30th Anniversary of Offroad Trucks, Australia's Tatra Dealership

In 1997, Larry Gaden registered Offroad Trucks Australia as the exclusive importer and distributor of Tatra trucks in Australia. From a very small start, Offroad Trucks has grown from strength to strength as customers come to recognize the amazing robustness and quality of Tatra's trucks. This year the company celebrated its 30th anniversary. This brochure covers the company's story.

Check out their website: https://offroadtrucks.com.au/

Offroad Trucks Australia 2020: https://tatrat600.blogspot.com/2020/09/tatra-offroad-trucks-australia.html
Offroad Trucks Australia 2024: https://tatrat600.blogspot.com/2024/10/tatra-offroad-trucks-australasia-2024.html

German Motor Industry: Present and Future - 'The Motor' November 1945

This report by the British motoring journal "The Motor" paints a very interesting picture about the state of the automobile industry in West Germany only six months after the end of the war. The premier German budget car of the prewar period, the DKW, is now the most common vehicle on the roads. This was largely the result of them being rarely confiscated for military use and thus destroyed or captured. Auto Union, although located in the Soviet Zone prioritized the establishment of parts and servicing for the 60,000 prewar cars on the road. New cars would not hit the market until 1948-49. For IFA and DKW postwar history, check this article: https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2020/05/collapse-and-reconstruction-history-of.html

Surprisingly, the author of the article gives a positive review of the Tatra T87, which is usually slandered in the Western press as a car so dangerous and unstable that German officers were banned from driving them (this never happened). British suspicion of rear-engine designs ran very deep, expressed in the motoring press since 1935. https://tatrat600.blogspot.com/2024/10/first-reference-to-nazi-killing-tatras.html

"Rear Engine Acceptance
A car which seems to have won golden opinions from German and U.S. Forces alike is the big air-cooled rear-engine Tatra. It appears that a fair number of these came into Germany following the establishment of the Czechoslovak Protectorate in 1939, and everyone seems agreed that they give remarkable speed, low fuel consumption and immense comfort for long-distance motoring. Seeing them in company with more orthodox vehicles, one can certainly have no doubt about their merits on the score of appearance, and one must regret that so few of these interesting models have come into this country [ie, the UK]."

The new Volkswagen also receives positive reviews, being described as a much more comfortable vehicle than the US jeep. 





Other interesting links: https://heinkelscooter.blogspot.com/2022/07/state-of-german-motor-industry-1945.html

Precious Metal: A Love Story Premiere

Danny Estrin's "Precious Metal - A Love Story" will air on SBS2 on 2 September 2026. There are five episodes in the series which explores people's love of cars. The series will also be available for streaming on SBS On Demand (in Australia).

To celebrate the occasion and thank all the participants and supporters, Danny and producers and photographers Adrian and Dom, held a premiere at a friends warehouse.

Graham's 1928 Chrysler, one of the first competitors at the new Lake Perkolilli races.

Old and new - 1928 Chrysler faces off with a Maclaren

Limited edition Daniel Ricciardo Maclaren

This Mini Clubman has a really interesting history. Do watch the series to find out

Renault Spider

Danny's MG

It was a very good turnout

Danny Estrin, public speaker!

"Sinister"



The Maclaren

Harry takes the wheel of Danny's Zaz

What a great machine

Posers

The Tatra has a great behind

Check out the series from Wednesday 2nd September 2026 https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-series/precious-metal-a-love-story

The Filming: https://tatrat600.blogspot.com/2026/08/precious-metal-love-story-airs-on-sbs2.html

ABC interview with Danny Estrin: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/sundayextra/why-danny-estrin-is-driven-by-precious-metal-/107094790

Precious Metal - A Love Story airs on SBS2 (Australia) 2 September 2026

Danny Estrin's "Precious Metal - A Love Story" will air on SBS2 on 2 September 2026. There are five episodes in the series which explores people's love of cars. The series will also be available for streaming on SBS On Demand (if you're in Australia - foreign viewers would need to use a VPN and create an account to view).

Filming for my section about the Tatra occurred on 20 November 2025, with a 'pick up' filming in March 2026 for additional footage. I guess that's 'quick' in terms of film production. Knowing how much effort went into the series, I am very keen to see how it turned out.


For more on the filming, see these links: https://tatrat600.blogspot.com/2025/11/behind-scenes-filming-with-sbs.html

SBS On Demand: https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-series/precious-metal-a-love-story

Reviews:
https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/precious-metal-love-story-air-sbs-september
https://www.aussievision.net/post/voyager-s-danny-estrin-on-his-eurovision-to-tv-journey-it-s-very-exciting

ABC Radio interview with Danny Estrin: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/sundayextra/why-danny-estrin-is-driven-by-precious-metal-/107094790

1935 Tatra Range at the Prague Salon

"All types of Tatra cars are at your service at the car showroom. Take a look at them all carefully and drive the one that suits you best. The test drive will convince you best! We are waiting for you, because it is our pleasure to prove to you the value of Tatra cars in action."

Tatra's range in 1935 featured the T57 as the budget offering, the T75 as the middle-class car, the T77 was very much a special case, built to order for customers with deep pockets wanting to showcase their 'modernist' credentials, but the top of the range was the T70 and T80. These two were the most exclusive and expensive cars in the range. These were basically the same car, differentiated only by their engine spec, the T70 being a V8 and T80 being a V12.
https://tatrat600.blogspot.com/2022/07/1931-tatra-t80.html