A Toyota New Zealand promotion, offering Hilux owners $20,000 to upgrade their trucks, saw the restoration of a Canterbury family’s beloved 1982 single cab 4×4 model back to better than new.
Rolleston resident Rubecca Soper-Hazlett won the “Give your Lux some Luv” competition, which saw the 34-year-old Hilux bought new by her father in 1982 restored back to full health with some modern technology added.
Andrew Davis, Toyota New Zealand’s general manager of marketing says the company was overwhelmed by the entries and the stories about Kiwis and their Hilux; and why they deserved a revamp.
“It was tough to pick a winner, but Rubecca’s story was a standout, and the restoration was about far more than just the Hilux itself,” says Davis
Soper-Hazlett had grown up with it, learnt to drive in it and was her father’s stead on the farm until he passed. Her mother sold it in 1999, and the truck went from owner to owner before it was left in a paddock to rot.
However, Rubecca’s husband then decided to undertake a 620 km rescue trip and followed that up with four years of elbow-grease to return the vehicle to a roadworthy state as a wedding anniversary gift.
With 195,000kms on the odometer and known as ‘Granddads truck’ in the Soper-Hazlett household, her plea to restore the vehicle to its ‘legendary’ former glory and remain fit and strong for her children to grow up with was one Toyota New Zealand could not turn down.
“I was asked to take it to Miles Toyota in Christchurch for assessment, and when I got there, I discovered I had won. They took the old ute off me and gave me a new one to use in its place,” says Soper-Hazlett.
With an extensive restoration underway, she ensured that Toyota New Zealand and the team remained respectful of the truck’s heritage without replacing the character which had made the vehicle an integral member of the family.
“We are stoked with the final result – huge thanks to everyone involved and we look forward to hearing about Granddad’s truck for many more years,” says Davis.
After six weeks and changes to the structural integrity, signature improvements included retro tan upholstery, a ‘Granddad’s Truck’ motif painted onto the driver’s door and a new paint job using the original white base with the original style of 1982 yellow, orange and red decals across the bonnet and doors.
Soper-Hazlett received the keys to her transformed 1982 Hilux at Miles Toyota in Christchurch earlier this month – the result being ‘beyond her wildest expectations’.
“It’s like a new truck, but the bones of the ’82 model are still there. It’s got a new stereo and central locking. That’s hugely functional. Dad would’ve loved to have some of the accessories it has now,” says Soper-Hazlett.
Refurbishing the Hilux saw it stripped down with new panels fitted as necessary, and the installation of a new headlining and carpet, dashboard cover as well as new seat belts.
The engine, transmission and hydraulics have had a complete service and a new exhaust system built from scratch.
A new tray with sides and a customised cover and storage box was fitted, together with a stronger tow bar, straightening the bull bar and a adding a bash guard.
“It’s fit for another generation of adventures with our kids,” says Soper-Hazlett.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-C9UoXKz1_E
