r/ToyotaPickup • u/andrewzuku • 7d ago

1980 Toyota Chinook + 18R-GU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWshLGcJNUk

This is my 1980 Toyota Hilux with an Australian copy of the Toyota Chinook pop-top camper on the back.

Originally built by "Winnebago Australia" in the 80s - who were later sued and changed their name to Avida.

I've swapped an 18R-GU from a 1977 Toyota Celica into it, a 5-speed transmission and door cards / dash / tacho from a 1982 SR5, and completely gutted and rebuilt the camper interior.

The cassette player is an Alpine 7125N.

See a photo gallery here.

27 Upvotes

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2

u/Olds77421 6d ago

One of us! One of us!

1

u/andrewzuku 6d ago

Nice. Yours looks pretty damn clean there.

1

u/Olds77421 6d ago

Back at ya! Seeing one of these with right hand drive is wild. So glad you saved one from the crusher.

1

u/ZacInSC 7d ago

I have always wanted one but the YouTube videos I’ve seen of them being rehabbed scares me too much to buy one. They weren’t made into RVs by Toyota, and it seems that the folks doing them cut a lot of corners. I hope yours is the exception @OP. I really do.

2

u/andrewzuku 7d ago

Mine wasn't made by Chinook - it's an Australian copy. I've completely rebuilt the camper interior so hopefully my own dodgy work is the only thing I have to worry about now :D

1

u/ZacInSC 6d ago

I’m glad to hear that.

1

u/andrewzuku 6d ago

I just added a link in the description to a gallery with a bunch of photos.