Want to know how it all began?
Started in early 2000 AUS4WD was originally known as the ‘Australian 4WD Specialist’ and were located on Canterbury Road in Kilsyth.
It didn’t take long before the ‘AUS4WD’ name took over in the early 2000’s and has stuck the same ever since.
Sandy started as just one man in a empty workshop and while AUS4WD has grown and moved location a number of times during the last 20 years, one thing remains the same. The commitment to providing quality products and service to ensure the customer is 100% safe on (and off) the road!
AUS4WD first opened on Canterbury Road in Kilsyth, VIC as the ‘Australian 4WD Specialist’.
During the 15 Years at Industry Place the business grew to expand into 3 factories side by side & employ 14 workers. Everything from Fabrication to Painting, to eBay & Showroom sales.
Towards the end of the 15 years at Industry Place AUS4WD downscaled the production of accessories and body modifications & moved back into the single factory front as servicing & repairs took over as the primary business focus.
With 2020 bringing its own set of challenges globally, AUS4WD took the step to regain it’s online presence and change with the demand.
Launching this new website aus4wd.shop along with an Online Shop to continue the ‘over the counter’ sales while adhering to social distancing requirements.
Sandy’s grown up with everything automotive in his blood, from an early age he was go karting which developed into driving around the block at home and then onto street cars once he got his license.
He left school at the age of 14 to work at a local Trucking company, during his time there he worked everything from a general laborer to creating and maintaining production and assembly line machinery. This then led into the Motoring industry where at age 18 Sandy began working in a panel shop.
From joining the Automotive industry at 18 Sandy has held multiple jobs such as Panel Beating, Parts Sales and Deliveries, Wrecking Yard disassembly, Engine Building and Vehicle Painting just to name a few.
His passion for building cars and racing was developed in his shed where at the age of 19 he built his first 4 wheel drive, a V8 40’s Series Landcruiser! From there on he was hooked, next came the GQ Patrol HIREVN which became a tiger striped race car later in its life.
Then at age 24 with nothing more than a few tools and an empty workshop ‘Australian 4WD Specialist’ was opened in Early 2000, and the rest you could say is history!
Now after 20 years in business and multiple location moves there’s nothing he hasn’t done in the world of 4 wheel drives. From being one of the first to Ute Chop 4wd wagons and creating stainless snorkels to custom bar work and fabrications of his own parts.
All along the journey Sandy has been combining his love and passion for building cars with racing. His racing career is a very long and extensive one! From Navigation Events, Winch Challenges and Mud Runs in the late 90’s through to competing in the 4WD Enduro events such as Outback Challenge and the Offroad Racing Series in the Mid 2000’s in Class 8 (Extreme 4WD) and Class 7. He has also raced in (and won) tarmac events such as 6 Hour Enduro’s, Hill Climbs, Motorkhanas and Track Days.