howardo said:

Total bollox. The defender can handle anything, it is without a doubt the best 4x4 in the world. Only a moron would dispute its ruggedness and off road ability.
The outback is pretty much unpoliced due to its size and remoteness, so how can any vehicle be not allowed? You can drive what you like, its your own responsibility.

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bollox..lmfao...it had nothing to with how good offroad they were, it was simple fact that they could not get from one end to the other without boiling over and having the occupants passing out in the cab due to no mod cons like air con. so the local council or what ever it was imposed the sanction they were responsible for the road/track. sent an email to an old associate if mine at TGB to see if he can dredge the article and pictures from it.

The first outback roads to be driven on would have been done so in an old series landy long before the japs made a 4x4.

The first landy was in 1947/8 based on the amercican willys jeep, the japs had already done this in 1941 with the bantam, on the phillipines. so i could argue that possibly the jap was on the island before the brit, seen as how its only 4345 miles whereas its around 10000 miles from uk to australia. though what this has to do with a hippo being inferior to a jap compact 4x4 i have no idea? and it may be the best selling compact 4x4 in the world but it still dont make it any better.

Unfortunately, there are indeed signs in the Outback stating "Only Landcruisers beyond this point" Whether or not you choose to comply with the sign is another matter. Also I wonder if, as the market is mostly Jap out in Oz, that the sign is pointing to the type of vehicle in general. IE a large 4x4!

As for A/C, I doubt that mattered very much considering the amount of open topped vehicles being used.