A 22-year-old Isuzu FTR 800 that has covered 2.27 million kilometres has won Isuzu Motors South Africa’s (IMSAf) Legends of the Long Run competition.

The truck belongs to Stanhope Boot & Shoe Manufacturers, where the drivers simply call it “the old one”. It was chosen from 23 entries received between June and the end of August 2026. The judges were impressed by its mileage and by the fact that it is still in service.

The FTR 800 has spent most of its life carrying Stanhope’s footwear, including long runs between South Africa and Maputsoe in Lesotho. Nowadays it does mainly shorter trips helped along by a long relationship with Isuzu and its dealers.

As winner, the truck will be refurbished at IMSAf’s factory in Gqeberha. Work starts in November 2026 and should be done by February or March 2027, when Stanhope will collect it at the factory. The company also gets an Isuzu gift hamper and the truck will be shown at the Isuzu Mobility Experience at Red Star Raceway in Mpumalanga where the new-generation N-Series will be launched.

Stanhope’s Chief Operating Officer, Rudy le Roux said the company is hoping for at least another million kilometres from the old truck. “It is also a great endorsement of our drivers and the effort they put into looking after the truck, as well as the long hours they spend behind the wheel,” he said. “What a privilege this is for us.”

Mpho Nkhumeleni, Department Executive: Commercial Vehicle Sales at IMSAf, said the result shows what a truck can do in a real working business. “Covering 2.27 million kilometres over 22 years is a significant achievement, reflecting not only the truck’s longevity but also the commitment of the people who have maintained and operated it,” he said.

Here at Khulekani on Wheels, we love the dedication and constant work behind the number of kilometres this truck has done. It shows that when you maintain a product well, it can go further than you could ever imagine.

Stanhope started out in Johannesburg in 1950 and supplies major retail groups and customers in South Africa and the region. It moved to Pinetown in 1970 and shifted its whole manufacturing operation to Lesotho in 2004.