Likely to tug at the heartstrings of classic Land Cruiser enthusiasts and fans of the late Steve Irwin, the conservationist’s former 1982 Toyota Land Cruiser HJ47 Troop Carrier will be displayed at Terrain Tamer’s North American distribution center in Stockton, California, after the 2026 SEMA Show. The Australian four-wheel-drive parts company acquired the vehicle through a Collecting Cars auction, securing a working piece of Australia Zoo history that retains its recognizable green Crocodile Hunter branding.
Before becoming a collectible, the Troopy served as an everyday utility vehicle at Australia Zoo on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Its duties included transporting staff and equipment around the 700-acre property. With more than 415,000 kilometers, or approximately 257,870 miles, showing on the odometer, its history extends well beyond its association with the conservationist and television presenter.
For overland travelers and LandCruiser enthusiasts, the vehicle’s appeal lies partly in that working background. Troop Carriers are valued for their practical configuration, and this example spent years performing the straightforward transport duties its name suggests. Its subsequent refurbishment also reflects a familiar approach to keeping an older four-wheel drive in service: retaining the vehicle while updating its mechanical and electrical systems. Thankfully, the owners never compromised the patina; every dent, scratch and fade tells a story.
A Sunshine Coast family purchased the Land Cruiser from Australia Zoo in 2013 and later oversaw mechanical and electrical refurbishment. The vehicle now carries a 4.9-liter Cleveland Ford V8 in place of its original diesel engine, making it a substantially modified example rather than a factory-specification HJ47.
The refurbishment included Terrain Tamer suspension components. According to the company, its distinctive yellow shock absorbers caught the team’s attention while members were browsing the auction listing. That existing connection helped draw the parts supplier toward a vehicle it subsequently acquired after bidding against several other prospective buyers.
Terrain Tamer Chief Executive Officer Brent Hutchinson described the purchase as an opportunity to share the LandCruiser with enthusiasts who recognize its broader significance.
“LandCruisers are a cornerstone of Australian automotive culture, and the Troopy, in particular, is known for being rugged and practical. With the connection to Steve Irwin, there’s an overlap of cultural identity and automotive history beyond anything mechanical.”
The purchase also includes records supporting the vehicle’s history. Terrain Tamer says the documentation details modifications from its Australia Zoo service, along with restoration records and supporting provenance material. A signed letter from Irwin’s son, Robert, accompanies the vehicle. For a modified classic with a well-known former owner, those records provide an important connection between its present condition and its earlier working life.
Read More: Overland News of the Week, October 23, 2026
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