Some vehicles are more than just machines — they become part of a person’s story. This Isuzu bakkie is one of those vehicles. Built with passion, patience, and years of determination, it represents far more than just horsepower and good looks. For its owner, it carries memories of childhood, humble beginnings, and a dream that eventually became reality.
The story starts many years ago when he was just a young boy, around nine years old. At the time, he used to help sell chickens from the back of a bakkie very similar to this one. What may have seemed like a simple childhood experience at the time would unknowingly leave a lasting impression on him. It became one of his earliest memories of working and hustling as a kid — what he jokingly refers to as his very first job.
As the years passed and adulthood approached, his love for vehicles continued to grow. Around 2016, he came across an advert on Gumtree for a Chevy Lumina bakkie that had caught his attention. Excited by the possibility, he arranged to go view it. But when he arrived at the owner’s warehouse, another vehicle immediately stole the spotlight — this Isuzu bakkie.
The moment he saw it, he knew it was special.
Completely forgetting about the Lumina, he asked the owner if he would sell the Isuzu instead. The owner refused, saying he was not ready to part with it at the time. Most people would have moved on, but something about the bakkie stayed with him. He kept the owner’s number and continued checking in over the years, hoping that one day the answer might change.
Eventually, in 2020, persistence paid off.
The owner finally agreed to sell him the Isuzu. At the time, it was only a shell, but it already had most of the foundation completed. The body had already been painted in the same colour it still wears today, and everything visible on the vehicle now — from the bodywork and interior to the wheels and overall styling — was already exactly as it appears today. Surprisingly, he changed nothing cosmetically because the bakkie already had the perfect look in his eyes.
Then came the COVID era, and with it, the beginning of the real build.
Together with a close friend, he started importing V8 performance parts, including cylinder heads, exhaust components, and various other upgrades needed to complete the setup properly. Despite the challenges of the time, the build came together remarkably quickly, taking roughly two months to complete.
The end result was something truly special.
Now, after owning the bakkie for nearly seven years, it remains one of the cleanest examples around. The body is pin straight, there is not a single speck of rust on it, and the attention to detail throughout the build makes it stand out everywhere it goes. It is the kind of vehicle that is rarely seen anymore — a genuine one-of-a-kind Isuzu with both character and history behind it.
But beyond the V8 power, the aggressive sound, and the striking appearance, what truly makes the bakkie special is the emotional connection attached to it.
For him, the vehicle represents a piece of his childhood.
Every startup, every drive, and every glance at the bakkie brings back memories of being a young boy selling chickens from the back of a similar vehicle years ago. What started as a childhood memory eventually became a full-circle moment — owning and building the very type of bakkie that unknowingly inspired him all those years ago.
That is what makes this build so meaningful.
It is not just about the engine, the modifications, or the performance. It is about passion, patience, persistence, and remembering where it all started.
And after all these years, he still loves everything about it — the sound, the power, and the presence it carries.
A true dream build with a story behind it.
