OWNER: Dean Fitzpatrick
RIDE: '99 Toyota Dual-Cab HiLux
LOCATION: Emu Heights, NSW, Australia
When you live in what's called Down Under, there is only one way that your vehicle could go. For the slow ones out there, this would be down - down low that is. This dual feature shows some of the advantages to living halfway around the world. It seems as some of the mini's overseas know no bounds. The crew cab HiLux makes the American mini-truckers jealous, as we throw in an extra cab for the ultimate in contrast. We Americans could never hope to own something like this without extreme hook-ups and an empty shipping container.
We're lucky to run into two prime examples of craftsmanship as these two Toyotas. Although the owners don't hang out on the weekends, that doesn't mean that their goals and hardships weren't similar, if not the exact same. They both had their goal at building mini's that were extreme but reliable and done right. For example, Dean's truck was finished a mere two days before the show where we were to meet them and made it with flying colors. Brad's build swung out of control when they installed a cantilever four-link and it hit a total snowball effect.
Brad went to a couple of shows and dug the mini's on display. Six years later he's a mini-trucker through and through. Dean read some American magazines and couldn't believe the finished look of an on-the-floor mini. Needless to say, we Americans did our job on that conversion to our cult.
THE LOWDOWN
Rolling Attire
Wheels, front: 20x8-inch XHP Remix
Backspace: +45mm
Tires, front: 245/35ZR20 low-pro rubber
Chassis Modifications
Suspension type: Air
Rear suspension: Custom four-link with Watts link
Airbag type and size: Front: Slam Specialties 5 1/2-inch bags; Rear: Slam Specialties 7-inch bags
Spindles/springs: Air Ride suspension, 50mm drop spindles
Shocks: Koni adjustable shocks
Valves: 1/2-inch Asco valves
Compressors: Two Viair 400c's
Air/hydro accessories: Dakota Digital 5-way gauge
Frame mods: Air Ride c-notch
Brakes: 343mm front rotors with twin spot calipers
Misc: Two Firestone 5-gallon tanks, hidden tow hitch behind license plate
Performed by: Owner
Body Modifications
Shaved: Tailgate handle, aerial side indicators
Frenched: Rear license plate
Back end: Roll pan
Taillights: Euro taillights
Exterior bolt-ons: Billet grille and 4WD valance
Performed by: Owner
Paint
Brand and colors: PPG Cobra Blue-Print Pearl
Style: Single color
Performed by: Pete/Troy (Cooper Smash)
City/state: Penrith, NSW, Australia
Interior
Seats: Subaru Impreza front and rear
Material: Black and silver inserts
Door panels: Custom cloth inserts
Flooring: Molded gray carpet
Gauges: Dakota Digital 5-way gauges
Misc: Custom heater and A/C box to accommodate front wheeltubs
Performed by: owner
Stereo
Head unit: Alpine CD player
Mids & highs: Alpine 2-way DDDrive separates in the front and rear
Amplifier for mids & highs: Alpine
Subwoofers: Alpine 10-inch
Amplifier for subwoofers: Alpine
Performed by: Owner
Engine/Performance
Supercharger/turbo: Turbo Boost: 8 psi
Rearend type: 4.3:1 LSD
Intake: Custom made
Header/exhaust: Custom made, custom mandrel-bent 3-inch exhaust
Driveshaft: Custom 4WD slip yolk
Battery: Relocated to opposite side
Inner fenders: Custom
Performed by: Owner
Special Thanks
Dean would like to thank his wife (Kylie), Pete and Troy at Cooper Smash Repairs, Brent and Brett at XHP Wheels, John at JAX Tyres Penrith, Glen at Air Ride Suspension Australia, Steve of Wholesale Suspension Penrith, and his mates John and Ryan