Yes, new 4WDs are effortless and have all manner of electronic gew-gaws that make them more road-capable, but anyone who remembers carburettors and choke cables (basically all the Boomer generation and a few younger retrophiles) get misty-eyed about these old trucks and 4WDs.
Our My4WD series has brought a whole lot of cleverness and dedication out of the woodwork this year, and there’s more to come. The best of the My4WD features have been built-for-purpose vehicles and a lot of those are in the broad category of ‘restomods’.
Inspiring and achievable restorations and modifications of older 4WDs are everywhere. We love them, and this time of year anyone who’s a bit handy with a wrench, a grinder and a welder will be itching to get out into the shed and get their hands dirty.
We’ve done a bit of digging in the Great Big Workshop of Google and found five stunners to help inspire readers considering projects like this.
These five classic resto-mod projects from around the world will offer endless ‘inspo’ to our local enthusiasts.
Kiwi resto-modders, we salute you.
1. USA: A range of Range Rovers
Liking the look of the new Range Rover we featured in NZ4WD’s news pages last month? Liking the limited-edition Camel version even more, but short of the USD$345,000 sticker price. Never fear. What about a restored and modified classic Rangie four door, a snip at USD$233,000? The first of the five-model celebration of old-but-new 4WDs is this little ripper from ECD Auto Design, specialists in building mild-to-wild classic Range Rovers. The ‘Retro’ pictured is the company’s entry level offering and it’s powered by a 5.3L Chevy LS9 V8 engine giving it a restrained 238kW (320bhp), still a step up from the original all-aluminium Rover V8.
A 2.8L Cummins diesel is also available as an option.
The Retro gets revamped suspension and brakes, a full exterior restoration and keep lays a premium re-trim over the bare bones of the interior. There’s also an audio upgrade. Not enough grunt? Then take a step up to the Signature series: a 484kW (650bhp) supercharged V8 and a price-tag USD$100k above the Retro.
2. New Zealand: Jeepers, a passion for militaria
Is the Jeep, Willys MB, the most collectible and restorable of all 4WDs?
Plenty of fakey 1940s Jeeps around, but this one is not a reproduction. It popped up recently on a sales website in the South Island.
A quick run-through: the fenders, hood, grille, tub and all five combat-spec rims are original. In 1942 the MB Jeeps got combat wheels, replacing the original stamped and welded version. Combat wheels were heavier and bolted together to facilitate field repair and were robust enough to run for a distance with flat tyres – that could be a life-saver in a battle zone.
Other Jeep stuff: all rounded rear corners were found on the bodies of all Willys’ MB models. All models also featured larger bumperettes, exterior handles for manual extrication from sticky terrain, and two top bows to raise the height of the canvas and keep it from pounding the heads of the front seat occupants. All Jeeps had brackets for their pioneer tools mounted on the left side below the entryway.
This vehicle is fully restored and maintained and its engine and running gear is mostly original and in full running order. The original 1940s factory handbook is still with the vehicle is still with car.
How original is it? The chassis number tells the story for military vehicle enthusiasts: MB335567.
3. Australia: Strewth cobber, it’s a dinky-di Defender
A ragtop ute Land Rover Defender, more modified than restored but paying tribute to the military heritage of Aussie Land Rovers.
This Landie has been the subject – victim? Of a gradual upgrade process that continues to this day.
Starting with an Ex-Army Perentie, giving up on the original engine, the Landie has been upgraded to an Isuzu 4BD1 3.9-litre turbodiesel. This is essentially a truck engine with a long, flat torque curve starting around 1000rpm. It also means the engine is all-in by 2200rpm. Shifting gears keeps things moving forward.
The Landie has been leaking oil since the owner bought it, dropping a wide variety of lube fluids on the garage floor and on one occasion spraying it up through gaps in the floorpan and ruining a morning espresso, soaking up into the disposable cup which was placed in the handy shaped panel between the front seats. That panel was more often used for its original purpose – standing two Steyr rifles close to hand for the Aussie diggers who used the truck on military duty.
This ex-Army Landie retains its drum brakes and runs on 31-inch Mickey Thompson MTZ P3 tyres. The grip of those big tyres most often exceeds the retardation ability of the brakes, meaning the owner needs to make an early decision on how to tackle offroad obstacles or roundabouts on tarmac.
Range can be an issue over in the Lucky Country, so the Landie has been fitted with a 200 litre ‘bag’ or bladder fuel tank, which does affect handling.
An Eaton Tru-Trak Detroit locker diff in the back transforms the Defender’s off-road abilities, and new shock absorbers have made the truck slightly more controllable on the road.
4. USA: Nice Napco Chevy
For the well-heeled, it is possible to buy a resto-mod already ready to go. The NAPCO Chevy has been featured in NZ4WD before, but this one’s a bit special. Just check out those exhaust pipes.
NAPCO Chevy pickups from Legacy Classic Trucks in the USA are each unique and every one is a no-expense-spared build starting with a full nut-and-bolt restoration of the body before moving on to extensive mechanical and cosmetic modifications.
Riding on a custom chassis the Legacy Chevy restomods pack either a 5.3L or 6.2L V8, robust modern Dynatrac axles front and rear and four-wheel disc brakes.
The interior is fully upgraded to match. This may not have the rustic charm of some of the simpler resto-mods out there. But the drool factor seems fairly high.
5: USA: Last but not least: tougher Cruiser
The older Toyota Land Cruisers are ever popular among the 4WD fraternity. That makes them prime candidates for mild or wild resto-modding. This tough US-based FJ62 is the least modified of our list, and the most charming because of it.
Riding on a later model 80 Series chassis, the restored FJ62 body picks up coil spring comfort and a Chevy LS-series V8 engine under the bonnet. The interior is stock, but restored and the protective bar work is understated but effective. It’s everything we love about old rigs, just with a little more poke and a nicer ride.
Calling all keen Kiwi modifiers, our My4WD feature series continues to inspire – and we’d love to hear about special projects people have completed. Use our Facebook page to message us details of your truck; it may well end up in the magazine. It can be DIY or a pro modification.
