Story of Johns Patrol. Also im new. HI!
Well, don’t I feel lucky? It was the year 2019, and I had just moved past some personal sickness. My brother at the time had borrowed my 2009 Nissan Navara D40, he had just gotten into carvens and asked to borrow my car. It was tuned, lifted, and had all the usual goodies in it that we have come to expect from a modern tourer. He had gotten fourteen hours from home, crossing a roundabout, and got himself along with my car teeboned by a VF commie. From Mudgee he called. “ive just been fucken boned at a roundabout”. “lucky man” I responded. “NO YOU F***ING IDIOT, I JUST GOT RUN INTO”. Rage filled me along with sadness, and I quietly asked if he was ok. A few broken ribs and a laceration to the head. “My car?” I said. he followed with, “mate, she's fu**ed”. Joining back in on our usual expletives, we parted ways, happy. I wasn’t worried; I had spent a fortune on the car, my brother was safe, and the vehicle was mega-insured, so I was happy. I enjoyed looking at new cars that my insurance would pay for around the forty thousand mark. He had sent me some photos of it, a police report and a stat deck to say he was driving. I mentioned my sickness, so I lost a very well-paying job because of it, but before I did, I purchased the Navara, spent money to build it, and parked it in the shed as I could no longer walk, let alone drive. Being unwell was a shock; I've always had an income to get by. After exchanging more expletives and pacing around the loungeroom (yes, my ability to pace and swear came back), my older brother had no issues paying for the excess.
Calling my insurance, I let them know my brother was driving my car and had a bit of a bingle. The insurance company spokesperson replied, “Yes, Mr. Kay, I can see your insurance has renewed for the year today”. Having worked for this company my heart sank “today?”. “yes, sir” Being silent they said in a happy voice “Mr. Kay, The great news is as long as repairs don’t exceed seventeen thousand six hundred and thirty one dollars you will have your car back” Two repair shops three weeks later I sat in the gutter at Ballina NSW having a beer watching all that money and “nominated inclusions” get towed away. The hunt began for something new, well, old but new to me. I love travelling our country, so it had to be a four-wheel drive. I found the exact car that I had flown to Adelaide and bought it. Drove all the way home in a day and a bit, strangely unsatisfied with my purchase. I had a blue slip booked for the following day, going from SA rego to NSW. I got up early, having a cuppa, contemplating what adventures this car had in store for me. Turns out our adventure was done turning the key, I was met with a sound like a large mechanical zip. The timing chain shit itself in my driveway letting go and destroying the engine as it went.
Months passed, and I was still doing rehab and securing a new job. My then two-year-old was getting bigger by the day. Having thirteen thousand left from insurance, thanks to the ombudsman. I was too nervous to commit to another car. I just got out of my wife's Suzuki Swift, being six feet three and 135 kgs, a group of men seated outside Ballina fish coop had a chuckle. I smiled when I saw them because I get it, I look ridiculous. He said, “Mate, you need a big car, you look like a clown” he loudly laughed with his mates. If I put money on it, I reckon they were vets. I gave him a little TEHE, followed by the only way I knew how to deal with old-time vets. “Mate, I only take advice from people who have more teeth than limbs” They were roaring with laughter so hard at their friend that they failed to see how annoyed he was.
Coming out of the shop, I went back and sat with them. The guy with more limbs than teeth, I asked what car “fella your size should have a Patrol”. Thanking him with a firm handshake, I offered my chips, which I couldn’t eat, as a peace offering and left. At home phone in hand, Carsales, Nissan, Patrol, low to high, 13000 results, the first 400 looked like savagely beaten tissue boxes. At this point, I had no real idea what I was looking for. Google “what's the best patrol” Y62. Carsales, Nissan, patrol, Y62. 2000 results, low to high, cheapest $36000. One day later, with enough research yet again, I picked up my phone. Carsales, Nissan, Patrol, Y61, Diesel, 4000cc engine size to max, turbo induction. Search, low to high. There sat an awful-looking brown coloured five-posted Patrol GU S1 factory TD42T just outside my budget, but it was my last chance before I started work up again, and we also needed a car to go on our honeymoon, camping on Fraser Island. I was worried the whole way up there. We drove to Melany about five hours from home. My wife, our little one, and I are all packed in the car. The home we went to was stunning, set on top of a hill, with beautiful gardens and a quaint house, complete with a rickety old tin lean-to with a very dirty Patrol under it.
