1961 Nissan Patrol G60
By Lorenzo Bianchi July 25, 1961
The 1961 Nissan Patrol G60 was the first Patrol officially sold in Australia.
It gained national recognition after becoming the first vehicle to cross the Simpson Desert in 1962.
The restored heritage vehicle preserves much of its original character and remains part of Nissan Australia's collection.
1961 Nissan Patrol G60 Began an Australian Legacy
Every long-running nameplate has a beginning. For the Patrol in Australia, that story starts with the 1961 Nissan Patrol G60.
While the Patrol's history stretches back to Japan in 1951, it was the arrival of the second-generation G60 in 1961 that introduced Australians to Nissan's rugged four-wheel drive. It became the first Patrol officially sold locally, beginning a journey that has now lasted for more than six decades and more than a quarter of a million Australian sales across five generations.
A Simple Design With A Clear Purpose
Looking at the G60 today, its design reflects an era when function came before style.
The upright body, short overhangs, exposed spare wheel and flat body panels were all shaped around durability rather than fashion. Large windows provided excellent visibility, while the compact proportions made the vehicle well suited to Australia's remote tracks and rough terrain. Even decades later, the G60 still carries an unmistakable presence that immediately identifies it as one of the earliest Patrols.
The heritage vehicle featured by Nissan has been part of the company's Australian collection since 2011. Ahead of the 50th anniversary of the famous Simpson Desert crossing, it underwent a careful restoration that focused on preserving its original finishes and authentic character instead of replacing components unnecessarily.
The Journey That Defined The Patrol
The G60's reputation wasn't built in a showroom.
Just one year after arriving in Australia, it became part of the country's off-road history when geologist Reg Sprigg, his wife Griselda and their children completed the first recorded motor vehicle crossing of the Simpson Desert. Their expedition established what is now known as the French Line and demonstrated the Patrol's ability to reach places that were considered inaccessible at the time.
Half a century later, Marg and Doug Sprigg retraced their parents' route behind the wheel of the same restored G60, completing the crossing in five days and celebrating one of Australia's best-known four-wheel-drive stories.
The Beginning Of A Lasting Reputation
The 1961 Nissan Patrol G60 did more than introduce a new model to Australian buyers. It established the qualities that would become closely associated with every Patrol that followed: durability, capability and a willingness to venture far beyond sealed roads.
Nissan describes the G60 as the vehicle that introduced Australians to a rugged off-roader capable of handling some of the country's toughest environments. That reputation continued to grow through each successive Patrol generation, but it all traces back to the G60 that first arrived in 1961.
Today, as Nissan prepares to usher in the next-generation Y63 Patrol, the 1961 Nissan Patrol G60 remains a reminder of where the story began. More than six decades later, its influence can still be seen in every Patrol that carries the badge.