Nissan Patrols conquer Africa (long way down /Ewan McGregor)

Have you spotted one of our Forum members in the Press or on TV?
User avatar
SJC
Patrolman 1000+
Patrolman 1000+
Posts: 3188
Joined: 23 Nov 2014 14:20
Full Name: SJC
Nickname: Fanus
Home Town: Nelspruit
Current 4x4: Patrol 4.2 SGL
Home Language: Afrikaans/English
Has thanked: 195 times
Been thanked: 171 times

Nissan Patrols conquer Africa (long way down /Ewan McGregor)

Post by SJC »

Nissan Patrols conquer Africa on long way down
Pubblicato il 07 agosto 2007 (old article)
1.jpg
1.jpg (33.89 KiB) Viewed 7456 times
Two Nissan Patrols forming part of the 15,000-mile Long Way Down expedition have crossed the finish line – with just one puncture between them during the entire trip.

The specially-modified 4x4 vehicles supported Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman during their journey from John o’Groat's to Cape Town in South Africa, which will be screened on television later this year.

The cars were driven by co-directors and executive producers Russ Malkin and David Alexanian, and motored on through everything the African continent had to throw at them.

“The cars were amazing – just one puncture along the way and they didn’t let us down once,” said Russ.

“I finished on the same four tyres I left on – in fact it was only as the Patrols were being driven away this morning to be shipped back to England that I realised quite how attached we’ve become to them.

“Ewan and Charley really appreciated seeing the Patrols coming over the horizon – the cars meant friends, food, supplies and reassurance. The cars became the mothership of the journey, offering shelter during the more hazardous moments – they really did the job.”

Russ said the entire crew was also grateful for the modifications on the vehicles, including the long-range fuel tanks that had been fitted.

“We were driving across beautiful but wild desert-scapes in Namibia – we didn’t have to go that way but we wanted to because it looked so amazing,” he said. “But once out there you realise you really are in the middle of nowhere and you couldn’t just stop for petrol. Nissan put fuel tanks with a 450-mile range in the Patrols and that got us across the desert so we could film.”

Russ and David, together with a medic, were part of the small support crew following Ewan and Charley on their epic journey, which finished at the weekend in the shadow of Table Mountain in Cape Town.

“The arrival in Cape Town was incredible – we were approaching in the Patrols to be met by hundreds of people with a helicopter overhead filming us – the sense of achievement, and relief, was amazing,” added Russ.

Russ now has one last ambition for the Nissan Patrol that got him through the journey – picking up his 12-year-old daughter Emily from school in it.

“The Patrol looks really cool, so for her dad to rock up in it to collect her from school would be fantastic,” he added.

The Patrols are due back in England in three weeks time and Nissan will work with the Long Way Down team on what to do with them next.

John Parslow, Nissan 4x4 brand manager, said: “We knew the Patrols would not let the crew down but even so this is another incredible achievement by Ewan, Charley, Russ and David and we congratulate them on finishing the journey.

“This has been a fantastic partnership for us and we look forward to working with the guys on even more exciting projects in the future.”

The expedition was a follow-up to the original Long Way Round trip in 2004 which saw Ewan and Charley ride more than 19,000 miles, travelling eastwards through Europe and Asia, completing their journey in New York. This time the trip covered 15,000 miles supported by the Nissan Patrols which were home to the mobile editing suite used to document the pair’s adventure for a new BBC TV series.

http://www.duemotori.com/news/events/15 ... y_down.php
‘96 GQ 4.2 SGL
‘01 GU 4.5 GRX
‘08 GU TD42 BAKKIE
User avatar
David M
Patrolman
Patrolman
Posts: 794
Joined: 12 Nov 2013 15:13
Full Name: David Marais
Nickname: David Marais
Home Town: Midrand
Current 4x4: 1998 4.5 GL Patrol
2006 4.2 Td Bakkie (SWAMBO's) - The "Firetruck"
Home Language: English
Location: Midrand
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 96 times

Re: Nissan Patrols conquer Africa (long way down /Ewan McGre

Post by David M »

Yip Fanus - This was in 2007. Watched it on DSTV and one of the vehicles hit a donga at 100 km/h at night. The roofrack legs broke and sent a spare bike wheel through the windscreen but the Patrol's suspension and steering etc was just fine.
There are still places out there!!!! - Daniel Goz - The "Tapam" movie
Arnie_87
Full Member
Full Member
Posts: 27
Joined: 10 May 2016 17:17
Full Name: Arnold Reith
Nickname: Arnie
Home Town: Far East
Current 4x4: Nissan Patrol GL Y61, TD42 n/a
Home Language: German
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Nissan Patrols conquer Africa (long way down /Ewan McGre

Post by Arnie_87 »

anybody got details about the patrols? was it already the 3.0 CRD or the TD42? modifications?
User avatar
JoshJ
Patrolman
Patrolman
Posts: 982
Joined: 30 Nov 2013 16:16
Full Name: Joshua Joubert
Nickname: Joshua
Home Town: Centurion, Gauteng
Current 4x4: 94 GQ SGL-D
Home Language: Afrikaans
Has thanked: 81 times
Been thanked: 95 times

Re: Nissan Patrols conquer Africa (long way down /Ewan McGre

Post by JoshJ »

My geus would be the older 3.0liter. There is truly very little wrong with these 3.0liters. If they are taken care of they wil give you good service. Voetspore used them extensively through africa. People dont go Africa with petrol 4x4's. Not usually anyway
Being alive is a Blessing!!

