Behind the Wheel: 1964 Lightburn Zeta Ute
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- Опубліковано 18 вер 2024
- It was a landslide! The vehicle you voted on for our latest instalment of Behind the Wheel is the quirky and much loved Lightburn Zeta, in rare ute configuration.
Built in the early 60s by a metropolitan Adelaide-based manufacturer that specialised in washing machines, the Lightburn Zeta was one of the most serious attempts to break into a market dominated by large international companies by a local manufacturer. It's eccentric to say the least - there is no reverse gear, so to go backwards you'd have to switch the engine off, reverse its polarity and then you had all 4 gears available for reverse!
Do you remember seeing Lightburn Zetas on the road? Between 3-400 were sold, so they are certainly rare, and only 4 of the steel-tubbed utes are known to exist.
As a Nasho (1969 - 70) I remember Lightburn washing machines in recruit and corps training. They didn't follow us to Vietnam, however. Outside the wire, we didn't wash our gear, but tore it up and buried it when we were resupplied. Behind the wire, our greens went to the Baria laundry.
I had a 1964 Zeta runabout that I bought in 1966. It couldn't possibly reach 95 km/h but it was fine in traffic with the quick, positive gearshift. Reversing was also easy because when you turn the key on a Zeta the engine starts instantly. So switching between 1st and reverse was quick, you didn't have to touch the gear lever. Just clutch, switch off, switch on and go.
Lightburn washing machines were standard issue in Australian military barracks after WW2. Their cement mixers of similar design to the washing machine also was very popular. They were both solidly built and very reliable.
Lightburn also made trailers too. Though they're quite rare these days, I'm planning on restoring one and uniting it with the Zeta Ute!
Lightburn also made quality cement mixers.
Lightburn also had and EV version on the design board, true or false?
There was an electric "Gopher"-like thing. Not a road vehicle.
Saw these at Birdwood a few weeks ago, nice try but petrol wasn't $2.20/L at the time lol.
Petrol economy with the light body and 324cc engine was pretty good.