Think owning a piece of Australian entertainment history is out of reach? Not so, as The Crocodile Hunter’s iconic LandCruiser sells for $40K, with heavy modifications – including a V8 engine.
Love him or hate him, there’s no denying the massive cultural impact Steve Irwin had in Australia and around the world.
Known as the Crocodile Hunter, Irwin’s larger-than-life persona helped the zookeeper and conservationist attract a wide audience to his passion for Australian wildlife.
Now, 19 years on from his death, fascination with Irwin’s legacy continues – as demonstrated by the recent sale of the television personality’s Toyota LandCruiser.
The 1982 ‘HJ47’ LandCruiser Troop Carrier was recently sold by international online auctioneers Collecting Cars – and, surprisingly, not for an insane sum.
The final bid saw Irwin’s 40 Series 'Cruiser sell for $40,000, receiving 95 bids in the process.
Despite the car’s celebrity history, the final price is in line with other 40 Series LandCruisers listed for sale in Australia, which span from as low as $15,000 in original condition, up to $50,000 for restored or modified examples.
The HJ47 was auctioned in modified condition after being sold by the Irwin family’s Australia Zoo to a Sunshine Coast family in 2013.
Changes to the LandCruiser made by its last owner include swapping its 4.0-litre ‘2H’ diesel engine for a 4.9-litre Ford Cleveland V8, a mechanical refurbishment, an overhauled electrical system, and updated front seats taken from a 60 Series LandCruiser.
The vehicle has been purchased by 4WD parts manufacturer Terrain Tamer, and fitted with some of its suspension components.
The very obvious signs of the LandCruiser’s history can be seen in hand-painted Crocodile Hunter logos on the bonnet and sides of the vehicle.
The LandCruiser is also fitted with an aluminium bullbar, believed to have been fitted during its time at Australia Zoo, and has been modified with 40 Series ute chassis parts over its lifetime.
The condition of the vehicle reflects its age, with wear such as a chipped and faded glovebox, signs of minor rust across multiple body panels, cracked paint in places, faded interior plastics, and signs of repairs and retouches throughout the Troop Carrier's life.
The listing also notes that the side and rear doors were removed during the car’s time at Australia Zoo, but have been replaced and repainted, with other rust spots around the body in need of attention.
The five-digit odometer only shows 41,547km on the clock, but the listing suggests the actual distance travelled by the 40 Series Troopy exceeds 415,400km – suggesting Collecting Cars may have misread the odometer and included the decimal marker (which advances every 100 metres) as part of the overall reading.
The sale includes a history booklet and a signed letter from Steve Irwin’s son, Robert, supporting the vehicle’s history.
Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
