Jim's Car 

(Western Australia Subaru Club Member)

1989 Series 1 Liberty

While on the trip to central Australia, David M and I met up with Jim W, a Western Australia Subaru Club member. He was just leaving Ayres Rock as we were heading to it. He was just one week into his 14 week holiday and his travelling companion, Guy and Juliette, who drove a standard Liberty with 14" wheels, were only going for 6 weeks. They were heading across to Cairns and then travelling up to Cape York, then picking up Jims wife, Chris, in Cairns on the way back down south, visiting Fraser Island on the way to Brisbane.

Keith and I were lucky enough to have the travellers stay a night with us in Maryborough. This gave John P and Keith a chance to go right over both cars, getting lots of ideas and dreams. Jenny, John and Keith also had a chance to discuss our Cape York trip next year and what was needed and what wasn’t.

Jim’s car, an ’89 Series 1 Liberty, has done over 200,000km and is now on its third motor, which is a 2.5L Outback motor, imported from Japan. The original low range gears in the Liberty’s gearbox have been replaced by Impreza low range gearing and is now equivalent to the L-Series. It has 4.4 ratio diffs front and back. The suspension air bags have been removed and a new upgraded suspension has been fitted. The sump, gearbox and diff are protected by aluminium bash plates or guards.

The car is also fitted with a bullbar and Bosch spotlights, but it has an electric winch mounted behind the bumper bar with the control point on top of it. A snorkel has been made to fit into a tube fitting in the front RH guard, and it also has an above water extension that fits onto the exhaust pipe. Other than those few changes to the outside, it looks like a normal Liberty cruising the outback.

Jim’s wife described him as a real gadget man, and when you look at the dash and windscreen of his car, you automatically know why. The car is fitted out with the normal mobile phone, a mobile satellite phone, a GPS, an electric compass and temperature gauge, as well as all the electronic trip meters and gadgets which are a must for a rally car, or so the men think. The back seat was taken out for the trip and in its place was a large tool box that had been made to fit. Jim also has a large fuel tank that was made to fit in this area when it is needed.

Every year, Jim does at least one big trip in his Liberty, sometimes by himself, sometimes with friends or other club members. The Liberty has been across the Simpson Desert twice, once lifted and the other standard (each way). This would be a great way to see our country. One thing for sure - you wouldn’t get lost.

I hope we got the information right, Jim. If not, blame the guys.

Danna Peters SC346

Webmaster's Footnote: While Jim doesn't belong to the Queensland Club but we thought it was such a great car, it deserved a spot in our website.