NISSAN’S GQ/GU series of Patrols have deservedly won themselves a reputation as some of the toughest and most dependable 4x4s of all time. As the basis of touring rigs that have covered thousands of kilometres around the country and the globe, and the bedrock of the toughest competition trucks, it’s a reputation that is well earned.
This reputation was the appeal for Victoria’s James Atkinson who recognised the strengths of the venerable Nissans; as a mechanic at the 4x4 Offroad Clinic in Melbourne’s south-east he has seen first-hand the durability that Nissan has built into its Patrols, so he knew one would be right for him.
“I’ve always been attracted to how tough a GQ single-cab ute looks, and how strong the driveline and chassis is in Nissans,” James told us.
We couldn’t agree more with him, and like James we reckon that the earlier, round-headlight GQs are the better looking of the breed and the ones to get. This example is James’s second GQ after previously owning a 2.8 wagon, but he had a hankering for a coil-cab ute and bought this clean example back in 2022.
No puny 2.8 for James this time around, the ’93 model tray-back came with the legendary TD42 4.2-litre diesel that the previous owner had added a turbocharger to. Nissan’s TD42 sixes might be known for their durability but you can’t say much about their power outputs, even with the later factory turbo models. That hasn’t stopped Patrol owners wicking them up and adding some life to the old Nissan lump. For a mechanic like James, it was only a matter of twirling the spanners and adding the right hardware.
Denne historien er fra November 2024-utgaven av 4x4 Magazine Australia.
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Denne historien er fra November 2024-utgaven av 4x4 Magazine Australia.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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KING OF THE HIGHWAY
WE PUT A FORD F-150 ON THE FLEET TO SAMPLE LIFE WITH A FULL-SIZE AMERICAN PICKUP
TRITON TIME
OUR RESIDENT SNAPPER HAS THE KEYS TO A MITSUBISHI TRITON GLS FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS
TOP 5 QUEENSLAND SUMMER ESCAPES
THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF STUNNING SUMMER 4X4 SOJOURNS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE
LAND OF PREHISTORIC PALMS
PALM VALLEY IS HOME TO ANCIENT AND UNIQUE PALMS AND THE MIGHTY FINKE RIVER, AND IT'S READY TO EXPLORE
MADIGAN'S HEART
THE SIMPSON DESERT CAN BE A BUSY PLACE IN PEAK SEASON, BUT A RUN ACROSS THE NORTHERN MADIGAN LINE CAN STILL PROVIDE THE ISOLATION MANY SEEK IN A RED CENTRE CROSSING
PRADO ROCKS ON
TOYOTA AUSTRALIA HAS LAUNCHED ITS 2025 PRADO, AND FITTINGLY DID SO IN KAKADU NATIONAL PARK, A PLACE THE TOP-SPECIFICATION PRADO KAKADU WEARS ON ITS BADGE
UTILITY BLADE
WALKINSHAW-FETTLED BLADE SITS AT THE POINTY END OF THE D-MAX LINE-UP
BILLY'S BEACH BUGGY
THIS SUPERCHARGED V8-POWERED TOYOTA LANDCRUISER FJ40 COULD BE THE PERFECT SUMMER BEACH CRUISER
TAMING THE BEAST
4X4 AUSTRALIA'S NEW VDJ79 BUILD GETS UNDERWAY WITH A SUSPENSION AND GVM UPGRADE FROM TERRAIN TAMER
CORRUGATIONS.SAND, AND SPINIFEX
WHEN TALKING LEGENDARY TRACKS, THE CANNING STOCK ROUTE HAS THE TITLE OF LONGEST HISTORICAL STOCK ROUTE IN THE WORLD, BUT TACKLING ITS 1850KM IN A 1970S LAND ROVER MAKES FOR ONE INTERESTING DRIVE FOR THE TV CREW FROM SERIOUSLY SERIES. YOU CAN SEE FOR YOURSELF BY VIEWING ROAD TO RUIN