Which came first......

Then Nissan Patrol in 1951...Toyota 1959/60?Never a dull moment

The first Toyota 4wd was the FJ25 & FJ 28 in 1958. Funnily enough these were 4 speed with a vacum shift on the transfer for 4WD. Then in 1960/61 they brought out the FJ40 series and went back to the 3 speed box that stayed with the cruisers until 1972/73.
Anyone want any parts? I still have the parts books for these old models!We have so little time to enjoy our land

Yep, sure enough the first Toyota LC in Australia was the '58 FJ25, but a Japanese model was demonstrated in 1951, subsequently produced for the Japanese police, and mass production of the Land Cruiser started in 1954.

Cheers

Willem, sorry I have to spell it out for you. I referred to Landrover and Nissan not being able to get it right whilst Toyota does it so well. i used the word "It" as a global term for building four wheel drives. mmmm me thinks you drive a Nissan!

Willem, sorry I have to spell it out for you. I referred to Landrover and Nissan not being able to get it right whilst Toyota does it so well. i used the word "It" as a global term for building four wheel drives. mmmm me thinks you drive a Nissan!

Willem, sorry I have to spell it out for you. I referred to Landrover and Nissan not being able to get it right whilst Toyota does it so well. i used the word "It" as a global term for building four wheel drives. mmmm me thinks you drive a Nissan!

Willem, sorry I have to spell it out for you. I referred to Landrover and Nissan not being able to get it right whilst Toyota does it so well. i used the word "It" as a global term for building four wheel drives. mmmm me thinks you drive a Nissan!

Willem, sorry I have to spell it out for you. I referred to Landrover and Nissan not being able to get it right whilst Toyota does it so well. i used the word "It" as a global term for building four wheel drives. mmmm me thinks you drive a Nissan!

Martin,

Some people are WISE and some people are OTHERWISE.

I wonder which category you fall in to??

In the wash up I do think that Landrover surpasses any of the other makes in pioneering work in four wheel drives. And Toyotas, especially the early ones, were prone to severe rust. The later ones too have had problems. You cannot differentiate between the makes to say one is better than the other. Concentrated in your face marketing ploys do not necessarily make a for a great vehicle. All vehicle makes have problems.

In over 100 years the basic wagon concept and the power configuration in automobiles has not changed whilst we have made leaps and bounds in In formation Technology. So none of the companies who manufacture 4x4's have come up with innovative concepts or made a vehicle to last forever.

In the end all cars are just re-cycled earth !

Cheers,

Willie
Never a dull moment

Sorry Slammin it was the chicken. And to think Landrover and Nissan still can't get it right while the relative new kid on the block does it so well!

chickenBorn to drive a 4x4 , not a keyboard
Peter York 4x4

Slammin.....What are you on?.......:-)

Martin....does WHAT so well?Never a dull moment

I think he has got tounge in cheek there.

I was in Darwin in 1964 when Thess? imported the first SWB Toyotas, they had two of them down at ? beach at low tide, and chained together facing opposite directions and bogged to the chassie rails, and then used on to tow the other out.

Quite a show in those days when it was mostly Landrovers about.

Hi Tony,

Recognise the Pic?

You are showing your age..........I only got to Darwin in '68. Yes it was Thiess who imported the Toyota to Australia and I think it was in 1959.

The beach could have been Mindil Beach or Fannie Bay Beach.

In 1988 on a Thiess Toyota display day at the Hidden Valley 4x4 circuit in Darwin I drowned a brand new HiLux diesel in one of the water holes. Had two Sydney based journalists and a Toyota rep on board. I had told them that the air intake was situated too low on the vehicle and dangerous for water crossings but the rep said to go through the water. The ute had 75km on the clock and had to have the whole engine repaced. I was a popular as rats under the house for the rest of the day.

Toyota eventually saw the light, raised the air intake and later still fitted most diesels with snorkles.
Cheers,
Willie
Never a dull moment

It must have been in 59 Willie cause Thiess (thanks for the spelling) had Toyoytas down at the Snowy then, they were a rag top 3 speed, bloody cold in winter aye.

Had a cousin driving a D9 down there and he told me that they lost a few over the side in different places and just covered them up (a fitting memorial don't you think)

Which pic?

Tony,

The photo(pic) at the botom of my post. Florence Falls, Litchfield NP.
Never a dull moment

No photo this end.

Now Litchfield there is another story, when the park was being set up, had the task of shooting out the buffalo and the Finniss River mob wanted any clean skins I got, I got to see a bit of the country side that way. And there was some big crocs out in those swamps.

Set up camp at Wangi Falls where the car park is now, it was spare ribs every night with a swim to clean up.

your all wrong it wasnt the chicken or the egg that came first it was the rooster

your all wrong it wasnt the chicken or the egg that came first it was the rooster

Tongue in cheek I think not, gland in hand??? I'm not so sureSo many places to go!
So much work to do :0(

C'mon you blokes,

It has to be the chicken.

did you ever see an egg try and lay a chicken?????????????

:) :) :) :) :) :) :)

good discussion

enjoy the bush

DennisN

BTW - Landrover had the Snowy licked long before the tojos appeared on the scene.

And no - I don't own one - never did

Bob,

Funny, didn't think of myself as an oldie :-)

I was hitchiking around the country in '68 and spent a couple of memorable nights at the Renner Springs races and at Elliot. Its all changed now but every now and then you find the odd bushie around to have a yarn to.

Talking about dogs...what about the Austin Champ? And for that matter in my opinion, the Ford F series 4x4's.

The stations used to drive Nissans up north until Toyota came out with a 4-speed. After that bull catchers never looked back.

Willie

Never a dull moment

Good comment Dennis,
They'll all break given the wrong driver - some a bit more spectacularly than others.
Simon