1996 Four Wheel Drive News.

Current 4x4 News is [here].

World wide web: /4WD.html

Toyota Winter special edition RAV4's and LandCruiser
(see 29 April below)

December 1996: New South Wales police were using a Toyota RAV4 four wheel drive to help patrol roads to and from NSW snow fields over last winter. Operation Snow Safe saw a 12x increase in drink-driving charges (!) and a halving of injuries compared to 1995.

16 December 1996: After weeks of hesitation, Kia sets a price of $24,700 (Aus) on the Sportage. Toyota RAV4 and Suzuki Vitara watch out.

December 1996: Toyota Prado wins the best 4WD section in the inaugural QCAR awards.

Mid December 1996: Jeep are still buying big ad's for Jeep Wrangler Sport $29,990(Aus), 4.0L, 5-speed, dual air-bags, soft-top, Jeep Cherokee Classic $39,990 4.0L, a/c, cruise control, driver's air-bag, CD (rrp, exc' on-road costs), and Grand Cherokee Laredo $49,990 "drive away" 4.0L, auto', a/c, ABS, remote locking, dual air-bags.

4 Dec 1996: Visitors to Fraser and Moreton Islands (Au) will find that the fees have increased. The monthly permits have increased from $20 to $35 if purchased in the area and from $15 to $25 if purchased elsewhere, ie. Dept of Environment offices. Camping fees are now $3/night with a maximum of $12/family. On Fraser Island it is now forbidden to bring in wood from the mainland or to collect it, even from the beaches. Some wood might be for sale from the rangers.
- Truus Biddlecombe QAFWDC

1 Dec 1996 Rob Logie reports that he saw a new Landrover 90 [90 page] driving up Roma St. in Brisbane (Qld, Au) in July (nice looking unit) and wonders if Landrover is thinking of releasing them in Australia.
The answer is probably no, although there have been rumours for years. There may be some private imports running around and there is at least one home-made 90 in the country. On the other hand Rover Australia is expanding, planning to bring in the new MG `MGF' sports car and some Rover cars.

November 1996: Yet another 4WD - Ford Explorer goes on sale in Australia at $42K to $60K.

November 1996: the Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment has extended a number of seasonal road closures, variously to 30 November, 13 and 31 December 1996, as a result of the recent wet weather. Check with your local DNRE office.

23 - 24 November 1996: Highland Enduro, Cannich, near Loch Ness. Objective: 3 hills in 2 days. Contact: Club Off Road, 5 Quarryside Road, Mirfield, West Yorkshire, England WF14 9QG.
(PB rating 9/10 - Peter Bradley)

17 November 1996: Four Wheel Drive Field Day, Wandin Park, Melbourne, Victoria (AU).

15 - 17 November 1996: Perth 4WD and Outdoor Show, Taylor Street Reserve, McCallum Park, South Perth / Victoria Park, Perth, WA (AU).

13 November 1996: Toyota has issued a "warning to owners of its vehicles fitted with airbags to be wary of non-genuine bullbars that claim to be airbag compatible.
Toyota is the only company that provides a range of bullbars that will not affect the vehicle's Toyota genuine warranty."

November 1996: With the recent wet weather and release of water from the Hume Dam, this summer promises to be a "good" year for mosquitoes and warnings have been issued for Ross River Fever and Barmah Forest virus, particularly along the Murray River and in East Gippsland (Vic, Au).
To continue the good news, this year's ozone hole over Antarctica is bigger than ever so high UV levels are likely over Australia and South America when the hole breaks up and heads north in spring/summer.
Carry a good 15+ sun-block and a good insect repellant.

