20 YEARS AGO – MAY 2002

A READER acclaimed us as the ‘benchmark informative magazine’ (which we still are!) and he won a Coleman lantern for his accolades. On a more serious note, our expert panel of four-wheel drivers picked what they thought were the 10 best 4WDS of all time. Such a subject is always a good one for a debate! So, what were they? Starting as nearly all surveys of such vehicles do, it was the 1942 Jeep that started the revolution followed by the ’48 Series 1 Landy. Then followed the 40 Series Cruiser, the 1970 Range Rover, an LJ-50 Suzie, the 1979 Hilux, the ’79 Subaru, a 60 Series Cruiser, the 1983 NA Pajero, and, lastly, the 1988 GQ Patrol.

There were a few other honourable mentions; while the 10 worst vehicles also had a list, many of which would still rate on it today.

In the destination yarns, Neil Cocks was back with another adventurous story, this time exploring the Great Victoria Desert with some cross-country forays. Other destinations included the headwaters of the Murrumbidgee and South Australia’s Goog’s Track.