Hino buses were first sold in Australia in 1965 – but its trucks didn’t officially arrive here through accredited importer Thiess until 1971 – Jim Gibson investigates the mystery of a Hino heavy-duty specification truck being evaluated in Queensland during 1964.

The 1970s changed the face of our truck market in Australia with the entry of the four Japanese truck brands. Isuzu morphed from the Bedford, the Mitsubishi from the Dodge, UD was imported by Westco Motors and Hino established its marque through its arm’s-length relationship with Toyota.

I spoke with Don McMillan Jr., whose parents Don and Gloria owned and opera