1970s Outback South Road Runners/Stuart Highway - White 4000, Road Commanders, KW, Mack, Atkinson

This footage is from the Ian Saffin collection. It is filmed along the Stuart Highway/South Road between Port Augusta and Alice Springs. Firstly we see Ian Saffin who was working for OGR (White Truck Dealers) in Adelaide at the time, changing a water pump on a 1975 White 4000 that belongs to Mick Van Heythuysen from O'Sullivan Beach, Adelaide SA. They are stopped at Kingoonya, Easter time 1976. The 4000 is powered by a 335 Cummins small cam, 13-speed direct drive on 44s on Hendrickson.
Then you'll see a White Road Commander powered by a Cummins, owned by John Frazer Allen, bogged down to the axles along with his 2 trailers. Eventually, with a bit of help, they get the truck and trailers out.
Next up you'll see Mick's 4000 again with Ian Saffin (Saff) and Mick driving two-up going north towards Alice. This is also Saff's first time driving a road train. An unusual perspective is achieved when Saff decides to film from on top of the trailer as they travel along!
Other 1970s rigs can be seen including Kenworths, Macks, a 1418 Benz, and one very rare configuration - Shell's twin-steer Atkinson road train. Once again, thanks Saff for letting us share your film. Thanks for watching and please subscribe!

[@peterkent8463]

Old mate filming "bull bar cam" on the front of White was way ahead of its time. 🤣

[@evolveausevolveaus]

Those were the days, great video Ray

[@raygrimaoldschooltrucking3100]

Thank you.

[@raygrimaoldschooltrucking3100]

Check out my other videos on my RUclips channel.

[@evolveausevolveaus]

that old footage should be shown to new drivers these days, the mud bogg and the scattered freight after the crash.
Hard days

[@peternash2228]

I worked for OGR Iin Adelaide in the mid 70s I remember Saff well , a good bloke as were all the guys there a good crew ,good times,

[@raygrimaoldschooltrucking3100]

I’m still in contact with Saff Peter, next time I speak to him I’ll mention your name.

[@raygrimaoldschooltrucking3100]

Hi Peter, next time I speak with Saff I’ll mention your name to him, cheers Ray.

[@malcolmolle8984]

A great film!

[@denysmith9469]

Hard times create strong men strong men create good times good times create weak men and weak men create hard times
There’s nothing weak about these men

[@rocketfnq4879]

Proper Aussie super truckers...👍

[@returnofthenative]

1956 model, WA & in my last few days.
I was there, & I remember. I remember all of it.
Back in the mid/late 70s I had a White 9000, GM, I think it was a 471. Started with a Bedford J petrol at 14, carting wool bales.
Slept in a swag under the trailer.
My last was the KW T904 Cat C16 on 6 rod. Mostly pulling triple flat tops out to the mines, mostly East Pilbara, bit of other stuff.
Thank you for this upload, I only stumbled on it by chance.
What have the bastards done to our country?

[@raygrimaoldschooltrucking3100]

@@returnofthenative check out my other videos on my RUclips channel if you like.

[@86w900]

Awesome. Not my era but man i wish it was still like this. Be only blokes out there doin it that love the hard go. Not every yoho cause driven a trucks cool now.

[@raygrimaoldschooltrucking3100]

@@86w900 if you go to my RUclips channel you’ll find more similar videos of this type of content, thanks for watching and your comment.

[@100ververis]

The. Atkinson tanker road train looked awesome at 19: min mark

[@paulgriffiths8359]

A fantastic glimps of history then
A selection of gear was run back then, from all corners of the world as I guess it still is today
Looks like the remains of a burnt out road train at one stage during the film, it's a bit hard to tell, with the scratchy film, but it's still a treasure of a film
Thank you for sharing

[@raygrimaoldschooltrucking3100]

Paul Griffiths, you are correct that's the burnt remains of a Road Train. There's more film to come also so stay tuned.

[@paulgriffiths8359]

I'll keep my eyes peeled for second installment

[@billytwofeathers5674]

Lovely Footage

[@bro5800]

MANY THANKS FOR UPLOAD.

[@dazzamate4894]

Mate love the old footage.. I recognise some of the old bangers there. Good times.. good to see some of the old companies that are no longer around.. keep em coming.. liked and subbed

[@michaelvukusich9634]

Bull good

[@PaulSmith-ns1lw]

Real truck drivers

[@outthere9877]

I was thinking the same thing mate “😄👍

[@stephenjohnston7330]

Now they don't know how to change spider wheels!

[@andrewking9761]

At the 18min 50 mark an extremely rare cabover M-A-N.

[@raygrimaoldschooltrucking3100]

Sure is.

[@gsd4me00]

It had a Detroit Diesel in it too. It would be a real screamer.

[@stephenjohnston7330]

Some of those cab over M.A.N.s had a 10 speed column shift or "10 on the tree" as we would say.

[@returnofthenative]

Dora ran one of those as a rigid up into the gulf.

[@paperboy...8667]

Plenty of Whites logging Kaingaroa Forest in the 60/70s ..

[@craigmartin5939]

This looks about 74?? Back in the days when i was a little fella vintage 1968!

[@raygrimaoldschooltrucking3100]

It's from 1976.

[@craigmartin5939]

@@raygrimaoldschooltrucking3100 oh well I wasn't too far off, just the difference between an HQ Kingswood and an HZ!