Bella Italia!
Truck & Driver|October 2017

Until recently, Matt has found it hard to put a gloss on the Iveco brand – but a spell in Australia’s Simpson Desert with a Eurocargo 4x4 has prompted a rethink

Matt Wood
Bella Italia!

I’ve never had much love for Iveco. I should really; the company still manufactures trucks here in Oz. The bonneted Powerstar and the Stralis eight-wheeler are screwed together in the Australian plant.

I’m not sure if it’s a legacy of the first Cursor engines (they had a tendency to explode), or the sloppy cab suspension of the Stralis (which makes you seasick on Aussie roads) or the Legoland interior. But Iveco and I have never really gelled.

But I’ve maintained an interest in the company’s off-road line-up. I even had the keys to a Daily 4x4 for a bit and it proved quite the off-road weapon. It didn’t, however, do on-road that well; it was probably the roughest light truck I’ve ever driven. But at least I looked macho and outdoorsy while having the crap belted out of my kidneys.

Iconic outback trip

I had cause recently to have a rethink on the Iveco front. I took a Eurocargo 4x4 on one of Australia’s iconic outback journeys; I drove it across the world’s largest parallel dune sea, the Simpson Desert.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 2017-Ausgabe von Truck & Driver.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 2017-Ausgabe von Truck & Driver.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS TRUCK & DRIVERAlle anzeigen
Well forked Daf
Truck & Driver

Well forked Daf

Remember, we like to cover all sorts of different trucks here at T&D – like this impressive new CF rigid complete with Moffett Mounty forklift

time-read
9 Minuten  |
August 2021
King of the hill
Truck & Driver

King of the hill

Moving heavy equipment off road calls for a truck with plenty of power and traction, which is why M&J Plant chose a mighty 6x4 FH16 750

time-read
9 Minuten  |
August 2021
Time Machine 2015-2019
Truck & Driver

Time Machine 2015-2019

It’s the final part of our series on the history of UK haulage. Let’s look back at those innocent times before that pesky virus turned up

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
August 2021
Original and best
Truck & Driver

Original and best

There are few trucks which have been customised to the level of the Scania 143, but let’s not forget that the standard product was pretty awesome just as it left the factory, like this rare 420

time-read
7 Minuten  |
August 2021
GOING ALL THE WAY
Truck & Driver

GOING ALL THE WAY

Simon Rogers got behind the wheel as soon as he was able to, and nearly 30 years later, his company is going from strength to strength, with a striking all-black, top-spec Iveco S-Way 570 the latest addition to the fleet

time-read
7 Minuten  |
August 2021
Abnormal loads
Truck & Driver

Abnormal loads

In the distant past, when dinosaurs roamed the planet, truck drivers were a very different breed, made from sterner stuff than us mere mortals

time-read
3 Minuten  |
August 2021
Range change
Truck & Driver

Range change

After a gap of 13 years, Renault trucks have reappeared in the unique colours of MacRitchie Highland Distribution. T&D takes the high road to Inverness to meet owners, Donald and Catriona MacRitchie

time-read
9 Minuten  |
August 2021
Cutting a dash
Truck & Driver

Cutting a dash

Freshly showered and munching a healthy egg and cress sarnie in Gloucester North services, Chris has a Foden update

time-read
3 Minuten  |
August 2021
Air we go!
Truck & Driver

Air we go!

On Saturday 29 May at 6pm, 240 drivers gathered with their trucks at South Mimms Services for a parade to raise vital money for Essex & Hertfordshire Air Ambulance

time-read
1 min  |
August 2021
A Cutt Above
Truck & Driver

A Cutt Above

From coal to turf to fencing and loads more, there’s not much the Calcutt fleet hasn’t transported over the years

time-read
7 Minuten  |
August 2021