Thread: Off-roading Holden Commodore?

At least there is very little in the way of ice and snow for months on end every year.

Originally Posted by crash

It seems to be the general consensus in Australia that if a road has gravel on it you need a 4wd in order to drive on it!

I am willing to bet that a large percentage of privately owned 4WD's in Australia hardly if ever go anywhere off road where a 4WD is needed and spend most of their lives driving on city roads.

Used to see VW Kombis in some remarkable places.

Originally Posted by johntins

Used to see VW Kombis in some remarkable places.

In the 1950's, Alf Tranby-White of Tranby Station, Winton, drove a Holden ute to Perth, shipped it to South Africa, then drove it to Yorkshire. I have wondered why almost nobody has heard of this feat and why a book and a documentary have not appeared.

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

Originally Posted by johntins

Used to see VW Kombis in some remarkable places.

The VW Kombi was low geared, had very good ground clearance and approach, departure and breakover angles. Depending on loading, it could have good traction, although I remember once on a very steep track in the Blue Mountains, having to add about 3-400kg of rocks right at the back to climb the track.

(I eventually traded that Kombi, actually a ute, not a van, on my first Landrover in 1962)

A beetle lives in birdsville that has crossed the simpson.

Originally Posted by rammypluge

A beetle lives in birdsville that has crossed the simpson.

Just about any RWD can cross the Simpson, so long as it is properly loaded, has decent ground clearance and the conditions are good. I was one of a party of four P76's which crossed the Simpson in September 1996. Two were pretty close to stock. Different in high summer of course.

In the bar of the Birdsville Pub was a photo of the then relatively new Falcon Longreach ute, getting air over Big Red. 2WD adds to the challenge.