Regards,
Joshua
Wilkie
Patrolman 1000+
Patrolman 1000+
Posts: 1402
Joined: 24 Feb 2014 15:33
Full Name: Errol Wilken
Nickname: Wilkie
Home Town: Pretoria
Current 4x4: 1999 4.5 GRX Nissan Patrol
2004 BMW 3.0D X5
Home Language: Afrikaans
Has thanked: 69 times
Been thanked: 92 times

Re: Nissan Patrols conquer Africa (long way down /Ewan McGre

Post by Wilkie »

4.8 lpetrol
User avatar
David M
Patrolman
Patrolman
Posts: 794
Joined: 12 Nov 2013 15:13
Full Name: David Marais
Nickname: David Marais
Home Town: Midrand
Current 4x4: 1998 4.5 GL Patrol
2006 4.2 Td Bakkie (SWAMBO's) - The "Firetruck"
Home Language: English
Location: Midrand
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 96 times

Re: Nissan Patrols conquer Africa (long way down /Ewan McGre

Post by David M »

Afraid they complained about the quality of the diesel so they must have been oil burners. Probably acquired in Europe so would have been the 3.0 as I think the 4.2 was already considered environmentaly unfriendly then.
There are still places out there!!!! - Daniel Goz - The "Tapam" movie
User avatar
Michael
Moderator
Posts: 2479
Joined: 05 Mar 2014 14:39
Full Name: Michael
Nickname: Steyn
Home Town: Centurion
Current 4x4: Patrol GU 4.2 Turbo Diesel
Home Language: Afrikaans
Location: Centurion, PTA
Has thanked: 189 times
Been thanked: 336 times

Re: Nissan Patrols conquer Africa (long way down /Ewan McGre

Post by Michael »

Yip, had to ba a 3.0........ see these pics. Dont think the 4.2 was ever in the newer shape body and it had an intercooler scoop so had to be a 3.0. It might even still have been the DI
Attachments
Long Way Down.jpg
Long Way Down.jpg (99.33 KiB) Viewed 7368 times
163_news070731_01z+nissan_patrol+ewan_mcgregor_and_charley_boorman.jpg
163_news070731_01z+nissan_patrol+ewan_mcgregor_and_charley_boorman.jpg (69.27 KiB) Viewed 7368 times
"The Just shall live by Faith" Rom1:17

Check out my build here My Patrol
And my engine rebuild here mostly engine related stuff
Clem
Patrolman
Patrolman
Posts: 902
Joined: 19 Jun 2013 15:16
Full Name: Clem Daniel
Nickname: Clem
Home Town: Johannesburg
Current 4x4: Patrol 4.8
Home Language: English
Has thanked: 35 times
Been thanked: 37 times

Re: Nissan Patrols conquer Africa (long way down /Ewan McGre

Post by Clem »

Sheesh. Look at those racks. Those things aren't half loaded! What have they got in there?
User avatar
iandvl
Patrolman 1000+
Patrolman 1000+
Posts: 1763
Joined: 12 Jan 2015 13:26
Full Name: Ian de Villiers
Nickname: Ian
Home Town: Garsfontein
Current 4x4: Nissan Patrol 4.5 GRX
Home Language: English
Has thanked: 442 times
Been thanked: 670 times

Re: Nissan Patrols conquer Africa (long way down /Ewan McGre

Post by iandvl »

Clem wrote:Sheesh. Look at those racks. Those things aren't half loaded! What have they got in there?
Beer, hopefully... :rolling: :rolling: :rolling:
Ian de Villiers

Patrol 4.5 GRX
Jurgens XT65 2x0 with Super Select Zero
ORRA: H80
User avatar
Stefan
Moderator
Posts: 1692
Joined: 28 Apr 2009 08:43
Full Name: Stefan de Villiers
Nickname: Stefan
Home Town: Bothasig, Cape Town
Current 4x4: 2002 3.0 GL Patrol
Home Language: Afrikaans
Location: Cape Town
Has thanked: 175 times
Been thanked: 49 times
Contact:

Re: Nissan Patrols conquer Africa (long way down /Ewan McGre

Post by Stefan »

Nothing wrong with a nice rack :wink:
Post Reply

Return to “32. In the Press”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests