From The Classifieds: 1985 LandCruiser art ute

A rich palette of blues and an eclectic visual tapestry featuring the Virgin Mary, a skull and multiple cacti – leave it to Adelaide’s innovative arts community to pimp their ride like no other.

This 1985 Toyota LandCruiser ute underwent a public transformation at the hands of indigenous artist Coby Edgar live at the Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2014. And now, it could be yours. Instagram fame awaits you.

Edward Hartley, third-generation owner of the family-owned vehicle and Director of online art gallery Bluethumb, finds himself sentimental as he prepares to part with the ‘old ute’ that his grandfather bought new.

Chatting with Ed, it became obvious that selling the LandCruiser is akin to losing a family member – writing an obituary may have been more fitting. He learned to drive in his grandfather’s ute and fondly recalls the interior’s protective plastic, intact well beyond its intended time.

Its first post as a working ute on a cattle farm in South Australia paved the way for life on Edward’s Mother’s orchard and vineyard in the Adelaide hills, finally giving way to its current and possibly most notable post at Bluethumb’s HQ as their business vehicle.

It’s carried dirt bikes to Birdsville, bumped-in Ed’s wedding on Kangaroo Island, worked as a workhorse for many a pop-up gallery and withstood multiple boys’ camping trips.“It’s tough as nails,” says Hartley, who spent a year deliberating whether or not to sell.

However, it’s not all bad news, the much-needed proceeds of the sale will fund online expansion for Bluethumb. It really is the car that keeps on giving, Hartley hopes.

The Toyota is a one-off, but prestige brand BMW has got into the whole art-car craze in a big way, recently notching up 40 years since its first daubed 3.0 CSL hit the track. Two Australian artists, Michael Nelson Jagamara and Ken Done even painted up two E30-generation M3s for the on-going project.