Meeting the lady face to face, she was an affluent, old-money. Well-spoken, finely appointed house filled with dust-free, well-maintained collectables and even a grounds keeper. I already knew the deal was lost, but I pressed on after a cup of tea, asking if I could look at the Patrol. With a little smile, she said Of course and pulled a key from her pocket that was almost worn out. There is not a nub left on either side. It sat on the table in front of me, looking down, I read Nissan. The genuine key. Picking it up, I asked my family to come with. Irene reassured me that it was okay and that they could wait with her. She loved having life back in her home, watching my toddler run around, touching things I could not afford to replace.
Insisting, I left the kitchen door with a few short steps; I was walking the 100 meters or so to the lean-to. The patrol was caked in what seemed to be years of grime. I pressed my finger into the rear window, smearing the crud away and looking in. From what I could see, the interior looked good, strangely clean compared to the outside, almost too clean. Squeezing between the car and the wall of the lean-to, there was only 10cm between the roof of the patrol and the tin. Open on both ends. I hadn't realised the time, but I had spent over an hour inspecting the outside of the car, crawling under it, and wobbling everything that moved. Tapping this shaking that.
Irene showed up. “Leon, have you had a look at it yet?” I said no. Let's get a battery in the shed, charge it, and set it on a bench. She instructed me to carry it back to the front of the car. Jumping in, she popped the bonnet. I unlatched it. With little effort, it lifted. For some reason, I knew I already liked this car, but seeing a clean, untouched engine bay. I was impressed. Talking loudly from the drivers door Irene told me to sit it in loose it will be right. So I closed the bonnet, heard an unfamiliar click followed by half a turn of a starter motor, and impressively, it roared into life. With all the mechanical sound and joy that can delight a fully grown man. I had to have it.
One short test drive and another hour of inspecting, an annoyed wife and a tired toddler. Irene looked at me and asked, “What would you want to do to the car?” The only response I could think of was “I want to keep it going. I want to travel with my family,” She smiled a massive smile. With a small tear, she said, “John always wanted me to find somebody who just wanted to keep his old girl going” I found myself in a strange situation, advertised for 15k. She looked at me and asked for 7. I found myself negotiating to give Irene more money, but I was going the wrong way! Irene wouldn’t have a bar of it, seven it was she would go lower and sell it to my wife. I thanked her, and she gave me a big hug and thanked me back. John wanted to get it to 500000 km, so I did it for him. The car had sat and been advertised on and off for years. The body was average but mechanically perfect. Complete with a full service history, 4800000 km on the clock. Everything ever purchased or done to the car was in there. I remember the drive home was so slow, and I cooked every belt off it because they rotted. I couldn’t find the fuel cap release and called Irene. She said, “I don’t know, I have never put fuel in it” Three fuel filters later and a fresh tank of fuel, I was home, and so was John's car.
It performed flawlessly on our month-long honeymoon, and we set about modifying.
Starting from front to back. After a coolant leak from the sandwich plate on the front of the block
Stedi Sports 7’’
Adrad copper radiator
UFI Fan
Snorkel
New genuine hoses
Head off (still has strong cross-hatching on the sleeves)
All precomps replaced,
All exhaust valve seats replaced
Genuine head gasket
Genuine Injectors
P4x4 11mm boost comp pump
P4x4 18G-TD05
NPC viper clutch
HPD top mount extreme kit
Full 2-inch lift from Superior with caster correctors
Strut braces front and rear
Airbags in the rear.
Fridge draw
Kings draw
!00amps lithium
Redarc charger
XR6 seats
Arb roof rack
Redarc solar panel
Tuned to around 190 hp and 550 nm
When it got to 500000, we sent Irene photos. The original Nissan key stopped working; it was worn out, and now sits in a frame near our fireplace. The kids, yes, we had more. They get so excited to go for a drive with me because “Dad's car is cool” The oldest is about to turn 8, so she won't think that for much longer. I have been back to see Irene twice, on my last visit having to pick her up and place her in the passenger's side, taking her for a drive as she sits in the seat that was always hers, reminiscing about her and John’s adventures. In the car that is mine, but still affectionately called John's car.
1999 GU Patrol TD42T Manual. Second owner, feeling pretty lucky.