11 November 1996: Dunlop Monsoon Challenge Malaysia:
1st: Francis Koo / Yow Long See
2nd: Eddy Wong / Nelson Wong
3rd: Roger Smith / Jim Patterson

10 November 1996: Road Closure, Brisbane Waters National Park, NSW, Au - Mooney Mooney Flat (could also be known as Mooney Mooney beach) near the junction of Mooney Mooney Creek and Flood Creek. NP&WS intend to put a gate on the road 600m back from the Flat, at the junction of Karool Road.
The closure is supposed to be for 12 months and is at the request of local land owners. It was brought about by the irresponsible actions of a few people acting in an anti-social manner and leaving their rubbish at the site. There is no indication or evidence to incriminate four wheel drive clubs in these activities.
The RFWDCA Environment Unit, in conjunction with the Hunter Regional Council, will continue negotiations with NP&WS to regain access for club members.
- Robert Matysiak, RFWDCA Environment Unit.,

9 November 1996: Residents of the WA town of Wittenoom in the Hamersley Range are mounting a court challenge to stop the West Australian Government from terminating power and water services to the town at the end of the year - from ABC Radio. The WA Government has been seeking to close the town for many years as it is contaminated with asbestos fibres, a deadly legacy of the nearbye mine.

November 1996: The `Telcoline' one ton ute by TATA of India was at IBE's Brisbane show. The Telcoline is powered by a 4-cyl, 2 litre diesel based on a Peugeot design. Tata may be bringing their 4x4's to Australia in 1997.

November 1996: Paul writes that the Toyota Megacruiser [?should we make that <BLINK>?] will go on sale in the USA in early to mid 1997. Does anyone out there in Cyberspace know more?
Also, Tim writes in about 4x4s in France.

November 1996: Over 200 riders competed in the 25th Anniversary Pine Barrons Enduro, NJ, US.

November 1996: Kia Sportage will go on sale in Australia in early December 1996. Kia are still undecided about some prices but the Sportage will be priced from under $27,000 (exc' dealer & on-road costs). Oh ... the Mentor (2WD car) will be priced from under $17,000.

November 1996: From the QAFWDC newsletter:
Due to a lack of funding in Cape York, the ranger station at Heathlands will be closed and a relocatable ranger station will be placed at Eliott Falls.
The Association is disturbed at the lack of information it receives from the Wet Tropics Management Agency and the recent track closures that went ahead without any consultation. Apparently the Wet Tropics Management Plan will be discussed by the Wet Tropics Ministerial Council in Brisbane in November and a plan finalised in April.
Please behave responsibly on 4x4 tracks during the coming wet season!
Penguin Australia is publishing a new edition of Explore Australia by 4WD this month. Ivan Scudamore on behalf of the ANFWDC coordinated the driving of all the routes. All the drivers concerned will get a copy of the book. For others - rrp $59.95, but Penguin will offer it at $45.00 + $5 postage & handling to clubs.
An imminent special edition of Australian Geographic magazine will feature popular four wheel drive destinations.

3 - 11 November 1996: Monsoon Challenge Malaysia attracted participants from ten countries including Sweden, Holland, Germany, Spain, Taiwan, Australia, Korea, Thailand and Singapore.

25 October 1996: Victorian Subaru dealers are offering savings on Liberty sedans - up to $4000 (Au) on front wheel drive Libert LX manual, $3500 on GX models. This is a run-out offer before the 1997 models arrive.
e.g. Liberty GX Sedan, front wheel drive or all wheel drive (AWD), 4-auto or 5-manual, cruise control, air-conditioning, power windows and mirrors, central locking: rrp from $32,740, $3,500 off the rrp (or cashback).

23 October 1996: The Toyota Prado has won the RACV and NRMA 4x4 Awards for 1996.

18 October 1996: I - GM Holden Jackaroo V6 is being advertised at (Aus) $39,990 rrp excluding dealer and stat' charges. What is it about the big four oh**4 number?

17 - 20 October: National 4x4 Show Melbourne.

October 1996: Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo's are currently being advertised at $49,900 ($Au) drive away.

11 - 20 October 1996: Australian International Motor Show Sydney.

