HCVC

Fiats were extremely good in their time for long distance work,” says Rod Boyd who has owned them since the 1970’s and has now restored one.

“The motor was rated at 122 HP when doing 3200 RPM which gave a top speed of 58 MPH. Fuel consumption was 14 miles per gallon with an eight ton load. They used Michelin tyres all round that were good for 60,000 miles. The motors were good for 300,000 miles before a rebuild,” says Rod.

1 & 2: Rod with his current Fiat 3: Rod Boyd’s Fiat is loaded on a train for the trip Perth to Port Augusta in the same era 4 & 5: Keith Vanlewen and John Johnson’s Fiats with two different loads. Note the flap in the front of the tarp which was there to keep the dust out by pressurising the load which was needed crossing the Nullarbor when it was still a gravel road