Cottle Motors & Auto Electrix Ltd occupies a prime site on the corner of Highway 16 and Access Rd in Kumeu in Auckland’s north-west.

As well as general mechanical and auto electrical work Cottle Motors is also the Auckland area distributor for Ironman 4x4 products.

With such a strong car culture in Auckland’s west there’s always something interesting parked outside. Recently the mix of hot rods, muscle cars, classics and hi-rise 4WDs has been joined by a sleek black Ironman 4x4-equipped Ford Ranger XL double cab ute.

Like a lot of Ranger owners, the man behind the business, Geoff Cottle, had all sorts of different uses in mind when he bought and set about kitting out the XL, and he couldn’t be happier with the result.

“First and foremost it is our promotional vehicle but it’s also a vehicle we use every day and one we use to get away in, on the weekends.”

The Ranger took pride of place on Geoff’s stand at Auckland’s Speedshow earlier this year with many positive comments about the roof-top tent.

The tent is an Ironman 4x4 one which, in this case, has been fitted onto the load-rated Ironman 4x4 canopy.

Mounted ahead of the tent is an Ironman 4x4 1.4m steel roof cage (which comes complete with spare wheel mounting) while inside the canopy is an Ironman 4x4 tray liner and 196L capacity Ironman 4x4 Space Case.

The other big difference between a standard XL double cab and the Cottle Motor’s Ironman 4x4 Ranger is in the suspension department.

Geoff wanted a practical ‘daily-driven’ combination of lift and usability which he got with one of Ironman 4x4’s newly-released Foam Cell Pro suspension kits.

With the suspension upgrade came a new set of 17 in. dia. Fuel alloy wheels and 265/70R 17 Goodyear DuraTrac tyres – courtesy of Kumeu Tyres next door to Cottle Motors in Kumeu.

For more information including NZ pricing on any of the products fitted to the Cottle Motors and Auto Electrix Ford Range go to www.ironman4x4.co.nz

To read the full story in the December 2015 issue of NZ4WD go to Zinio.com (on sale November 16) or purchase your own hard copy at the Adrenalin store.