Sorry for the grave dig, almost 2 years ago I posted this thread to share a superior New Zealand Survivor G60 that popped up on Trademe (kiwi's attempt of ebay), certainly not many good ones left there, the rain and the endless slush kills them, but when it was advertised in 2016 on trade me I knew By the pics this old girl was a true gem and one of the best ones I've seen pop up in the Land of the Kiwi.
In September 2017 I found myself going to South Island for a much needed holiday for a month, always a place I had planned to visit since I was about 7 years old, something about it just appealed to me, clearly it was the breath taking scenery around every corner, so hit the airport in Sydney and flew into Christchurch ready to smash off one of the things of my Bucket list.
A few days into the Trip I was really loving this place, was disappointed that I knew in 3 and a half weeks it was all going to end so I made the most of it. It come the weekend, and we were travelling south in the direction of Dunedin, then Invercargill and so on, and I was super lucky to get the opportunity to Catch up with the New owner of this old G60 along the way, Shane From Geraldine in the Canterbury region about 2 hours south of Christchurch, bloody excellent bloke and a honour to call a mate, he's as good as Good gentlemen come, we previously had only met a few months prior to me coming to NZ over a random Facebook friend request, and began chatting with him and really got on well, he offered to meet up but not only a meet up to check out his gem, but also a day trip planned and to head out of the mountains climbing goat trails and soaking up the stunning NZ Landscape.
Still to this Day it was the Best day off my life, Crossing off the biggest thing on my bucket list - Driving and old G60 Patrol in NZ, which to most probably seams lame but I have always considered it as a dream and if I hadn't of met Shane, it would still be a dream, where as it was a reality thanks to him for making a dream come true
I cannot thank him enough for the offer, a full day over on the tracks felt like only a couple of hours long, I'm still smiling about it thinking how simple things in life is all you need, Me and Shane make phone contact almost daily, and we call each other regular, its just wonderful how these old g60s can create such good honest friendships.
It might seem lame to most but it was the coolest thing a tru g60 nut could do, my passion for the old g60s anyone knows how much these trucks mean to me, not many have the option to drive them on a road let alone when on a holiday in a completely different country, I was Sow excited when Shane threw me in the drivers seat.
Sanes done a few little mods from the original advertisements which consist of a Bulbar and brush bars, painted tray sides, removed the original mirrors (to avoid damage to them) and fitted small bike mirrors in there place, aswell as some new tyres, But its the same truck, and a tru immaculate rust free unrestored gem!
here is some photos from Last septeber, sorry there late
Fuelling up at the Servo in Geraldine ready for a day out bush
Quick duck out to the local reserve for a quick few pics and was my time to get behind the wheel them
Me in the Pilot Seat ready to drive it, smile was from ear to ear
Then off to Te-Moana Road, pics don't show it but it was like the top of the world, near vertical rocky goat tracks, worth every second views were breathtaking
Me Parked mid stream for a pic
Me standing on the back of the old girl
The Ledgend himself Shane
Then it was off for a short run back onto the tar up to the Opuha Dam, for a lap around the 4x4 track that is made around it, after at least 30 bog holes and many landslips and car swallowing ruts, and how many times we had the g60 foot flat on full noise getting out the slop when we thought we would be sleeping out there bogged the mighty g60 neve left us stranded.
The old Yellow beast needed a lil bath by end of the day
