The More Things Change the . . . . . .

Ha Ha well picked up Mike but I started driving Toyota's on a relatives property before purchasing my own.

Cheers

dad

Hi Boobook, I purchased an FJ Cruiser (just for the 2 of us) but have had Troopy's and Shorties all with the full-monty accessories.

The FJ needed the 'same' improvements as the rest except much higher tech these days.

Your obviously younger than me Pop,
There was a 3 month+ waiting list when I was buying my first FJ40, no Jeeps or Chev's (they were imported later) so if you wanted you would settle for a 3 speed Nissan. The model Reg Sprigg's old man drove across the Simpson.

Your right about the drivers role in just about anything (I'm still learning) but I ran into an old fella coming down the Billy Goats Bluff Track (Victoria's steepest 4WD track) His old wagon was shod with road tyres (I noticed about 15 - 18psi) and I warned him about a bit of a hole further down the Track .... and the incoming storm.

He said " It's alright I've already been to the Lookout for lunch and the missus reckons we should head back down with those black clouds coming in fast"

Here we are with the latest piece of Tojo rocket science dripping with BP-51's and the usual full monty on an angle of 35 degrees recognising what this old driver in a standard LC had achieved with skill and common sense.

Cheers Pop

dad

Pop,
You are getting your Spriggs mixed up. It was Reg himself who traversed the Simpson in August of 1962 with his wife was Griselda and children Douglas and Margaret.

Oops, thanks Allan it was the little fella Doug, the wife has already pointed it out.

One of DOUGS pro drivers is a bloke called Largs who was the guiding light that had me purchase a FJ Cruiser in Port Lincoln on the way home.

Speaking of REG, Largs told me he took REG to the airport for his trip to England. They were good mates. The last time he would see him.

There's a little story you may be interested in.

Cheers

dad

Dad,

Don't know what vintage you are but I'm a 1947 model.....lol.

The Jeeps I'm on about are the CJ models ranging from CJ3 to from memory CJ7. There were also a smattering of the MB's left over from WW2 and the Korean fiasco. A few, actually very few J series, the 1 and 2 tonne tray back variety. I remember fitting a complete new rear axle to one for a bloke.
The Toyotas were being imported by Sir Leslie Theiss mainly initially for the Snowy project. A few G60's were also appearing but in reality the choice was which model Series Land Rover you could afford.
My first 4B was a rather well used Series 2 Landy of about 196* something build date. There wasn't a lot to distinguish them appart...lol
A mate waited for about the 3 months you mentioned for a new 1977 FJ 40. Bloody flash bit of kit back then although the dealer couldn't get it to stop leaking even in fairly moderate rain. I gave the mate a hand pull most of the body apart and fit new seals and a liberal application of sealant. That stopped the bugger leaking.

Allan,
Ummm, I think it might have been Dad that mentioned the Spriggs. I read the book written from memory by his wife Griselda. Tough lady.

Cheers
Pop

G'day Pop,
Yes mate '47 was a great year alright so we both nearly burn down the suburb when the candles light up ;)

Leaking FJ40's?
I thought it was a brilliant engineering design to flush the salt out after a days fishing :) The bungs pulled out in the floor and she was hosed out in case it didn't rain.

Landy's?
How many times have I pulled LR's out to 2WD country in the Barrington Tops after the Salisbury diff said 'snap'

Ahhhh those were the days!?

Cheers

dad

Sorry again Pop, the book Rock Star was not written by Griselda. The author was Kristin Weidenbach, the wife of Reg's son, Douglas.

Allan,

The book I read was "Dune Is a four letter word" written by Griselda Sprigg with co author Rod MacLean. Published by Wakefield press.

Cheers
Pop

Dad, the earlier pi$$-weak Landrover axles weren't Salisburys, they were Banjo spiral bevel diffs.

When the Landrovers went over to hypoid Salisbury diffs in the rear of the LWB Series III, was when they improved out of sight.

However, the SWB Landrovers stuck with Banjo diffs even in the Series III.

Cheers, Ron.

Thanks Ron, I was working on advice from years ago but that is interesting. Never heard of Banjo's but then always had Tojo's.

Cheers

dad