Most people think it’s beer.
Some think it’s coffee.
Others — adventure, curiosity, or the stubborn refusal to take the N1 when there’s a dirt road that leads somewhere more interesting.
They’re not wrong. But here’s the truth:
What really drives the Beer Troopy is a 4.2-litre straight-six diesel engine that’s been going strong since 1990.
No turbo. No direct injection. No fancy electronics.
Just a Toyota 1HZ — arguably the most dependable engine ever built.
The Heart of a Legend
The Beer Troopy isn’t a concept. It’s a real rig — a Land Cruiser Troop Carrier that’s helped us take the back roads, meet the brewers, visit the bakers, and sit at the tables of Local Legends across South Africa.
But behind every cold beer and every new stamp in the passport is the same engine that powered relief trucks across the African savannah, mining vehicles in Australia, and military convoys in the Middle East.
The Toyota 1HZ wasn’t built to impress.
It was built to last.
- Cast-iron block
- Forged crank
- Mechanical fuel pump
- Famously tolerant of bad diesel (and bad decisions)
And here’s the thing: it’s still in production in 2025.
Not because it’s flashy. Because it works.
Why It Matters
We created the Beer Passport to help people explore — not escape. To travel with purpose, not pressure. To celebrate the long way round.
And we built Beer Troopy on the same principle.
It’s not here for speed. It’s here for story.
It doesn’t chase likes. It collects legends.
When we talk about slow travel, about meeting real people in real places — the kind you won’t find on a travel app — we’re talking about a way of moving through the world that’s a bit more patient. A bit more intentional. A bit more old-school.
And there’s nothing more old-school (or more bulletproof) than the 1HZ.
One Engine. One Mission.
So no, it’s not beer that drives the Beer Troopy.
It’s trust in something that’s been around long enough to earn it.
It’s a commitment to keep going, even when the road gets a little rough.
And it’s the belief that the things that matter most — like good people, good places, and a good engine — don’t need to be replaced every few years.
They just need to be looked after.
Want to meet the Beer Troopy in person? Join us at a Stamptisch meetup or follow our journey as we continue to chase stories and stamps — powered by diesel, determination, and the world’s most stubbornly reliable straight-six.