Super tourer gone wild — Brad Wall’s Nissan Patrol is one of the most well-rounded in the country, with a bucket load of power on tap, and camping mods to put most campers to shame. One of New Zealand’s best Patrols? 100 per cent!
Words: René Vermeer Photos: Michael Pius (Unknown Media)
Published in Volume 002
We’re very lucky here in New Zealand to have some incredible Japanese imports and New Zealand–new vehicles specced for our rugged terrain and, well, for some people, getting the kids to their soccer match. Kiwi love a four-wheel drive, and that rings true for Brad Wall’s family. Growing up on a farm, Brad’s parents owned a Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series. When Brad was old enough to drive it, it became his vehicle of choice to get around in. But he wanted something of his own, he told us. “I saved up money to buy my first Pajero 2.5-litre diesel turbo (4D56), then after jumping through a few cheap trucks I found my Patrol and bought it from someone in Wellington for $25,000. At the time that was a lot of money for the truck. To be honest, I was looking at 80 Series Land Cruisers until I saw this one on TradeMe and it had everything I wanted; turbo, diesel, manual and it was factory. I’m not a Toyota or Nissan guy — each has its pros and cons, but overall I love the Patrol. Nothing beats the sound of a TD on gate.”
The GU Patrol (Y61), introduced in 1997, built on the strengths of its predecessor, the GQ (Y60), with improved refinement, stronger driveline components and a more comfortable cabin. It retained the legendary coil-sprung suspension, solid axles and body-on-frame construction, making it a favourite among off-roaders. Available with various petrol and diesel engines, the standout was the TD42 — a 4.2-litre inline-six diesel known for its durability and tuning potential. The Y61 was offered in multiple trims, including the tough-as-nails DX and the more refined ST and Ti models. Over its production span, it saw updates like common-rail diesel technology and improved interior features, yet it remained true to its utilitarian roots. While production for most markets ended in the 2010s, the Y61 continued in some regions due to its cult following. Today, it’s a sought-after platform for hardcore 4WD builds, renowned for its strength, aftermarket support and legendary reliability — all things Brad has put to the test in spades.
Brad’s Patrol build went how many of our builds do when we first start getting stuck into it. The temptation of cheaper parts was enticing, and Brad spent a good fortune before learning the hard way that some things just can’t be skimped on. In the end, nearly all of those cheaper parts have been replaced by quality components, and Brad’s realised that less is more when you’ve got quality kit. “Luckily it’s a Nissan, and the aftermarket parts list for them is huge!”
TD42s are known to be stout engines until they’re pushed too far. Then you’re left with a two-piece crankshaft. Six years in, Brad’s TD42 is still unopened. With KRAE behind the tuning, pushing the TD42 to around 186kW and 640Nm of torque, the Steve Murch Holset HX35 with 6cm rear housing, and the rest of the setup, is definitely in its happy place. Sure, you could go for more, but at what risk? For Brad, the Patrol is a tourer and wheeler, so anything more is unnecessary. The engine spec sheet reads like a performance car build, with Sinco providing the turbo manifold, and Plazmaman providing its billet throttle body to round out the turbo system.
Walking around the vehicle at the shoot, it was genuinely amazing to see the level of detail on this build and just how well thought out the camping components and interior upgrades have been done. There’s an underfloor, 55-litre water tank with a level gauge mounted inside the cabin, underseat subs, upgraded audio, a slimline solar panel mounted on the roof tent, the fridge is on a drop-down slider and everything is done to a high standard — crazy, considering Brad did so much of this build himself. “I definitely enjoy going camping in it and enjoying the truck — even if it’s not 100 per cent. You’re better to use it than to be building it and not enjoying it,” Brad added.
