Australian 4wd's - A Brief History from the 80's written by Michael Duffy

Australian 4WD’s – Brief History

The latest 4×4 utes look good, perform fairly well and some are even able to perform above their specs with little effort. Although they look good, there is a sameness about them. Of all the vehicles made in about the past the 25 years, the one I think has the best potential for a collector is the Jeep CJ10 ute. To restore one back to its original condition with original running gear could be a very worthwhile undertaking. (It is good to dream).

In the 1950’s and 60’s Jeep had been assembling vehicles in Brisbane and Melbourne. Struggling against Land Rovers in the 50’s and then Toyota and Nissan in the 60’s. In 1970, American Motors Corporation bought Jeep, but from 1970 to 1978 the only Jeeps to enter Australia were privately sourced ones. Jeep re-entered the Australian market in 1978, and started badly. 1978 to 1981 Jeeps had a shocking reputation for poor presentation of vehicles. I had a HJ47 cruiser in ’84. Jeep’s reputation had soared. I remember around this time looking into parked CJ’s if I saw one down the street. Seeing ads on television of a Jeep J10 climbing a hill with a Cruiser on the tray must have been getting to me.

1983 to 1986 was about the only time Jeep Australia had its act together. They were offering some quality products technically superior to Toyota and Nissan. Then a plunging Aussie dollar, government legislation and the QLD Power strike, all led to Jeep closing it’s Australian operations in 1985.

The years between 1981 and 1986 offer good restoration options for Toyota and Land Rover too. 1985 was end of the line for The Land Rover 3 series, and nearly the end of Land Rover as we knew it. In 1988, it was sold to British Aerospace. It was a period of new designs and running gear, a period of serious change to multiple use vehicles. Toyota had generally kept everything under one umbrella, parts were generally interchangeable and Toyota was top of the tree in Australia. But, for a brief period, Jeeps, (which were in high demand in the USA), stirred things up enough in Australia for the other manufacturers to lift their games.

Footnote

It should be remembered that Japanese manufacturers had a piggy back ride into Australia due to some special deal struck with coal sales to Japan. Land Rover was owned by the British Government at the time, and had deals with the Australian military. Toyota was out-selling Land Rover to such a degree, I think that without the military contracts Land Rover would have vacated Australia. At least until it sorted its problems. Although Jeep started badly on its return into the Australian market, the innovations they were developing was enough for Toyota to sit up and take notice. In 1983 the 2H engine, ’86 the Mid size 4WD. There was much trial and error, but it was the beginning of the expansion of 4WD’s for the general public to enjoy.

What’s your favourite 4WD of all time? Leave your comments below!!!

Written by Michael Duffy