Hoods Hilux lawn art "The garden RN40"

[hood]

For quite some time ive always wanted an old truck cab as garden art. It had to be a Hilux as that's what im into.

Originally I was looking for an rn25 as its likely ill never own one. I placed a few bids on trademe for a complete truck but thankfully I wasn't successfully.

I then found a cab & chassis at Horopito that I came close to picking up but typically way over priced for what was left, so i gave up on that. Then a week ago I stumbled apon a bloke on marketplace who had some rn40 Hilux parts on offer and he had a whole cab in Otorohanga.

It was pretty stuffed, but had some cool patina and everything i needed & nothing i didn't. Plus the price was right!

I told my girlfriend my plan and she's been so supportive of this crazy idea and could see my vision, so was keen to come along for the ride to collect it.

Its the ultimate when your other half simply gets it and is understanding of your hobbies and is equally excited to see your vision come to fruition!

So I threw the cage on the back of my 99 and hit the road, bit slow on the drive home and received many looks from passers by lol But I managed to get it unloaded myself.

The guy I purchased it from originally brought the whole truck off King County towing for the driveline and then parted it out, check the link.

https://youtube.com/shorts/DZsGvB4-qhk?si=ZR00wUJH8qalFplw

 

[hood]

The whole project is complete in my mind, and its been so therapeutic & a lot of fun piecing together.

Basically its a minitruck & rustic industrial theme approach to the build, somewhat of a budget and using parts and pieces ive been collecting over the years.

Its originally a 82 square head light model. But I have all the earlier bits to convert it to the earlier round head light style 

 

 

Here is its final resting place, with still heaps of lawn area. I pulled off the grill that was hanging in the shed to get a start of putting it together 

[hood]

Ive been collecting weathered corrugated sheets. I attached a few to the fence and trimmed them up to suite 

Ive found a pair of 16" Boyd ninjas on marketplace that were perfect for the build, but wouldn't fit under the factory tubs, so i cut them out with the sawzall in typically minitruck fasion! 

 

 

[hood]

Round head lights swapped & a few rocks and pebbles in place.

Id like to rig up some solar lights for head lights, so when you walk past they flick on.

Next up ill dig out a pond and the ultimate is to rig up a fountain that pours water out of the grill. Plus ill plant a few natives.

Happy days!

 

[igor]

Looks good to me mate.

Your missus sounds like a good'un too . Mine would be really unkeen on that sort of thing.

[Bearded Baldy]

That is awesome.

And dont worry about how you got it home.

Check this bad boy out.

[hood]

Still playing around and experimenting with the art side of things and figuring out pound size

Got an old wheel brazier in place, and the old door I found in the Kaingaroa forest.

 

 

Rego expired haha 

I cut this up using the rego from my other RN40 and old lables...

 

[hood]

Mate sent me this AI edit, pretty much what i have in mind

 

 

[lowlancer]

Always enjoy when people have a vision and get stuck in. I wonder if you could shift slightly away from the American style of decorative elements and try find more pre/post war pieces from NZ? 

The Hilux is so aligned with that utilitarian vision of NZ, might be cool to lean into that, especially with native planting. An old .303 ex-army rifle the cullers used would make a sweet addition lol

Just a thought, feel free to ignore, especially if you've settled how you want it already.

[hood]

I like your thinking and approach to more of a NZ theme! Definitely taking note here

The AI generated image isn't exactly what I thought out but its a cool version regardless. Swap out the Texas references for a more kiwiana flare

[nvmyvl]

If you want some pond liner and a pump, let me know. I will be throwing out a whole heap of offcuts at work soon. Prob got a second hand pump as well..

[hood]

Love the power of the OS community

Thanks a bunch @nvmyvl for the hook up of the pump n liner gear. Top bloke