A man after our own heart, Brad wanted the GU’s paintwork to be a standout feature of the build. Initially, the GU was the factory two-tone forest green and gold/champagne. “The green two-tone was actually fine. It was only when I came back from the South Island and I had been doing a lot of driving in the rain. There were a couple of spots on the car that had the clearcoat coming off — tiny little bits. When I got back from touring the South Island for three weeks, I put the hose on it and it all peeled off like crazy. All of the guards started peeling. That’s when I knew it was time to put it into the shed to do some maintenance and start stripping it down for a total respray. Which I had never done before, but you soon learn how many parts on a car need to be pulled off to do a respray. It was a big job — I definitely don’t envy Chris and The Structural Shop team!” Brad explained.
With the initial plan to go two-tone again, Brad and Chris finished prepping the GU’s body for painting. It was completely stripped, repaired and prepped for paint. Brad decided on a brighter green and wanted it two-tone, but this time with a darker black colour down the bottom. “To be honest, the green we initially painted looked really strange on the rounder GU body. It just didn’t really fit. We ended up painting it a second time. We sanded it all back and painted the whole car again — the same colour as the dark bottom half of the two-tone. Then, put it all back together for the 4x4 Outdoor Expo and I won Best Panel & Paint in 2024,” Brad laughs. Brad admits that he does worry about getting it scratched out on the tracks, but he’s getting used to it, as it was built to be driven.
These Patrols are becoming harder and harder to get in a factory, tidy condition. Although Brad thought it was expensive at the time, he looks back now and thinks how well-priced it was. And, with a good, solid, tidy base, Brad has built an immaculate, reliable touring rig that hasn’t given him too much grief. It’s easy to see how Brad’s GU is an award-winning vehicle and one we’d love to see out in action on the tracks! Brad plans on doing exactly that, so if you’re lucky enough to see it in the flesh, check out the details!
Vehicle Details:
Make: Nissan Safari
Model: Y61 GU
Year: 1998
Engine:
Model: TD42, 4200cc, six-cylinder (blacktop)
Block internal spec: Factory blacktop
Cylinder head spec: Factory Black Top
Intake system: Plazmaman billet
Exhaust system: Sinco, four-inch stainless steel from the turbo
Turbo/Supercharger system: Steve Murch HX35 (6cm turbine housing)
Fuel system: 12mm 165cc pump
Ignition system: Matching injectors
Cooling: High-flow water pump, factory radiator, front-mount intercooler
Electrical (ECU, wiring, etc.): Full 12V secondary battery system with solar and lithium battery
Driveline:
Gearbox: Factory manual blacktop
Clutch: NPC Viper Clutch
Flywheel: Billet lightweight
Differentials: Factory, front- and rear-diff lock
Suspension:
Shocks: XGG 2.5 remote reservoir
Springs: Six-inch Dobinsons
Arms/Knuckles: Superior Engineering
Others: Nolathane castor correction bushes, drop boxes
Brakes (include rotors, calipers, pads, etc.):
Front and rear: DBA T2 slotted discs, DBA XP pads
Wheels and tyres (include brand name, model, sizing, etc.):
Wheels: KMC Machete 17x9 -38
Tyres: 37x12.5R17 Maxxis Razrs
Exterior:
Panel and paint: Custom paint Phoenix Grey by Nissan
Camping accessories (tent, etc.): Feldon Hawk’s Nest roof tent, Bushwakka 270-degree awning
Bullbars: ARB front bullbar, XROX sliders, custom sliders and rear bar with tyre carrier
Other: 55-litre undercarriage water tank with level reader on the dash
Interior:
Seats: Factory with Black Duck covers
Steering wheel: Factory
Gauges/Meters: Redarc
Electronic devices/controllers: Tablet-style head unit, underseat subs, upgraded speakers and XRS Connect UHF
Performance:
Power: 186kW
Torque: 640Nm
Boost: 26psi
Tuner: KRAE
Personal information:
Name: Brad Wall
Age: 26
Location: Kaukapakapa
Occupation: Refrigeration engineer
Build time: Hasn’t stopped
Length of ownership: Six years
People to thank: XGG, Beno’s Creations, Bushwakka, Structural Shop, Outbound Industries, Weekend Warriors, Central Motoring, Fenix Radiators and Izzy at Central Motoring
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