11 - 13 October 1996: Safety Devices Hillrally 100 miles of Offroad stages in Wales, UK.
Contact John, tel:01497-821046, Hillrally Club, [email]
Final Results:

1) Tim Marsh/Chris Cooke	TMC Special	2hrs 54mins 33 secs
2) Robin Clarkson/Paul Whitham	Warrior Special	2:57.02
3) Stephanie Simmonite/Rachael Simmonite	Simmbugghini	3:00.06
4) Gordon Monaghan/Karl Gudgeon	Range Rover Special	3:00.26
5) Russell Ridley/Tony Foster	TMC Animal	3:00.28
6) Paul Drinkall/Christopher Sykes	Warrior Special	3:11.23
7) James Webb/David Webb	Land Rover Proto	3:11.57
8) Hugh Haines/Peter Phillips	Land Rover Special	3:18.14
9) Simon Carman/Tim Curran	Land Rover	3:19.51
10) Paul Wood/Lorraine Wood	Land Rover	3:30.20

The winning TMC buggy was actually built by the driver (Tim Marsh Creation), while the Simmbugghinis (built by the third placed infamous Simmonite sisters' father, David) was another strange-looking buggy - [web page]

10 October 1996: The Unimog had its 50th birthday. Fifty years ago, the first Unimog was introduced to the public on October 10th at my home town Schwaebisch Gmuend. During the past 50 years changes occured in many ways, however the initial engineering design - four wheel drive - 100% differential lock by shift on the go has never been changed. - H.J. Feil (Canada)

5 October 1996: Seymour Cray (of Cray super-computers) died of serious head injuries received several days before when his Jeep Cherokee rolled on a highway, apparently after being clipped by another car.

September 1996: The Cooper Creek Protection Group are organising to protest against applications from cotton growers to extract irrigation water from the Cooper Creek system.
- Innamincka Progress Association, The Secretary, PMB 3, Leigh Creek South

30 September 1996: Toyota is now offering airbags, seatbelt pretensioners and thief resistant engine immobilisers on almost all of its range, including 4WD LandCruiser and RAV4.
The pretensioners are interesting as some believe that they are more effective, although harder to "market" than airbags.

September 1996: Nissan are now fitting a driver's air bag to the top line Patrol Ti - a good move, see crash testing. Price range: base 3L 6-cyl petrol RX $40K to top line Ti $64K.

21 September 1996: Nordic Off-Road Trial, Finland.

10 - 21 September 1996: 1996 4WD Kidney Fundrive -
the Australian Kidney Foundation's second annual 5000km 4WD Fundrive in conjunction with Overlander magazine. The event travelled from Orange to Toowoomba through the Australian outback. It raised funds for the Australian Kidney Foundation from $2000 entry fees, raised through raffles, quiz nights etc. together with sponsorship assistance. The 1996 course included Menindee NSW, Lake Eyre, the Simpson Desert, Birdsville and Durham Downs.
Kidney Fundrive:
Outright first - David Metcalfe - Andrew Hobbs - Nissan Patrol
Second - Rob Gilchrist - Rob Bartlett - Toyota Landcruiser
Third - Dennis McGregor - Eddie McGregor - Maverick
4WD Driving Awards:
Outright first - Leo Muller Jeep - Mark Smith - Peter Foote - Jeep
Second - Dennis McGregor - Eddie McGregor - Maverick
Third - Rod Wood - Lettica Wood - Range Rover
Highest Fundraiser:
Richard Pearce - Andrew Burnett - John Burnett
- Australian Kidney Foundation, GPO Box 7078, Sydney NSW 2001

Some recent fuel prices (diesel) in WA: Drysdale Station (last fuel onto Mitchell Plateau) was $1.10/litre in July 1996. Tjukayirla (Warburton-Laverton Rd), Warburton and Warakurna (Gunbarrel Highway) are similar at 95c/l. Only fuel on Gibb River Road itself is now at Mount Barnett Roadhouse.
Regards Nigel Buxton

September 1996: Subaru Outback goes on sale at rrp $38,340 (Aus) plus on road costs. It's a "car type" 4x4 station wagon with 2.5L engine, 4 speed auto', power steering windows and mirrors, 15" alloy wheels, ABS brakes, fog lights, and it looks quite nice too.

August 1996: everyone seems to be having a sale pitching 4WDs under the magic $40K (Aus): Jeep Cherokee Sports can be had at a run-out price of $39,900 inc' on road costs, and Kellow Falkiner have an end of franchise sale on (a few!) L-R Discoveries at the same price.

