The Project Story
From forgotten vintage camper to extreme 4x4 — the full story of Chinook Overlander.
What the Chinook Is
A rare 1978 Toyota Chinook — a fibreglass vintage camper body originally built on an early Hilux. An oddball adventure vehicle decades ahead of the overlanding trend, and the foundation for something extreme.
Why It's Rare
Few were built, fewer survive, and almost none in a state worth transforming. The character of this vintage body is irreplaceable — but the running gear underneath was never built for what's coming.
Why It's Being Rebuilt
Rather than a faithful restoration, this is an extreme rebuild: the vintage camper body onto a modified 1997 LandCruiser 80 Series chassis, with a 6.0-litre V8, a six-speed automatic and a fully custom electrical platform. A unique build from the ground up.
What It Will Become
An extremely engineered vintage 4x4 camper — vintage on the outside, serious engineering underneath, complied for the road and built for the harshest terrain Australia can throw at it.
Where It Will Travel
Throughout Australia — including remote and desert crossings that demand an extreme camper. This unique build is just the beginning.
