Exclusive: Toyton Reborn

Ever since childhood, Rob Godfrey knew that he wanted to build a balls-to-the-wall, no-holds-barred Holden one tonner ute.

Starting at the tender age of 15, Rob purchased this HQ ute as a one-owner, column-shifted, stock standard 253ci. He didn’t even have his license when he bought the car, but it wasn’t long before he got stuck into it and began the transformation from hum-drum utility to jaw-dropping street car.  

After going through almost a dozen different engine combinations – all of them growing steadily more serious, and all of them V8s – he settled on the monstrous combo that you see now. A 502ci Chevy big block resides between the strut towers and is fed by a polished 8/71 Blower Shop supercharger that Rob chose because he wanted something “purely for driving.” A polished Weiand intake manifold sits proudly above the bonnet and ensures that everyone who spots the ute knows that it means business.

Determined to have an exterior that was just as immaculately presented as the monster in the engine bay, Rob painted his ute a brilliant Pearl Orange, fabricated sheet metal tubs to make room for the polished Billet Specialties at the rear, and then took it one step further by building a completely custom tray made from strips of oak with a ‘TOYTON’ graphic that was embossed on the timber before it was varnished. Having spent plenty of time on the show car circuit means that Rob knew exactly what looked good without going over the top.

Rob intended to spend plenty of time behind the wheel of his tonner, and as such wasn’t interested in a stripped out spartan interior. Plush bucket seats and a host of quality gauges compliment the custom trimmed door cards and dash pad, while an unobtrusive roll cage reminds passengers that when they’re strapped in, they aren’t enjoying the view from a one-trick show pony. As a street car goes, there’s no better way to enjoy the road ahead of you.

As Rob proudly told us, this ute represents the ultimate incarnation of TOYTON as a street car. It looks great, it has a tough motor combination under the bonnet and it isn’t over the top. We wouldn’t change a thing on this beaut Aussie ute, and all of us agree it’s one of the toughest street cars around. Let us know what you think in the comments section below, and for an in-depth look at this awesome one-tonner, check out our issue of Extreme Action 91 which goes on sale on the 27^th of April.

VIDEO BONUS! Check out Rob ripping it up in the Powerskid Competition at Powercruise Sydney.