a moke club that would go to all kinds of places, and of course there was a diehard that preferred the small wheels.

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Originally Posted by rammypluge

I reckon a mini is going to be damn uncomfortable doing that.

There used to be a moke club that would go to all kinds of places, and of course there was a diehard that preferred the small wheels.

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Que Mick Marsh and his favourite pic [biggrin]

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Originally Posted by 3toes

Have done a quick Google on this but nothing came up however many years ago I had a book about the first west east crossing of Australia. Going across the widest point in a fairly straight line rather than following the roads. This would have been I think early seventies. There might have been factory backing of some sort. Book claimed they were the first to do it in a car. What car were they driving? A Mini.

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I thought the first west-east Australia at the widest point was Leyland Brothers in 1966? Hadn't heard of any previous effort when I met them in the Simpson, and I think I would have.

I was only thinking about mokes this morning as i drove to work, and extremely bizarrely there was one right in my eyes. I had to blink a few times before i believed it. Wondered if i was dreaming.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...018/02/198.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...018/02/199.jpg