How Barry Crump’s grandsons are still flying the Hilux flag decades later
Words: Andrew Sluys
When talking about the Toyota Hilux in New Zealand, it’s hard to not bring up Barry Crump and his rich legacy.
As well as being an icon of the outdoors, Crumpy gained local fame for his antics with his trusty HIlux, conquering all manner of terrain across the country.
Decades on from Crumpy’s passing and his legacy still surrounds the Hilux in New Zealand, feeling even more appropriate considering it is celebrating half a century of sales in 2026.
This is only cemented by the fact Barry’s grandson Jim still uses a Hilux everyday to complete his beekeeping tasks.
A recent video published by Toyota New Zealand dives into the day-to-day duties of ‘Bumpy’, Jim’s 1994 single-cab ute.
“It’s our workhorse,” says Jim. “It carries heavy loads, goes through rough country and just keeps turning up.”
“I want to get work done. I don’t want to spend a fortune on vehicles. For value for money, there’s nothing better.”
The video also details how Jim flew down to Blenheim (from Northland) to collect Bumpy, then embarking on a trek North that Barry would be proud of.
The journey included a faulty fuel gauge, multiple fuel scares, a cardboard sign asking strangers for diesel and an Argentinian engineer who stopped to help when the pair eventually ran out of fuel.
Aside from Bumpy, Jim also mentioned how his Taupo-based brother Boris also relies on a Hilux for his electrical business.
“We’ve always been a Toyota family,” says Boris.
Would Barry Crump approve of his grandsons still driving Hiluxes? Boris laughs. It was Crump’s ads, after all, that helped make the ute famous.
“I think he’d be pretty chuffed.”
