DEANB:
Star down under.:
We started getting Japanese cars and light commercials in the early to mid-sixties. They were very ordinary, a bit unusual and generally unsuited to our different conditions.
As a car mad school boy, I enjoyed the hilariously interpreted owner’s manuals. The first influx of Jap vehicles were bought on price, but the Japanese were in for the long game. Unlike vehicle manufacturers from the rest of the world, Australia included, they lacked the arrogance of the take what you are offered, attitude.
Toyota was a classic example. During the construction of the Snowy Mountains Scheme (1949~1974) light 4x4 were in high demand. Initially only ex-WW ll Jeeps and the recently released Land Rover were available. As the Jeeps wore out, the Land Rovers became the only viable option, due to the favourable import duties from Commonwealth countries. Worldwide, Land Rovers were in greater demand than the factory could output, this created an arrogance that stifled development and fostered an attitude of take what we send.
(Later Sir) Leslie Thiess was a civil contractor on the SMS and frustrated at not being able to secure Land Rovers, looked elsewhere. He privately imported a handful of FJ 25 Land Cruisers. These were far from ideal, but they were available and better than nothing. Toyota sent senior management from Japan to monitor the performance of the cars and reacted quickly to the constructive criticism of the product. Thiess was so impressed with the cooperation, service and price offered by Toyota, that he started a subsidiary company to be the sole importer and distributor of the entire Toyota range.
The rest of the Japanese automotive industry followed suit during the 60s. From the initial offerings of cheap, unsuitable vehicles they quickly developed cars that Australians wanted and marketed them aggressively. E.G. my father bought a 1967 Toyota Custom Crown wagon, a family size station wagon, as standard it had a heater/demister, exterior mirrors, carpets, electric tailgate window, self seeking radio with automatic electric aerial, tinted glass and automatic transmission, all extras, if available on the market leading big three, Holden, Ford and Chrysler.
Trucks followed a few short years later in a remarkably similar manner. When the TK Bedford was superseded, we never got the TM, it was replaced with the TR Isuzu, a crude but robust four tonner (nominal carrying capacity). This was soon replaced by the SBR/JBR four and eight tonners. These were a quantum leap forward in luxury and comfort from any othe offering from International, Dodge or Ford (pretty much the last of the UK manufacturers with the D Series Cargo). Initially all Isuzu products were badged by Bedford, to maintain the link with the respected name.
Eventually only International stood toe to toe with the Japanese invaders. Nissan, UD, Hino (Toyota), Diahatsu and Mazda had joined the frey. International were still numbe one, but only because they offered a robust, Australian designed product in every weight segment. Once Iveco got hold of Inter, they slashed the range and lost the number one position. International is now a mere shadow of its former self, offering only a single model, vocational truck, popular as a tipper, concrete or garbage truck, the only options being 2, 3, 4, or five axles
Without a doubt the Japs dominate the the local, up to 15 tonne GVM sector and have a significant presence in the three axle market.
In the heavy duty and interstate section Western Star and Kenworth are dominant, but Volvo, Scania, Daf and MAN are popular amongst the budget conscious bitumen burners.
Japanese prime movers are relatively rare and the exclusive domain of tight arse farmers and local loading and unloading of linehaul trailers.
To be fair on the old SPR that I previously denigrated, it was expected to fulfill a role for which it was not designed.Thats an intresting post “Star down under”
I knew 2 mechanics that both reckoned Landrovers were unreliable motors. One of these used to do lots of off roading and was in
a club and even used to build his own off roaders from the ground up. He had loads of Landrovers and Range Rovers and ended up
buying a Toyota Landcruiser which he said was a different league with regard to reliability.The other mechanic told me “you had to carry a tool box” as they always break down. Both were really good mechanics. (not fitters)
It just goes to show what you are saying about Toyota.Was having a tyre fitted the other week and a fella pulled in with a 4 year old Landrover Discovery which he was telling me had cost
him thousands in repairs. His boss had just bought a brand new Range Rover that cost approx £100,000 and apparently it had been
back in the garage more than he had used it on the road !Was talking to a taxi driver in Singapore and he told me there were 28,000 taxis in 2012 and they were nearly all Toyota Corollas
apart from some Mercedes.0
Not a lorry but my 11 year old 1.33 toyota iq is knocking on the door of 170,000 miles, had it from 12 months old, it travels the a14 and m6 4 days a week, problem, 1 battery , and an a/c component had to be changed, i’ve had toyota’s since 1975, my 12 th toyota should be here in a week or 2.
At swift we had a 7.5 tonne isuzu, nqr i think, very tk like even down to the propshaft hand brake, very reliable, and light, did the job,but hard to get anybody in it, when we had euro cargo’s and road runners. But it was a good little motor i thought.