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A WELL-PLANNED AND FASTIDIOUSLY EXECUTED 70 SERIES CRUISER CUSTOM BUILT FOR FAMILY ADVENTURES

- MATT RAUDONIKIS

THERE’S no denying that Aussies love to one-up their mates whenever possible. Be it building your 4x4, having the best camping set-up or being the fastest at something, we all like to be one step ahead of our buddies.

This was the case when Queensland builder Ian Stuck was planning this LandCruiser 79. You’d think having owned a few nicely built VW Amaroks and a monster Ford F-250 that Ian was used to being ahead of the pack, but when his business partner built his own 79 Series Cruiser, Ian liked what he saw. But he knew he could do better!

When we asked Ian who he'd like to thank for helping with the build of this car he answered, "My business partner Will Leckie, for coming up with the idea and doing most (almost all) of the legwork and initial research, and for building his first so I could make some improvements on it!"

All stirring aside, there's a lot to be said for looking at what other people have done and modifying it to suit your own needs. For Ian, that meant a reliable 4x4 capable of getting his family and their caravan to their favourite campsites.

"We need something that can carry everyone and everything, can tow our off-road 'van anywhere it will fit, and is reliable so we don't find ourselves stranded somewhere isolated," Ian told us.

While the LC79 double-cab ticks off most of those requirements, a standard Cruiser is a pretty basic commercial vehicle, and getting one up to the standard of a modern family tourer can easily double the initial purchase price of the new truck. But with Will's Cruiser build to use as a marker, Ian knew pretty well what he was up for when it came to building his own.

As a builder Ian knows all about working to plans, and to see his Land Cruiser build come to fruition he enlisted the crew at AMVE 4x4 to manage the project from start to finish.