August 1996: Kia have Sportage 4WDs in production that are intended for Australian shores; watch out Suzuki Vitara! There should be some Sportages at the Sydney Motor Show in October and the release is planned for November 1996. The Sportage will be distributed by Kia Australia and not by Asia Motors who distribute the Rocsta "Jeep" and the Ceres 1-ton 4x4 truck.

August 1996: I-GM (Holden) Jackaroo (Bruce Garland / Harry Suzuki) wins in the 1996 World Cup Australian Safari.

17 August 1996: Centenary of the first fatal road accident involving a car in which Bridget Driscoll was struck and killed by a car at Crystal Palace, London.

16 - 18 August 1996: Sydney Four Wheel Drive and Outdoor Show.

12 August 1996: Toyota claim that 505 of the new LandCruiser-90 Prado were sold in its first month. With 868 LandCruiser wagons and 394 RAV4's delivered, Toyota claim 45.8% of 4WD sales for July 1996.

August 1996: The Ssangyong Musso four wheel drive station wagon has reached Mercedes Benz distributors. The Korean built 4x4 was unveiled in 1993, and was shown in Australia at the 1996 Melbourne International Motor Show. The Musso uses Mercedes Benz engines - 3.2L 6-cylinder petrol or 2.9L 5-cylinder diesel. At the moment the dealers have a few precious demonstrators to drum up business for the main shipments - due late September. Pretty the Musso is not, but it is well equipped, and we can probably assume that it will be well put together. Wonder what happens when Mercedes Benz's own four wheel drive, the M-class, aka AAV, arrives in 1998.

20 July - 5 August 1996: Olympic Games. Why isn't ---- ----- ----- an Olympic event?

13 July 1996: The War of the Roses.
Ten years ago this event was hatched purely between Red Rose Land Rover Club and Yorkshire Rover Owners - white rose (hence the name 'War of the Roses'). Since then more and more clubs have joined in the fun and now we have to limit the numbers to nine teams - on a first come, first served basis.
The event consists of ten tasks in all, each one different from the other. Every team (three Land Rovers and six people) should have at least one winch but more would help. The teams have to find each task within a given time and they are given a map reference. This year they had about 700 acres to get lost in. They then complete the task - again against the clock - and then find the next task. The tasks are a mixture of hard winching events and light-hearted fun tasks all aimed at taxing both brains and brawn!
The day is long and hard, there is lots of mud and swearing, but it's meant to be good fun and usually is. Our sponsor is Eric Crook, from Crook Brothers, Hoghton.
- M.A.Blakeley m.a.blakeley@uclan.ac.uk

July 1996 QAAFWDC newsletter extracts:
On 12 May, 170 people in 67 vehicles and 4 motor-bikes attended a ceremony to unveil a monument to Len Beadell at Mt.Beadell on the GunBarrel Highway.
Anne Beadell, Len Beadell's widow, has accepted an invitation to become the new patron of the ANFWDC.
Over 100 vehicles turned up at the Mt. Perry showgrounds on the Queen's birthday weekend to make the country meeting organised by the Bundaberg 4WD Club a great success. The 1997 Queen's birthday country meeting will be organized by the Qld Toyota LandCruiser Club, at Amamoor Park State Forest, west of Gympie - open to association clubs only.
Chaleundi State Forest will apparently now not be totally locked up. It is envisaged that for certain areas a gate and key system may be used with a $50 deposit. The land west of Chaelundi Road and Guy Fawkes River National Park and also Dalmorton State Forest are currently under a wilderness claim.
- Truus Biddlecombe, QAFWDC secretary.

2 July 1996: Toyota Prado - The Empire Strikes Back.
Toyota Australia released its new medium four wheel drive station wagon, the Toyota Prado. Powered by 2.7L 4-cylinder or 3.4L V6 engines, and priced from $37K to $54K, it takes on the IGM Jackaroo, Jeep Cherokee, Land Rover Discovery and Mitsubishi Pajero.

July 1996: Victorian four wheel drive tracks seasonal closures.

