In the 1960s, the Australian road transport industry was starting to recognise that the high horsepower/high torque diesel engines being used to move road freight, allowed for quicker and more cost effective transport. The introduction of Peterbilts enabled this realisation, however by the late 1960s, Kenworth had replaced Peterbilt as the frontrunner, furthering the growth of the industry into the 1970s.

Petrol engines continued in use, but “the writing was now on the wall”. Diesel would overtake petrol as the industry moved into the 1970s. On the local market, International Harvester was still a dominant make, but when Chrysler Australia Limited (CAL) released their Dodge AT4 Series, it was recognised that a serious competitor had arrived. In the heavy-duty sector, the AT4 700 Series with its 361cid V8 petrol (202bhp and 330ft/lbs) soon established itself on the highways as a very reliable and hard working interstate truck. Dodge was back!