Oh What a Feeling.....it's a Toyota Landcruiser Ute!

Toyota enthusiasts will be doing the famous “Oh what a feeling” jump for joy when a completely refurbished, 27-year-old Landcruiser trayback ute goes up for auction on Thursday, 9th February in aid of the Mayor’s Christmas Cheer Appeal.

Originally purchased by the then Mulgrave Shire Council in 1990, the car had an incredible history before local businesses joined with Council to overhaul its body and engine.

“This story is quite unbelievable actually,” Mayor Bob Manning said. “Shortly after it was purchased in 1990, the ute was stolen from the Gordonvale depot.

“We all know the popularity of the ’Cruisers, so despite a considerable search by Police at the time, the vehicle wasn’t able to be recovered. Since then, it seems to have done a little bit of travelling until it was found in a raid on a banana farm at Ayr in 2015.”

Queensland Police Service used a VIN search to trace the vehicle back to its original owner, now Cairns Regional Council.

“The vehicle made its way back home last year, but it was a little beyond the age of our normal fleet vehicles, so we were at a bit of a loss for what to do with it - that’s when this idea came up,” he said.

“Our Fleet guys put the call out to see who might be able to help prepare the car for auction to provide the first big injection of funds to the 2017 Mayor’s Christmas Cheer appeal.

“Fifteen North Queensland businesses put up their hands to donate time, labour and parts to refurbish the car from the inside out and conduct a cost-free auction.

“Thanks entirely to the generosity and kindness of these great businesses, every cent of the proceeds from the auction will go to local families in need through the 2017 Appeal.”