In the 10 years since Duncker completed his first Toyota 1UZ V8 conversion he has done a good 250 more.

“At least 95%” of those have been into Toyota Hiluxes, but Duncker has also repowered “Jags, Volvos, Mercedes Benzes, BMWs, Haines Hunter boats, you name it” with the versatile 4.0 litre V8.

Over the years the exact models might have changed (from early diesel Hilux ute and Surf SUV models to the Gen-7 ’05 – ’15 Hilux double cabs) but the key ‘driver’ remains the same.

“It’s the sound (the distinctive V8 burble) that sells it,” Duncker confirms. “People just love the sound.”

When he started out doing 1UZ conversions a common reason was that the Surf or Hilux’s original (usually diesel) engine had cried enough.

Rebuilding was an option, but when a job was quoted it was more often than not in the thousands (of dollars) making a ‘clean break’ to a smooth-running petrol V8 an even more attractive proposition.