Keep on truckin’: hunt on for Crump‘Scotty’ ad series utes

WELLINGTON: Toyota is trying to track down the lead ‘‘actors’’ from a series of 1980s television advertisements that featured Barry Crump and his city slicker sidekick Lloyd ‘‘Scotty’’ Scott careering crosscountry in a ute.

The commercials were for the Hilux, and now the company wants to find the two original bushbashing, riverrunning vehicles that featured in them.

One is a red 1982 Hilux, the other a 1983 model in yellow, complete with red and black stripes.

The search is part of the company’s new advertising campaign, and may feature in a new commercial if they are found, and still relatively ‘‘alive’’.

Toyota New Zealand marketing and business technology general manager Andrew Davis said the company had a lead on one.

‘‘We think we may have found the yellow ute.

‘‘We know it was sold on Trade Me just over two years ago, so the team have been out on a big hunt,’’ Mr Davis said.

‘‘We might have found one but we’re really trying to find the red Hilux if we can, so it’s a big shoutout to try and find that one,’’ Mr Davis said.

He thought the yellow Hilux could be in the Wairarapa.

‘‘It sounds like it’s got the original registration plate on it, but whether it’s roadworthy or not, we’ll soon find out.’’

Mr Davis was optimistic that it would be driveable, but the question was whether it would be legally driveable.

‘‘It sounds like it’s an absolute runner. What it will take to get it back to being roadworthy, I’m not sure, but we’d love to find out, obviously, and it would be great to restore it back to its former glory if that’s even possible.’’

Mr Davis was optimistic the original red Hilux driven by Barry Crump in the commercial would be found.

‘‘I’m confident that we’ll find the truck.

‘‘When you get into the deep dark of the South Island of New Zealand particularly, there’s all sorts of Hiluxes down that way.

‘‘Hopefully, under someone’s shed roof or somewhere will be that truck.

‘‘There’s always someone that knows someone in New Zealand, so I’m confident we’ll find it.’’ — RNZ

IMAGES: SUPPLIED Fading stars . . . While the yellow Toyota Hilux may have been located, the whereabouts of the red Hilux remains a mystery Toyota New Zealand hopes to solve.