Offroad Series LandRover vs '52 Dodge

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Originally Posted by goingbush

Good point, I do think its why the SMA used them, but wonder why they were never popular outside SMA?

I can compare them directly because I own them both, I always thought Landys were the most capable until I got my Iveco 4x4, but then the Iveco gave me a newfound respect for the reliability of LandRover (yes not a typo)

A fairer comparison would be Iveco vs Dodge as they are dimensionally very similar with the same load range and SOA axles.

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Another good point. Maybe in those years it may have been limited to who actually needed them & they wouldn't have been an inexpensive vehicle landed in Australia from the U.S


SMA probably wouldn't have paid Sales Tax for instance, but their contractors probably would have if they had purchased them. No idea what that tax would have been back then in circa '52, but somehow 10% rings a bell.

I have a feeling that the PMG of the time used them but cannot be certain & have another feeling that I saw a few (?) in their Plant Park in Currie St Adelaide around that time-ish.

Anyway, it was good to see a PW doing what it was meant to do & a very nice restoration.

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Originally Posted by 4bee

Another good point. Maybe in those years it may have been limited to who actually needed them & they wouldn't have been an inexpensive vehicle landed in Australia from the U.S


SMA probably wouldn't have paid Sales Tax for instance, but their contractors probably would have if they had purchased them. No idea what that tax would have been back then in circa '52, but somehow 10% rings a bell.

I have a feeling that the PMG of the time used them but cannot be certain & have another feeling that I saw a few (?) in their Plant Park in Currie St Adelaide around that time-ish.

Anyway, it was good to see a PW doing what it was meant to do & a very nice restoration.

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I found 2 archive photos of PMG Power Wagons , first one is a later (59-63) LHD import & 2nd is of 55 Aussie assembled RHD Power Wagons (57-58) but unable to find any evidence that they survived or any photos of them on the job.

Attachment 176493 Attachment 176494

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Originally Posted by goingbush

I found 2 archive photos of PMG Power Wagons , first one is a later (59-63) LHD import & 2nd is of 55 Aussie assembled RHD Power Wagons (57-58) but unable to find any evidence that they survived or any photos of them on the job.

Attachment 176493 Attachment 176494

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So maybe I was correct then? If they were there, wherever there may be, then they were probably distributed in most States for the same work function?

I expect the Dodges were very expensive compared to Landrovers, and suffered from lack of dealer support, so they were only used where considered absolutely necessary. I do not recall them as anything except very rare. For most users, a more attractive vehicle would have been disposals Blitzes, either Ford or Chev. These were plentiful and cheap, and parts were as well.

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Originally Posted by 4bee

So maybe I was correct then? If they were there, wherever there may be, then they were probably distributed in most States for the same work function?

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There's architecture looks more Queensland than South Australia, not to say each state didn't receive an allocation.

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Originally Posted by V8Ian

There's architecture looks more Queensland than South Australia, not to say each state didn't receive an allocation.

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No Stoby poles, or other, in the pics for a definitive answer.

Post covid A/C seems to have been in use back then.

DL

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Originally Posted by 350RRC

No Stoby poles, or other, in the pics for a definitive answer.

Post covid A/C seems to have been in use back then.

DL

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I was thinking no low set, sandstone block buildings. [smilebigeye]

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Originally Posted by V8Ian

I was thinking no low set, sandstone block buildings. [smilebigeye]

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There's a palm in the second pic, the sun is actually shining on the awnings over the windows, the strange scaff under the windows in the first pic is gone, the shadows from the trucks in the same posi are very different.

Width of the palings suggests abundant cheap timber.

My bet would be Qld. Where's Wally?

DL

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Originally Posted by V8Ian

There's architecture looks more Queensland than South Australia, not to say each state didn't receive an allocation.

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If you are referring to the buildings behind the Dodges, it was taken in a PMG Vehicle Park (think NSW) & a series or links of images were posted on AULRO by a member but can't recall his name but if he still visits & reads this post I'm sure he will put his hand up. At a rough guess it would have been approx 5 years ago but time can be an elusive thing.

I also understood the buildings probably belonged to to the ADMIN or whatever of the Vehicle Park.


He posted a whole series of images or a link of what was then the 50 or so PMG Special Purpose Vehicles in that Park. I do not know if he was employed by them or dug them up online because he had an interest in them. Just have to wait & see now, not that it is relevant any longer just interesting.

More likely the PMG bloke was skiving off at home all day, whilst booking his hours out to a job in the bush. [tonguewink]