For a generation of Australian 4WDers, Malcolm Douglas was the legend who inspired them to pack the Troopy, point it towards the horizon and see what was out there.
Long before YouTube, social media and the seemingly endless stream of 4WD content we have today, Douglas was travelling through some of Australia’s wildest places with a camera in hand. Over several decades, he made more than 50 adventure films, taking viewers into remote parts of the country many would otherwise never have seen.
And along for plenty of those adventures was his Toyota LandCruiser Troop Carrier.
After Douglas passed away in 2010, his 2001 Troopy eventually found itself sitting in Broome, slowly succumbing to years of rust.
Now, more than a decade later, it has been brought back to life.
Rescuing Malcolm Douglas’ old Troopy
A few years ago, the Douglas family and the team behind the 4WD & Adventure Show decided the old LandCruiser deserved another chapter.
The Troopy was brought down from Broome and delivered to Rust Worx in Perth, where the scale of the restoration quickly became apparent.
According to Malcolm’s grandson, Owen Douglas, “the rust was so bad, I could have got a screwdriver and just about poked a hole in every part of this car”.
Once the Troopy was pulled apart, it was worse than expected. Gary from Rust Worx described it as difficult, saying that there was “lots of unseen rust that we didn’t know was there, along with the rust that was actually there”.
Rust Worx removed the roof, replaced the drip rails and repaired or replaced sections including the lower quarter panels, sills and floor pans. The doors also required repairs, while the vehicle was sandblasted before the painstaking process of putting it all back together began.
At one stage of the build, the team estimated there were around another 100 hours of preparation required simply to get the primer ready for paint.
This wasn’t a quick tidy-up. It was a proper resurrection.
Bringing back the Troopy Malcolm would recognise
The aim wasn’t to transform Douglas’ LandCruiser into a modern show pony. Instead, the restoration has retained much of the character and equipment that connects the vehicle with its former owner.
Several brands that had longstanding associations with Malcolm Douglas came back on board for the project, including Engel, Toyota, ARB and Tyrepower. Terrain Tamer and SupaFit Seat Covers were among the newer supporters helping return the vehicle to the road.
ARB equipment includes the bull bar, suspension and driving lights, while Tyrepower supplied tyres and wheels. Terrain Tamer provided a range of engine and driveline components, including a clutch.
Under the bonnet sits the 1HD-FTE turbo-diesel engine, with Owen explaining that Malcolm had been fortunate enough to get one of the very first 1HD-FTE-powered Troop Carriers in Australia.
But as you can see from the video below, some of the best parts of the restored Troopy aren’t new at all.
Yes, a crocodile really did take a bite out of the seat
One detail in particular tells you more about this LandCruiser’s history than a perfectly restored interior ever could. There’s a chunk missing from one of its seats.
The culprit? A crocodile.
Malcolm Douglas famously worked with crocodiles and operated a crocodile park in Broome. Owen recalls that while Malcolm was transporting a young male crocodile, it managed to take a bite out of the Troopy’s seat.
Rather than hide the damage during the restoration, Owen wanted to preserve it. When the vehicle went to SupaFit Seat Covers, he asked the team to incorporate a clear section into the new cover so the original bite mark could still be seen underneath.
It’s an imperfect little piece of history that feels entirely appropriate in this vehicle.
A Troopy built for Australian adventures
The restoration also brings back memories of how differently people travelled when Malcolm was exploring Australia. There wasn’t an enormous canopy filled with every conceivable accessory or a complicated touring fit-out.
As Owen describes it, Malcolm travelled simply. A couple of canvas bags held his gear, there was a billy and a handful of cooking utensils, while his swag travelled on the roof rack.
The Troopy was a tool that allowed him to get into remote country and, importantly, get back out again.
Owen particularly remembers Malcolm using the vehicle while working on the Save the Bilby project, tackling rough tracks and difficult terrain in the Great Sandy Desert. The LandCruiser took plenty of punishment along the way, but kept bringing him home.
See Malcolm Douglas’ restored Troopy in Sydney
Fortunately, this piece of Australian 4WD history isn’t disappearing back into a shed now that the restoration is finished.
Owen plans to continue using his grandfather’s Troopy for adventures, while also giving the public the chance to get a closer look at the vehicle and hear some of the stories behind it.
The restored Troopy will be on display at the Sydney 4WD & Adventure Show, being held at Sydney Dragway, Eastern Creek, from 11-13 September 2026.
Owen Douglas will also be there with the vehicle, making it a rare opportunity for those who grew up watching Malcolm’s adventures to see one of the LandCruisers connected with those stories up close.
And even if you didn’t grow up watching Malcolm Douglas, there’s something pretty special about seeing a genuine Australian touring vehicle that has actually lived the adventures so many modern 4WDs are built to emulate.
Rust, crocodile bite and all.
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