Time was when you took what you were given – or were actually able to buy – in this country, and most of us drove cookie-cutter vehicles distinguished only by the colour or – at the most – a ‘Monsoon’ shield clipped to the driver’s door, or set of brand name mudflaps.
They, if you like, were ‘the bad old days’ when importers had to go cap-in-hand to Wellington to purchase ‘import licence.’
Now, the sky is literally the limit as far as ‘bling’ of any description is concerned with the results obvious to us each and every day.
Want to ‘smarten up’ your new 4WD ute? Easy. As easy as adding a new lease on life to that old Patrol/Safari/Surf you can’t kill.
Wheels, tyres, bars front back and sides, snorkels, suspension kits, roofracks, recovery gear, no matter how vivid your imagination is, if you can dream it (or sketch it on the back of an envelope) you can buy and fit it/have it fitted here.
The aftermarket is traditionally where the action is but with record numbers of new 4WD work and lifestyle vehicles being sold, more and more manufacturers are offering factory-supported genuine accessories from mag wheels to winch-ready bullbars. To give you an idea of just what is available out there we surveyed the local scene and came up with this feature.

To read the full story in 2017 NZ4WD Annual & Buyer’s Guide go to zinio.com (December 12) or purchase your own hard copy at the Adrenalin store