Articles by David Morley

David Morley

Contributing Journalist

Morley’s attentions turned to cars and motoring fairly early on in his life. The realisation that the most complex motor vehicle was easier to both understand and control than the simplest human-being, set his career in motion. Growing up in the country gave the young Morley a form of motoring freedom unmatched these days, as well as many trees to dodge. With a background in newspapers, the move to motoring journalism was no less logical than Clive Palmer’s move into politics, and at times, at least as funny.

Nissan RB30 engine: Your guide to the petrol six-cylinder motor

By David Morley · 27 Oct 2020

Nissan’s RB30, 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder engine has gone down in history as one of the best straight sixes of all time. Part of the RB family of inline engines (built in Japan from 1985 to 1991) that ranged from two to three litres, the RB30 in various guises has powered Australian cars ranging from all-wheel-drive supercars to butch off-roaders and every kind of taxi, police car and family w

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RD28 engine: Your guide to the Nissan Patrol motor

By David Morley · 22 Oct 2020

It seems very odd, but Nissan’s 2.8-litre turbo-diesel six-cylinder as seen in Australian-delivered Patrols, actually began its development journey as a petrol engine. What’s strange about that is that petrol and diesel engines usually have vastly different design parameters to account for their differing characteristics.

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Nissan Patrol Y62 used review: 2013-2019

By David Morley · 21 Oct 2020

Toyota's LandCruiser 200-Series tends to steal the limelight as a second-hand, seven-seat, off-road SUV buy. But Nissan's V8-engined Y62 Patrol has a lot to offer.

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TD42 engine: Your guide to the Nissan turbo diesel motor

By David Morley · 19 Oct 2020

Nissan’s TD42 engine as seen in the GQ and GU Patrols of the late 1980s and right up to 2007, was kind of the black sheep of the TD engine clan.

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Nissan Patrol GU Y61 used review: 1997-2015

By David Morley · 16 Oct 2020

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G60 Patrol: Your guide to the Nissan 4WD

By David Morley · 16 Oct 2020

Like other Japanese car makers post WW2, Nissan decided to take a Willys Jeep, reverse engineer it and come up with its own take on an off-road 4X4. The 4W series of vehicles from 1951 was the result of that process and, by 1958, Nissan had progressed with the concept to the point of adding Patrol badges to their rugged little puddle-jumper.

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MQ Patrol: Your guide to the Nissan 4WD

By David Morley · 15 Oct 2020

The MQ Patrol was a real watershed model for Nissan (or Datsun as it was still known here). It singlehandedly dragged the Patrol station-wagon concept from a military-styled, tool of the trade into a brave new world where families would increasingly use vehicles like it not just for everyday transport, but also as a bona fide recreational lifestyle accessory.

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Series 4 Patrol: Your guide to the Nissan 4WD

By David Morley · 09 Oct 2020

Nissan’s GU (Y61) Patrol was on sale for an awfully long time even by the lengthy standards of four-wheel-drives which are generally renewed far less frequently than passenger cars. Even so, the GU’s innings from 1997 to 2016 when it was finally pensioned off, saw it live on past even the model that was supposed to supersede it (the Y62).

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SWB Patrol: Your guide to the Nissan 4WD

By David Morley · 09 Oct 2020

Long-wheelbase Nissan Patrols weren't always the dominant species. The was a time when Shorty ruled the jungle.

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How to pick a car transport company in Australia

By David Morley · 23 Sep 2020

Transporting a car remotely is a bit of a boom industry right now. Online shopping for classic and collector cars, and motorbikes, has never been more popular as COVID-19 restrictions make travel (particularly interstate travel) impossible. But that also means that actually getting the purchase to its new owner requires the services of a transport company that can legally operate under those same

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