Bruce Campbell’s 1982 Toyota Land Cruiser HJ47 ute won My Beaut Ute awards for the last two years at Esperance Show.
It is not often we use the word “iconic” but in this case it has to fit.
The vehicle that served Australian agriculture, stations and mining for four decades now has been lovingly restored.
Bruce Campbell’s 1982 Toyota Land Cruiser HJ47 has won the My Beaut Ute competition at the Esperance Show 2022 and 23.
“That vehicle has been parked alongside brand-new Land Cruiser V8 Land Cruisers et cetra,” Mr Cambell said.
“But the favourite that everyone goes to is this one.”
With the exception of one or two minor details, the vehicle has the appearance of something straight out of the showroom 42 years ago, giving a sense of déjà-vu.
“It initially belonged to Noel and Imelda Norwood and they bought the vehicle new in 1982 and it’s been at the family farm at Scaddan,” Mr Cambell said.
“It lay in the back of the back of the shed and it didn’t look very nice, but when I had a look at it, I realized how good it was and then I decided I’d restore the car to factory spec.”
He began by stripping the entire vehicle, one part at a time, repaired the chassis and fitted all-new suspension, bushes, bushes and drive-train.
Meanwhile, retired Kambalda panelbeater-spraypainter Warren Murphy restored the body and paintwork.
“The engine was inspected, reassembled, and the body was blasted back to bare metal and repainted and the new tray was manufactured and fitted as well,” he said.
As costs can mount up quickly with such a project, Mr Campbell has some advice.
“The secret with the restoration side of things is the initial vehicle that you buy to restore,” he said.
“If you buy a good one it saves you a lot of money.”
“Whereas if you buy a really bad project the cost of repairing a poor project … .”
He let the words hang as he contemplated the consequence of a hasty purchase.
In this case, Mr Campbell chose a cherished farm vehicle that had had just one owner.
“I managed to keep the original Esperance number plate that was issued for the vehicle when it was registered,” he said.
While many show cars are fitted with a variety of extras such as fancy paint jobs and extra chrome, the single concession to luxury here is the beautifully sanded jarrah decking in the tray.
“Most farmers don’t like wooden trays,” Mr Cambell said.
“But because it’s never going to be used as a working vehicle again, and it’s just a show vehicle, I decided to put the hardwood floor on it.
“The boards that you see are all measured, so the gaps and in between each board are identical and I made up a jig and a template, so every screw hole is exactly same for every board.”
It comes as no surprise to learn that Mr Cambell began his career as a fitter and turner, progressing to become an engineer in the oil and gas industry and finally the Australian manager of a petroleum company.
He now lives with his wife Marie on his son-in-law’s Scaddan farm, and his next project is a Land Rover.
