Off-road equipment specialist ARB UK has celebrated its 50th anniversary by taking on a 10-day, cross-continental expedition from its headquarters in Dudley to Morocco, and back again.
The team set off in an Isuzu D-Max pick-up truck fitted with a full suite of ARB accessories, including an Altitude Rooftop Tent, Outback Drawer System, Slide-Out Kitchen and StealthBar with Winch.
The pick-up's journey covered thousands of miles across France, Italy and Spain before reaching the Moroccan city of Marrakech.
Describing the trip, ARB UK said the adventure was designed to “test the limits” of both ARB and Isuzu engineering while celebrating “the spirit of adventure that defines the two brands.”
The expedition was shared between several teams from the Isuzu ARB Hub network.
Field sales managers Steve Waltho and Darryl Middleton began the journey before handing over to Oxfordshire-based Bellinger Isuzu’s Alan Rixton and Thomas Zuidhof, who took the D-Max through France and Italy.
They then passed the wheel to Bellinger’s MD, Oliver Dimbylow, and sales manager, Joe Bellinger, who continued through Italy into Spain. The final leg, from Spain to Morocco, was completed by Crawfords Automotive Chelmsford’s marketing manager, Hannah Kelsey, who drove the D-Max into Marrakech before beginning the return trip.
Thomas Zuidhof said: “The route ahead was packed with incredible landscapes. From alpine passes to desert dunes, we truly put the D-Max and ARB kit through their paces. This is what it’s all about: real-world adventure, shared with great people – in stunning locations.”
Dan Wallis, sales manager at ARB UK, said the expedition was “much more than a celebration of five decades in business.”
“It’s going back to our roots and showing what ARB is all about - adventure, exploration, and making fun memories,” he said. “Our Australian team is doing a similar adventure down under, travelling across the outback. We couldn’t let them have all the fun, so we’ve put together our own version of the Paris-Dakar rally from the UK.”
Founded in Melbourne in 1975, ARB has grown into a global leader in off-road accessories. Its UK arm, based in Dudley, has expanded rapidly in recent years, particularly following its 2021 acquisition of Truckman.
