About five years ago I lived in a place called Mount Isa, a mining town about 1000kms West of Townsville, in North-West Queensland. With my two sons (then aged twelve and ten) I went on a camping trip to Lake Julius, a man-made lake in desert country about 80kms North of Mount Isa. I used my 1969 Peugeot 404 to get there. At that time the 404 had travelled about 190000kms. The road was pretty rough - corrugations, rocky outcrops, and many gibbers about the size of a man's fist. There was also a fair bit of bulldust - fine sand with the consistency of talcum powder. Bulldust can be dangerous, as it looks firm, but gives way, and the wheels hit whatever is under it - usually rocks. To avoid getting stuck, you need to hit it with a bit of pace.
We did the journey out in about five hours. The only other vehicles we saw were 4WDs (Toyota Landcruisers mostly). It was a fairly trouble-free trip, but caution was necessary.
We set up camp, and next day, on the suggestion of the park Ranger, attempted to drive to a feature called "China Wall". He thought that we would be able to drive two-thirds of the way and walk the rest. We made the two-thirds without too much trouble, and came to a steep rise with bulldust covering the approaches. I walked it first, and decided that we could get through as long as we had momentum.
I positioned my sons at the top of the rise to watch for anyone approaching and gunned the 404 in second gear. It was a bit spectacular (dust and gibbers flying everywhere) but we made it. Big 15'' wheels, tough Michelins, and good ground clearance did the trick.
On arriving at the feature, we found a character with a tricked-up Mitsubishi Pajero had got there ahead of us (winch, full-time 4WD, compass, entrenching tool - in short everything from the catalogue). He looked at the 4WD with eyes like saucers and said "How the hell did you get that thing here?"
I told him that I drove it in. I didn't tell him that the car had cost me $400 three years ago. I believe that he would have paid about $40000 for the Mitsubishi.
I still have the 404, but I also own a 1986 505 wagon. The 404 is being quietly restored. It was my daily driver until two years ago.
Bob Whittaker
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