Bain Murdoch Story

Why one Auckland family refuses to let go of 'Poppa's truck'

When Bain Murdoch bought his father-in-law's 1992 Toyota Hilux, it wasn't because he needed another ute.

He simply couldn't bear the thought of "Poppa's truck" leaving the family.

For more than three decades, the Hilux has been part of the Deverell family's adventures, carrying camping gear, kayaks and windsurfers across the North Island as retired school teacher Bruce Deverell explored New Zealand with his wife and two daughters.

Now, the same Hilux is creating memories with Bruce's grandchildren.

"It's always just been known as Poppa's truck," says Murdoch.

"I wanted to make sure it stayed in the family so our kids could grow up with it too."

Bruce originally bought the Hilux in 1992 after surviving a serious crash in his previous 1989 Hilux, which rolled after another vehicle ran a stop sign while fleeing police.

Bruce and his two daughters walked away with only minor injuries.

"It proved how tough Hilux are," says Murdoch.

Bruce was so impressed with how it protected his family that he replaced it with another Hilux straight away.

The new ute quickly became part of family life.

Following a four-month overseas adventure in 1989, where Bruce had admired four-wheel drives in the United States, the Hilux became the perfect companion for the family's love of the outdoors.

From camping trips in the Coromandel to holidays across the North Island, the Hilux was rarely left at home.

By 2018, after 26 years of ownership, Bruce was preparing to sell the vehicle and upgrade to a newer Hilux.

Murdoch stepped in before it could leave the family.

"It had so much history," he says. "I just couldn't see it being sold to someone else."

Since then, he has carefully restored the Hilux, repairing rust, repainting it and preserving its original character, while leaving its well-kept interior largely untouched.

"It wasn't about changing it," says Murdoch. "It was about making sure it's around for another 30 years."

When Bain bought it in 2018, the Hilux had travelled just over 160,000 kilometres.

Like many Toyota owners, after careful restoration and ongoing maintenance, the Hilux continues to serve the family.

Today, Poppa's truck is still part of family life, with Bruce, his daughter Summer, Bain and the grandchildren all sharing the vehicle that has connected three generations.

Murdoch hopes one day it will belong to the fourth.

The Hilux isn't the only Toyota in the family either. Bain and Summer drive two Toyotas day-to-day alongside a classic LandCruiser FJ, while both Bruce and Bain's father also own Hilux.

For the Murdochs, Toyota has become part of the family's story across multiple generations.

"Everything I've done has been to make sure it's still here for the kids one day," says Murdoch.

"Hopefully they'll keep calling it Poppa's truck long after we're gone."

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