I don't think it is like that at all. I don't know what the big deal is with six, but have you ever noticed how many military vehicles used six lugs?Originally Posted by DaveA.
Its not just Americans, either, because look at a unimog, six lugs.
I think they use six because that allows the tires to be changed in the field that much quicker. Personally, I think load bearing is taken care of by using a large radius circle (7.25") instead of a small circle with a lot of lugs.
I honestly think there is some reason to the six lug thing though, crazy as it may sound.
Are you sure they had np205s in 1967? If so, how about 1966?
I am sure, even if they were around at the time, they would have been more $$$, thus making it more cost effective to go np200 (you have other things to worry about going 50+ in a stock vehicle!); once the np200 was already in production, it was unneccessary to switch to a 205 when they became available.
I always thought the stock engine was adequate, too. for its time, it was actually technologically advanced, being an OHC design. The six was also used in civilian vehicles for quite a while. I think people don't like it because it doesn't have hardened valves, and bigger tires or replacement of gears mean the engine no longer has enough leverage to move the behemoth.