I came across this interesting vehicle during an internet search and it captured my attention.
It’s a Croplands Crossliner Rover SP – a self-propelled agricultural spraying vehicle used in large orchards and similar farming locations. Croplands is a New Zealand company but now also markets its products in Australia and Canada.
It’s a fascinating “form follows function” design – low slung to allow liquid to be sprayed underneath the tree canopy where most fruit is located. The spaying mechanism is in the back and is driven by a large fan.
Its powered by a 4 cylinder, 85 hp turbo-diesel and has a five speed transmission with high and low range, and 4-wheel steering.
I’m not sure if Brian Johnson was consulted on its design but what surprised me most was its similarity to another vehicle recognizable to those of us of “a certain age”…
What a strange vehicle. The fan in the back does look like a rocket, so it does more that slightly resemble an “Eagle” from the TV show Space: 1999.
Also hints from the M577 APC in Aliens (1986)
Yes indeed. it should join the ranks of other vehicles repurposed into scifu movies like this airport tug in “Equilibrium”.
Or the Steinwinter Supercargo 2040, early eighties.
You have a great knack for finding offbeat, and quite interesting, vehicle manufacturers.
Ever since seeing brilliant concepts cars like the 1970 Ferrari 512S, with its wheel cutouts and illusion of lower door glass, lower door window glass had lent the impression of futurism to me. Even on trucks. On this Crossliner Rover SP, the lower door glass providing an additional advanced styling appearance.
A quick Photoshop. I used to think if a lower door glass option was offered, it would have made the late 60s domestic cab forward vans look quite futuristic. Particularly, on the most cleanly styled examples, from GMC and Chevrolet.
And with a possible faux glass (non-see through) panel above the grille.
(The 1970 Ferrari 512S Modulo, above.)
What I find especially neat, is its exterior design is like a 1970s interpretation of futuristic. Those rear side semi-transparent ‘chevrons’, scream ’70s. The ’70s styling cues would immediately appeal to CCers. Aided by its resemblance to the ‘Eagle’.
Interesting piece of engineering.
Visually, the red and the style of drum and fan at the back remind me of Gordon Murray’s Brabham BT46 Fan Car used in F1 in 1978, one race only.
…And winner of that race too (Swedish GP). I was reminded of that BT46 as well, good spot Roger.
Reminds me of the “Federal Security” vans from Sleeper (1973).
Admit it Jim, it looks a bit like a bus.
Great stuff, plenty of fruit orchards around here, never saw anything like the Crossliner though. All orchard sprayers, no matter the size and type, are drawn by a narrow-track tractor.
And I have yet to see a robot/autonomous sprayer like this one:
https://www.ducksize.com/product-page/agxeed-hss-robot
It kind of reminded me of a land speed record car from the 1960’s. Except for the tires…
What a fascinating vehicle! And a great piece of functional design.
I have a small orchard (15 trees) up the back of my place, so I get what they were going for. A nice piece of kit for a large commercial operation.
shocked no one mentioned the Damnation Alley Landmaster.
I had a small 26.6 acres farm in north central Maryland, an area that used to be filled with apple orchards [until the recent apple canker disease wiped out most of the apple trees]. This is the only orchard sprayer vehicle I’ve seen where the driver is fully enclosed, and I’m curious if the cabin air is filtered for chemical contaminants [will have to check their website to see]. Most of my neighbors with orchards always hated getting suited up to ride the sprayer or tractor towing the sprayer, especially in the hot and humid months. Perhaps this sprayer is also air conditioned.
According to the video they have a fully sealed and air conditioned cab with carbon filters.
Ive seen a few of these around mostly abandonned on apple orchards I think the Kiwifruit industry took to them better.
This so cool it looks like it drove off the set of a sci fi movie. With some tinkering a person could make the ultimate low rider off-road RV. This would also be a brilliant marketing vehicle for a perfume or cologne company. You could drive around a city and blast your fragrance in one second bursts except for AXE body spray.
The tree shakers used for orchard harvesting are equally weird looking