Over 1.2 Million Kilometres!

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This 1990 Japanese imported Toyota Hiace minibus has racked up 1,236,560 kilometres, the vast majority of those kms in NZ! That’s the equivalent of going to the moon and back…3 TIMES! Or 30 times around Earth’s equator. It still runs and drives and has a current WOF and rego. I guess it had to be an old Toyota, and it could be your old Toyota next. Read on...

The Toyota Hiace has legendary reliability but sometimes legends don’t line up with reality. But here’s proof in the form of an actual Hiace that’s gone so well for so long, over so many kilometres. And it’s a testament to the owners who has kept this bus in such good shape. Just look at the photos – sure it’s not mint, and there’s some rust poking through in places, but it’s better than nearly any other 1993 car you’re likely to see that’s seen a fraction of the action. It also looks like an average 20 year old van with 100,000kms on the clock. With that said, 1.2 million kms will take a toll and it could do with a birthday – the cooling system needs some love as well as some minor electrical fettling and a bit of rust work. But, to be fair, most of us would be lucky to still run at all after this much action though.

So I’m going to make an emotional plea to someone out there. Rather than see this magnificent marathon bus be broken up for parts, please, somebody, buy it, give it a tiny bit of love and put it back to work. Sure, some might say this old Hiace has earned its retirement, and it has. But retirement for a car means the scrap heap and surely it deserves better. So go on, buy this well travelled old bugger and drive it with pride. Wear those 1.2 million kms like a badge of honour. And treat it like the champion that it is. And buy the original owners a beer while you’re at it – they’ll be thirsty after all that driving.

The auction for this magnificent survivor is at Turners Christchurch on the 29^th October. More details here.