WHO WOULD have thought in their wildest dreams that a Suzuki Jimny, one of the smallest 4x4s on the market, could be transformed into an uber-capable, touring-ready, half-sized version of a LandCruiser 79 Series ute? Well, to find out the why and how the Toyzuki ‘39.5’ came about, we need to take a step back in time.
THE SECOND COMING
KEEN readers will remember the ‘Jeepny’, the Suzuki Jimny built up by Maxtrax’s then-owner Brad McCarthy and Paul Toohey in honour of Brad’s awesome restored (and still regularly driven) 1943 Willys Jeep. That first modified Jimny was a success, but it was easy to tell that there was something more tickling the minds of the Maxtrax team; something that came to fruition in the most unlikely of circumstances in mid-2022.
It was during a drive in the Jeepny that the Maxtrax boys spotted a 79 Series coming the other way. No sooner had the big Cruiser rumbled past than the thought passed through their minds, “How good would this be?” The idea of a Jimny, chopped and modified to replicate the popular 79 Series touring utes that proliferate the Aussie off-road scene, was born. Now it just had to become a reality, which would seem – from the outside looking in – no easy task. Until, that is, you realise Paul Toohey’s determination to make this happen, beginning with some cool Photoshop mock-ups he created, and then followed with more than a little help from his friends.
A PASSING THOUGHT BECOMES REAL
This story is from the August 2023 edition of 4x4 Magazine Australia.
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This story is from the August 2023 edition of 4x4 Magazine Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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