1991 Toyota Hilux

Engine - 22r Petrol
Transmission -  5 Speed Manual
Suspension - 2 Inch Lift
Tyres - Bridgestone Desert Dueler
Equipped For - Tourer

After touring from Ceduna to Southeast Tasmania in my Rav4, I wanted a vehicle more dedicated to touring that could go further off the blacktop. I was vaguely searching for modern 4x4s like the used Toyota Fortuners and Pajero Sports, but this Hilux jumped out at me on Facebook Marketplace. The photos were terrible, but I loved how unique this car was! It was a proper, no-nonsense and iconic 4X4 camper that I could attain owning on Historic Rego.

These new photos show that this has been someone's pride and joy throughout the car's life, with impressive rust prevention, an almost complete service history, a detailed paper trail including the original purchase order, and original paint that still shines like new. I was sold from the moment I saw it. What was amazing was the story and photos that had stayed with the car over the last 34 years.

The Hilux was ordered with air conditioning (thank God) and a Long-Range Fuel Tank by the original owners, John and Valda Haskard. Sometime in the mid-90s, they built the first iteration of the camper. The fundamentals are the same as what you see today, with the same pop top and external structure remaining. Inside, it had dining chairs with the legs cut down to fit, wooden drawers for storage, and mismatched cushions to create two beds.

In 2005, the Hilux travelled through the Simpson Desert to Birdsville and Big Red, then to Brisbane and its surroundings in 2018. The Haskards labelled some of the drawers with the food they packed - these stickers remain today!

Before moving to the second owner, the camper was made more presentable. The dining chairs remain, but there are now custom, matching cushions, one dedicated bed and storage that matches in colour. The black stripes on the back were added - it's just electrical tape.

I Now use the car for weekend trips and longer adventures in the SA and Western Victoria regions. I’m still in contact with the second owner and regularly update him on its adventures through the Flinders Rangers, around the Yorke Peninsula and briefly into the Coorong. Local places like Deep Creek and Rapid Bay are commonly visited for weekends away. It's affectionately known as 'Haskard Hilux' or 'Haskard,' after the original owners. It always draws someone asking, "What is this?" and wanting to see the set-up – I love that about it. The dream would be to take it to the Southwest of WA, NT, or Tassie one day.

Like any older car, there's always a list of potential jobs to tackle—ranging from simple tasks like upgrading the radio or repainting the wheel arches to larger projects like replacing the pop-top with a thinner one and making it lighter. My main goal though? To use it as much as I can as it is.

Photos by Josh Barnett

Words by Riley Chapman