July 1996, from the eNews: The closing date for submission on the proposed Mount Stirling development (Vic, Au) is Monday 26 August 1996. Send submissions to:-
The Chief Assessment Officer, Policy Review Unit, Office of Planning and Heritage, 477 Collins Street, Melbourne 3000.
12-page summary booklet - free. This official EES summary (except diagrams) is also available on the Internet at [web page].
The STAV (Ski Touring Association of Vic) have a page outlining their opposition to ski-lifts:- [STAV] [Mt. Stirling].
You can voice your opinions of ski-lifts and of changes to the use of Mt. Stirling by writing to politicians. Victorian politicians' names and addresses are listed at: MLAS and MLCS
- John Hollow

June 1996: Land Rover's Calvert Centenary Expedition used 19 vehicles to retrace the steps of surveyor Lawrence Wells through north west Western Australia from Geraldton to Broome.
Wells and six men used 20 camels in one of the last traditional outback expeditions (1896-1897). It was financed by Albert Calvert and charged with filling in blanks on the map, searching for minerals, and finding a stock route to bring cattle from the Kimberley south to the goldfields. Calvert actually went bankrupt while the expedition was on and fled to Spain.
- Experience 15 pp8-16 1996.

8 June 1996: NSW winter track closures.

June 1996, end of tax year coming: Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo going for $53,470, Limited $64,980 (Aus), and Cherokee Sport:$42,968, Limited:$49,888, Land Rover Discovery:$49,120 (5 door V8i manual), and (new!) Nissan Patrol RX turbo-diesel station wagons are going for $39,900 (Aus) around town. Land Rover Discovery now has ABS brakes and twin air-bags as standard on the 5-door models.

8 June 1996 (Saturday 6.30pm): Les Hiddins, the "Bush Tucker Man", returns to (Au) ABC Television with Bush Tucker Man: Stories of Survival; check the Australian TV Guide for your area.

5 June 1996: Variety Club Victorian 4x4 Challenge (Au) was postponed until March/April 1977; see [four wheel drive events page].

1 - 2 June 1996: Motoring Expo, Ipswich Showgrounds, Qld (AU), organised by the Leukaemia Foundation.

1 June 1996 +/-: Leyland Centenary Celebrations, Lancashire, Northern England.

May 1996: New compact Land Rover Adventurer CB40 spotted on test in Ireland - Christina Curtis and Tony Luckwill.

Apparently tall 4x4's won't fit on the Channel Tunnel trains - Daily Express. The double-deck rolling stock has a 1.85m height limit. The Land Rover Discovery is just too tall at 1.9m+. Some shorter vehicles with roof racks have to remove them. Eurotunnel is planning single-deck wagons for tall cars.

May 1996: The RACV reports that running a four wheel drive can be almost twice as expensive as running a large sedan. Running a Toyota LandCruiser GXL automatic over 5 years, at 15,000km per year, works out at 90.5c (Aus) per km for the LandCruiser, against 55c per km for a Ford Falcon GLi auto'. The RAVC report also casts doubt on the relative safety of some 4x4s.

May 1996: Submissions concerning the potential development of Mt. Stirling (Vic, Aus) will be called for soon. Contact Ian Murley, Dept. of Planning and Development, Olderfleet Buildings, 477 Collins St., Vic 3000, tel:03-9628-5139, to register an expression of interest and to be placed on the Environmental Effects Study mailing list.
Options under consideration range from `continuation of existing uses' to `comprehensive ski resort and village' with attendant developments - and restrictions on 4WD access.
The Mt. Stirling Development Task Force, PO Box 415, Mansfield 3722, tel:057-752-994 (Alan Kerr), and the Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA), tel:03-9650-8296, oppose the development of downhill skiing on Mt.Stirling.

24 - 27 May 1996: 25th Annual Hi Desert Roundup - California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, South District, (US) Stoddard Valley. email Phyllis Enoch at PEnoch@aol.com -->

24 - 26 May 1996: 7th Scout Nationals, Clark Co. Fairgrounds in Springfield, OH (US).

May 1996: Scouts Afield, the newsletter of Scouts West [*], reports that unleaded petrol now costs $1.49 per U.S. gallon in California. That must be approximately 33c(US) per liter, 41c(Aus) per litre. Petrol in Victoria Australia is going for about 72c(Aus) per litre, 58c(US) per litre. The Europeans have it really bad - can anyone give current figures?
[*] See [US clubs].

18 - 20 May 1996: 3rd Blinman Jamboree, Blinman, Flinders Ranges (SA, Au) - Land Rover Register of South Australia. dwebb -->

12th May 1996: Erection of a Memorial to Len Beadell, Mt. Beadell, Gunbarrel Highway (WA) Tony Barnden, tonybarn@ozemail.com.au -->
[Obituary to Len Beadell] [Len Beadell's books]

11 May 1996: Morongo Basin Sheriff's Volunteers Desert Run, Soggy Dry Lake, Johnson Valley ORV Area, CA (US). Bryan Lavender blavender@co.san-bernardino.ca.us --> 9 - 13 May 1996: Caravan Show, (new) Exhibition Building, Melbourne (Au)

May 1996: The Jeep Grand Cherokee is loose in Australia, 4.0L 6-cyl, 4-speed auto', ABS, twin airbags -
Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo $53,470 (Aus), Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited $64,980.

5 May 1996, Cape York Road Report (Au): The road to Cairns is looking much better with the Dept. of Transport already completing repairs to the bog near Jackson's gate and Brumby Gully. Sherill from the Archer River Road House says the river is looking beautiful with water just trickling over the causeway. She warned that there are still signs of rain so if you are venturing out, check conditions before you go. Truck movements are due to begin early May with the first trucks expecting to leave Cairns on the 7th.
I have just spoken to another Cape York info' source and have been informed that all major creeks are still too high to cross.
- Truus Biddlecombe, QAFWDC secretary.

4th - 5th May 1996: Challenge 96 (Vic, AU) tested 4WD Driving skills, Problem solving, Bush Navigation, Vehicle and Bush knowledge, and was organized by the Pajero 4WD Club of Victoria Inc. [Victorian 4WD Clubs]
The 1996 Challenge reached its limit of 50 competitors:

1st: Geoff Portman, ANFWDC

2nd: John Wilkinson (Pajero)

3rd: Mike Smith (Yarra Valley); also see [TransPen]

2 May 1996: The Holden Jackaroo (Isuzu General Motors) has won Bushdriver magazine's title of 1995 Medium 4WD Wagon of the Year. In so doing, it knocked off its arch rival the Mitsubishi Pajero.

May 1996: Kia and Asia Motors have introduced a new hard-top for the SWB Rocsta - $800 Aus. RRP for the LWB Rocsta 4x4 Country 1-tonne ute is $19,990 (petrol) and $20,990 (diesel) (ex tax).

29 April 1996: Toyota Australia have released limited edition models of the LandCruiser 80 Series and the RAV4, called The Winter (brrr) and painted metallic purple-blue in both cases. The 80 Winter comes with ABS and viscous coupled centre diff' and costs from $56,990 (Aus) for the 5-speed manual (you have to pay $100K for such things on a Rangie). The RAV4 Winter gets power windows and mirrors, new alloy wheels, and other dress-up gear: 3 door from $29,500 and 5 door from $31,990 (5-speed). There will be 500 of the 80-series Winters, 50 RAV4 3-door Winters and 275 of the 4-doors.

April 1996: Camel 96 concludes: LRNA.

Rumours about the coming revised Land Rover Discovery include that it will be bigger and have a 5-cyl Tdi diesel. That would make it about 3.1L - a good size.

April 1996: 21st Birthday of the Victorian Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs (VAFWDC) (and they said it would never last).

27 and 28 April 1996
The 4th Annual Toyota 4 Runner Jabmoree was held in Southern California USA on April 27 and 28 1996. Contact Steve Miller at (714) 858-8762 to obtain more information email:mailto:SPINN4S@aol.com --> 23 April 1996: Toyota have brought out a line of Toyota-brand car care products. (These can't be for Toyota 4WDs because, as we all know, you don't have to clean 4WDs.-)

19 - 21 April 1996: Suwanee River Valley Rover Rally - Jim Karantinos

19 April 1996: BFE Performance Products report that they have released a CD-rom with over 50 4x4 trails in the western USA - pictures, maps, etc. email:bfe@bendnet.com

April 1996: The film Broken Arrow is screening in Australia - it features Hummers (oh yes, it also stars John Travolta, Christian Slater and Samantha Mathis).

