Two years after a Taupo-based couple fell in love with the one-off Toyota Hilux Gladiator at the National Fieldays in 2017, they have bought the vehicle with a winning bid of $81,100 on TradeMe Motors.
Created by Toyota New Zealand to demonstrate its range of accessories, the Gladiator is based on a 4WD double cab Hilux SR5 and has around $65,000 worth of modifications.
Chevy and Michele Alexander couldn’t take their eyes off it. During their four-day trip to Fieldays in 2017 they visited the Gladiator several times. When they returned to Taupo, they visited their Toyota dealership to see if they could buy the Gladiator but found the concept vehicle was not for sale.
When Toyota recently put the Gladiator up for sale on TradeMe with a $1 reserve, Chevy didn’t hesitate.
“I had just bought a new Toyota V8 Landcruiser and then the Gladiator came up for auction. I just had to have it and decided I was going to be the top bidder. I secured the auction and traded the Landcruiser in for it,” he says.
Despite his name, given to him by his parents, Chevy Alexander is a Toyota man. He’s owned quite a few over the years. Michele recently swapped her Toyota 86 for a 4WD Hilux. Another 1980s Hilux ‘Green Monster’ with 700,000 kms on the clock is also in the family.
Michele was completely supportive of the purchase: “The Gladiator is a really different one-off vehicle. It’s so cleverly put together and is a great example of what Toyota is capable of,” she says.
Toyota New Zealand used vehicles general manager Steve Prangnell was delighted the Hilux Gladiator was bought by Toyota enthusiasts.
“With a $1 reserve we knew the Gladiator was going to attract a lot of interest. So, it’s brilliant that a Toyota fan like Chevy won the auction,” he says.
Chevy and Michele plan to hook up their Commander off-road caravan to the Gladiator and go on a road trip around the South Island.
