Outback Travel In Ke10 Station Wagon

[Davros El Davros]

Just read an interesting article from a 4WD website - its from a profile written by a guy named Phil Gaukroger

 

Here is the bit that interested me:

 

"I got interested in outback travel in the late 1970's when I travelled bush with two mates in a 2wd KE10 Corolla station

wagon. That was a pretty flash vehicle for a uni student back in those days - cost me $1400 which was saved

over a couple of years working at a grog shop. It was fitted with HD springs, bullbar, tropical roof, sump guards, and

used a 27Mhz radio for communications. It was very light and surprisingly capable on sand, usually only coming

stuck when bottoming out on deep sand. The Corolla travelled the Birdsville, Cordillo, Strezlecki and Oodnadatta

tracks before they became outback highways and did them in the summer heat (we did some crazy things in hindsight).

It also did a lot of Flinders tracks. The small tyres suffered occasionally from the rocks - did 3 tyres one day,

but did our own repairs, using a scissor jack under the towbar as a beadbreaker. The Corolla was cheap on petrol,

going over 800km on 40 litre tank plus 2 jerries. No fridges - just a couple of canvas water bags on the front, and lots

of tinned food."

 

Taken from page 3 of this PDF

 

My old man used to do some hectic outback trips in old valiants, but I have never seen an old corolla in the desert yet..!

[7shades]

I've circumnavigated the country in a KE70 wagon before... and driven that same car to the tip of cape york :P

 

But in a KE10? Thats just nutty :hmm:

[LukeAE71]

  Davros El Davros said:

Just read an interesting article from a 4WD website - its from a profile written by a guy named Phil Gaukroger

 

Here is the bit that interested me:

 

"I got interested in outback travel in the late 1970's when I travelled bush with two mates in a 2wd KE10 Corolla station

wagon. That was a pretty flash vehicle for a uni student back in those days - cost me $1400 which was saved

over a couple of years working at a grog shop. It was fitted with HD springs, bullbar, tropical roof, sump guards, and

used a 27Mhz radio for communications. It was very light and surprisingly capable on sand, usually only coming

stuck when bottoming out on deep sand. The Corolla travelled the Birdsville, Cordillo, Strezlecki and Oodnadatta

tracks before they became outback highways and did them in the summer heat (we did some crazy things in hindsight).

It also did a lot of Flinders tracks. The small tyres suffered occasionally from the rocks - did 3 tyres one day,

but did our own repairs, using a scissor jack under the towbar as a beadbreaker. The Corolla was cheap on petrol,

going over 800km on 40 litre tank plus 2 jerries. No fridges - just a couple of canvas water bags on the front, and lots

of tinned food."

 

Taken from page 3 of this PDF

 

My old man used to do some hectic outback trips in old valiants, but I have never seen an old corolla in the desert yet..!

 

I reckon I know that guy, his kid used to race radio control cars with us. I remember his Sahara too.

 

Oh yeah and wicked that the KE10 could do all that :)

[philbey]

Awesome!