April 1996: From QAFWDC Update -
40 clubs are now affiliated with QAFWDC.
Chaelundi State Forest (Dorrigo region) is to be closed to vehicles and control of State Forest land between Pine Ck and Guy Fawkes National Pk may be given to the National Parks and Wildlife Service - and the area possibly closed to vehicles. Contact QAFWDC for suggested action.
Fund raising for the Len Beadell Memorial (see [events]) continues. Commemorative polo shirts available from Ray Ferguson 07-3801-5330.
Cape York has received record rain this year - contact Cook Shire 070-695-444 or Archer River Road House 070-603-266 for track conditions.

27 - 31 March 1996: Adelaide International Motor Show (AU).

23 - 24 March 1996: Toyota LandCruiser Club of Australia, annual [CruiserKhana] - the club's property, Yarck, Victoria (AU).

23 March 1996: Marks 4WD Adaptors have developed conversion bell-housings that allow their heavy duty Nissan 4 and 5 speeds to be bolted directly to the original [Land Rover] engines: The bell-housing will accept all of the series I, II and III 4 and 6 cylinder engines. The 4-speed kit requires no modifications to the transfer-case mounting or the engine's positioning as the transmission is the same length as the standard item. The 5-speed however requires the engine to be moved forward by approx' 4 inches. They expect the kits to be on the shelf in the next 8 weeks. [Mark's page]

13 March 1996: It rained in Death Valley, CA USA! The April issue of Scouts Afield, the official newsletter of Scouts West (see US clubs), reports that they got wet on a trip in the area. 38 vehicles attended, 28 of them were IH.

2-11 March 1996: Melbourne International Motor Show.

March 1996: The British Army has ordered 8000 Land Rover XD90 and XD110 (eXtra Duty Defender) four wheel drives, and 800 XD130 ambulances, delivery to begin mid 1996 - Experience #13 1996. It is also buying 65 more 4x4 Pinzgauers.

22-24 Feb 1996: Off Road 4WD Recreation Show, Melbourne.

Feb 1996: The last Range Rover Classic made.

Feb 1996: You can still buy a Subaru 4x4 (sedan) for under $30K (Aus), just.

Feb 1996: A correspondent reports on [sounds from Solihull] about new Land-Rovers.

10-11 Feb 1996: Combined 4WD Clubs [Four Wheel Drive Spectacular], Canberra, ACT (AU).

9-11 Feb 1996, Gippsland Field Day: Trucks in Action / Moving the Earth / Australian Forestry - semi-trailers, light, medium and heavy trucks, earth moving equipment and specialist [forestry equipment]. Also present were the [Oka 4WD] and the Mitsubishi 4WD [Canter].

5 Feb 1996: 4x4 Magazine (Australia) has given Toyota [HiLux] its award for the best utility RV workhorse of 1995.
It seems that Toyota has sold more than 260,000 HiLux in Australia! Given the number of variants and the multiplicative possibilities - 2WD, 4WD, cab, dual-cab, 4Runner, ..... that's probably only about ten per model.

26 Jan 1996: Australia Day Parade (Melbourne) featured some nice [military vehicles].

Jan 1996: Mercedes Benz [All Activity Vehicle (AAV)] brought out at the Detroit Motor Show.

Jan 1996: Castrol is promoting a new diesel oil - GTD - for smaller diesel engines, including turbo-charged engines, and particularly those with precombustion chambers.
[ed: Eeee, when I were a kid 'twer Rotella or Rotella.]

18 Jan 1996: Natalie Levin of Melbourne has won the Toyota (Australia) TV-Internet competition.

17 Jan 1996: John Langley reports in the Electronic Telegraph (ET) that the British Army is (probably) ordering Land-Rover ambulances rather than Steyr-Daimler-Puch [Pinzgauers]. It seems that the army liked the Pinzgauers for their automatic transmission, self levelling and reliability. However they are 30% dearer than the Land-Rovers and ...... could there be a general election coming?

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