Leopard
Member
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2012
- Messages
- 163
- Country Flag
Hi All
I've been on the forum for a while, following various events and builds. This is a great forum and already learning a lot.
Realised that I never officially introduced myself, so thought I would do so by starting my own build thread for my 80 series!
My name is Nigel Ivy. I was born in Harare, Zimbabwe and moved to the UK in early 2003. My family have always been big on adventuring/offroading/outdoors, etc.. having come from a heritage of my grandparents on my mothers side starting a sawmill in the DRC before the trouble started there and having to flee with what they could load into their vehicle and travelling for over a year around southern Africa and my grandparents on my fathers side running a cattle farm in a remote part of Northern South Africa.
As a kid, my parents had a series 3 landy in Zim that was kitted out nicely and we did a lot of overlanding into very remote places in southern Africa from Zim. We always loved being off the beaten track and took that landy to some places you wouldn't want it to break down (crazy thing to do in a landy, I know!
)
I've recently purchased (in June 2012) an already kitted 1991 80 series Cruiser from Oakleigh Garage. It came with a Hannibal roof tent, Engel, battery and split charging system, water system with filter and 12v pump, 2" lift and TMJ suspension, high-lift jack mounts of the chassis, High-Lift jack, 6 steel wheels with BFG AT tyres on, Patriot rack, sand ladders, spotties, 4 jerry cans for Diesel, 4 jerry cans for water.
Here are some photos of my 80:









The truck is a Jap import - came into the UK in 2007. The conversion was done by OEC International. Like with any conversion you don't do yourself, there's a lot I will probably change and a lot I'll keep the same. At the moment we're using her as is to see what works and what doesn't. Not having the full back seat is not a problem for us as it's just the two of us at this stage.
When I started looking for a cruiser, I wasn't actually looking for a truck that had already been converted, I actually wanted to do it all myself, but when this truck came up at the price it had for the milage and the gear that came with it, I couldn't turn it down. Sure, aesthetically she has a lot to be desired, but mechanically she's sound with only 195,000km (115,000mi) on the clock. Engine is clean and no issues since I bought her in June. Already put 6,000mi on her since then.
Planned mods still to come:
Looking forward to sharing our adventures with you all...
I've been on the forum for a while, following various events and builds. This is a great forum and already learning a lot.
Realised that I never officially introduced myself, so thought I would do so by starting my own build thread for my 80 series!

My name is Nigel Ivy. I was born in Harare, Zimbabwe and moved to the UK in early 2003. My family have always been big on adventuring/offroading/outdoors, etc.. having come from a heritage of my grandparents on my mothers side starting a sawmill in the DRC before the trouble started there and having to flee with what they could load into their vehicle and travelling for over a year around southern Africa and my grandparents on my fathers side running a cattle farm in a remote part of Northern South Africa.
As a kid, my parents had a series 3 landy in Zim that was kitted out nicely and we did a lot of overlanding into very remote places in southern Africa from Zim. We always loved being off the beaten track and took that landy to some places you wouldn't want it to break down (crazy thing to do in a landy, I know!

I've recently purchased (in June 2012) an already kitted 1991 80 series Cruiser from Oakleigh Garage. It came with a Hannibal roof tent, Engel, battery and split charging system, water system with filter and 12v pump, 2" lift and TMJ suspension, high-lift jack mounts of the chassis, High-Lift jack, 6 steel wheels with BFG AT tyres on, Patriot rack, sand ladders, spotties, 4 jerry cans for Diesel, 4 jerry cans for water.
Here are some photos of my 80:









The truck is a Jap import - came into the UK in 2007. The conversion was done by OEC International. Like with any conversion you don't do yourself, there's a lot I will probably change and a lot I'll keep the same. At the moment we're using her as is to see what works and what doesn't. Not having the full back seat is not a problem for us as it's just the two of us at this stage.
When I started looking for a cruiser, I wasn't actually looking for a truck that had already been converted, I actually wanted to do it all myself, but when this truck came up at the price it had for the milage and the gear that came with it, I couldn't turn it down. Sure, aesthetically she has a lot to be desired, but mechanically she's sound with only 195,000km (115,000mi) on the clock. Engine is clean and no issues since I bought her in June. Already put 6,000mi on her since then.
Planned mods still to come:
- New suspension - want to lift at least another 2", plus I don't think OEC put hard enough suspension for the weight on the back as it's starting to sag a bit
- Winch bumper
- Winch
- Mud tyres for UK trips
- Long range fuel tank
Looking forward to sharing our adventures with you all...