Race Across the World: The Incredible Story of the World`s Greatest Road Race - The 1968 London to Sydney Marathon, Smailes John

Four weeks later they arrived in Sydney--or, at least, half of them did. The others lay in ruin along its 10,000-mile route. Unimaginable now in either concept or execution, the marathon captured the rapt attention of the countries through which it passed, and of the world, as it created front-page news. It was more than a car race, more than a rally, more than the trials that opened up outback Australia only a decade before: it was the worlds most grueling test of driver and vehicle.

For Australians, the race became a focal point of the rivalry between local car-manufacturing giants Holden and Ford, as the Monaro Coupe and the iconic Falcon GT went head to head. Neither was to win, but the story of their duel is motor-sporting legend.