JASON Robson is what psychiatrists like to call a nut. A Toyota nut that is. To label him a fan of the brand would be underselling his passion for these vehicles. In fact, at the time of writing, this tidy HDJ80 is his 16th Cruiser. He's owned them all too, from an old V8-converted HJ47 to utes to Troopies to several 80s to no fewer than six (!) 200s to the 300 Sahara... get the picture?
Right around when COVID was locking us all up and the Great Toilet Paper Wars of the early 2020s were being waged, Jason decided he wanted a project to distract him from the Spicy Cough, so he went hunting for a factory turbo-diesel 80 (which for nonCruiserheads is the pick of the model run). He found this beaut example with 350K on the clock and an upgraded Sahara-spec interior. The ideal blank canvas.
Looking to build a tourer and a bit of a fun toy for quick missions into the High Country and longer trips up to Queensland, Jason set about turning this wagon into the 80 Toyota really should have built from the get-go. The result? Pretty damn hard to fault, really. Heaps of power, plenty of comfort and the timeless sex appeal of 1990s body panels. Perfection.
Here's how he turned an old favourite into an unassuming monster...
THAT ENGINE
THE first stop was made at Off Track Concepts in Cobram, where the 1HD-FT was surgically removed from the engine bay and the frame rails were prepped for its replacement. Now, you could be wondering why you'd rip out a perfectly good 1HD, and what you'd even replace it with, but after having owned half a dozen 200 Series Cruisers Jason knew just how good the 1VD-FTV 4.5L quad-cam twinturbo V8 diesel could be.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der May 2024-Ausgabe von 4x4 Magazine Australia.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der May 2024-Ausgabe von 4x4 Magazine Australia.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
OUTBACK WATERING HOLES
SINCE OFF TRACK WINES WAS LAUNCHED, OWNERS ANNA AND BRETT FISHER HAVE DRIVEN MORE THAN 20,000KM UP, DOWN AND ACROSS AUSTRALIA SPRUIKING THEIR WINES-IN-A-CAN MADE FOR CAMPING. THEY DROPPED INTO PLENTY OF OUTBACK PUBS ALONG THE WAY AND THESE ARE THEIR SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FAVOURITES
BIG COUNTRY
THE PILBARA IS THE VERY DEFINITION OF BIG COUNTRY, AND THERE IS PLENTY TO SEE, DO AND ENJOY IN THIS ANCIENT LANDSCAPE IN WA'S RUGGED NORTHWEST
ISLAND PARADISE
NEAR THE TOP OF THE BUCKET LIST FOR EVERY AUSSIE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVER, K'GARI IS PACKED WITH STUNNING HIGHLIGHTS AND BOASTS SOME OF THE BEST BEACH DRIVING IN THE COUNTRY
WEIGHTLIFTING
INCREASING THE GVM OF YOUR 4X4 SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY, BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN SHOULD NOT BE AVOIDED IF YOU NEED IT. WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS ON OUR FORD RANGER TO EXPLAIN HOW TO GET IT RIGHT
NOW HEAR THIS
THE CEL-FI GO MOBILE BOOSTER WILL KEEP EMAILS, MESSAGES AND CALLS COMING THROUGH TO YOUR DEVICES WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE IS HEARING CRICKETS
LOOKING BACK
A PAIR OF MSA 4X4 TOWING MIRRORS ENSURE WE ALWAYS KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON BEHIND US WHEN WE HAVE A TRAILER HITCHED TO OUR MITSUBISHI TRITON
TRUCKIN' LIFE
CAN FORD AUSTRALIA'S NEW F-150 BE AN ACCOMPLISHED OFF-ROAD TOURING 4X4?
WHAT LURKS BENEATH
IT MAY LOOK LIKE A FAIRLY STANDARD (IF CLEAN) 80 SERIES, BUT DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER AND YOU'LL FIND A MONSTER BELOW THE SURFACE
EYE OF THE HURRICANE
RAM HAS DUMPED ITS HEMI V8FOR A SIX-CYLINDER, AND IT'S COMING TO AUSTRALIA
GETTING TANKED
GWM EXPANDS IT TANK 4X4 RANGE WITH THE LUXURIOUS TANK 500 WAGON