redex trial 1953

The 1953 Redex Trial was Australia’s great rolling torture test—about 10,500 km of corrugations, dust and bravado to spruik a fuel additive and make headlines. It looped the country from Sydney and back, and was won by Ken Tubman and John Marshall in a plucky Peugeot 203. The roads were so rough hubcaps developed trust issues, yet the little Pug just kept on, cementing Peugeot’s reputation here. It kicked off a national obsession with long-distance reliability runs and proved that bravery, a good map and some stubborn steel could conquer the big lap. Big country, small car, enormous bragging rights.