Nissan celebrates 60 years of record breaking Australian Simpson Desert with Patrol (18 pics + 1 video)

Six decades ago, the Sprigg family made the first driving through the Simpson Desert in his G60 Nissan Patrol.





For citizens of Russia and the entire post-Soviet space The history of the Nissan Patrol SUV began in the late 1980s with fourth generation model. In the early 1990s, Patrols flooded into the market Russia, becoming, along with Toyota Land Cruiser and Mercedes-Benz S-class, the personification of a new time - free, but dangerous!

Why are there 90s, in the late 80s in the glorious city of Barnaul, Nissan Patrol "served" in the traffic police



But the Nissan Palrol is much more than just an SUV from the dashing 90s. The car appeared back in 1951, like the Toyota Land Cruiser, and earned a reputation as a rugged all-terrain vehicle for the toughest conditions operation. For example, 60 years ago, the Sprigg family made history - they crossed Australia's Simpson Desert for the first time in a motorized vehicle. Naturally, it was a Nissan Patrol!





In 1962, the Australians on the second generation Patrol (1960–1984) made a 12-day trek without maps, navigation or radio, with with a minimum of supplies, but with two children and a 200-liter barrel of fuel in body...







Simpson is one of the largest deserts in the world, extremely dangerous. But Reginald Sprigg was the founder of the exploration company South Australia and Northern Territory Oil Search Ltd. and was engaged in including the search for routes for the transportation of oil through this inhospitable region. Taking a wife and two children (ten and seven years old) the brave geologist rushed to the road. Everyone sat on the front bench Patrol, there was no more free space in the car.





The family relied only on Reg's vast knowledge of navigation, geology, wildlife and off-road. One of the main problems was dry grass, crammed under the bottom, ready to flare up from contact with hot exhaust. Had to stop and remove regularly combustible material - proximity to a barrel of fuel gave the situation "light".





Spriggi spent most of the route alone, not meeting anyone. one person for several days. Sometimes other adventurers tried join the Spriggs expedition, but the cars couldn't stand it, only Patrol passed the entire route without any problems, though with an average speed of 5 kilometers per hour.





The Sprigg family's research came in handy a year later when the oil French Petroleum bulldozed sand dunes, paving the way through the desert! So the journey turned out to be only interesting, but also useful. At least for the oilmen...