A thing rarely seen

"FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem" (fuelstratifiedinjection)
06/14/2017 at 16:30 • Filed to: None

When was the last time you saw a Toyota LiteAce?

DISCUSSION (26)

Ash78, voting early and often > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
06/14/2017 at 16:37

Mid-80s, my Sri Lankan friends who wanted to buy something that reminded them of home. No kidding. I think it made it through about 1990 or so, but I’ve maybe seen 5 since then (anywhere in the US).

Kiltedpadre > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
06/14/2017 at 16:42

There was one parked in the lot near my old apartment. I lived there three years, and I’m pretty confident it never moved.

Cé hé sin > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
06/14/2017 at 16:46

Quite recently as it happens.

Yes, i was surprised too. They were everywhere once.

fintail > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
06/14/2017 at 16:50

I see the TownAce/MasterAce NA export models now and then around Seattle. I saw an old RHD one last week, too. Tons of grey market/private import RHD ones in Canada.

Of all the odd old memories, I remember a LiteAce in the 80s cult movie “BMX Bandits”.

MarquetteLa > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
06/14/2017 at 16:52

Kinja'd!!!

From last month.

KnowsAboutCars > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
06/14/2017 at 16:52

Some but not very long time ago. It’s owner most likely lives close by where I’ve seen it since it’s often parked there when I walk by the place.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Ash78, voting early and often
06/14/2017 at 17:04

Those cab over vans seem to be very popular pretty much anywhere else than North America and Europe. And five isn’t too bad for a van that didn’t sell that well in the US iirc.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Kiltedpadre
06/14/2017 at 17:06

The one I took the picture of is actually owned by a neighbor, so I’ve seen it every day for the last 15 years. It’s still driven almost daily.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Cé hé sin
06/14/2017 at 17:08

Must have been before my time I guess. Even the Mitsubishi L200 seems to have vanished. Most of those Japanese vans have most likely been exported to Africa and the Middle East.

Ash78, voting early and often > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
06/14/2017 at 17:11

I think all the cabover and forward control vans (domestic and import both) suffered from marginal crash ratings and a lot of fear in buyers. The Previa was probably the last mass-market one to succeed here.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > KnowsAboutCars
06/14/2017 at 17:14

I walk by that LiteAce almost every day and not too long ago there was a mint Mitsubishi L200 with that crystal roof windows or whatever they where called. But other than that literally not.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > fintail
06/14/2017 at 17:17

I have always liked the Mitsubishi vans a bit more but the Toyota Aces are rarer, at least here.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Ash78, voting early and often
06/14/2017 at 17:22

Completely forgot about the Previa’s setup and how much I like the car. I wouldn’t want to have an accident in a cabover after seeing a crash test video of a Volkswagen T3 Transporter.

KnowsAboutCars > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
06/14/2017 at 17:49

My neighbour used to have a UK or JDM spec AWD Masterace with similar windows. Toyota referred to them as skylite roof.

fintail > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
06/14/2017 at 18:21

The Mitsus of that era are quite rare here, been some time since I have seen one. The Toyota probably sold 20x the volume when new.

The real rarity is a similar style Nissan van that I think was subject to a large recall, and most were removed from the road 20 or more years ago.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > fintail
06/15/2017 at 02:26

Ah I forgot about the Vanette. A neighor used to own a light blue Nissan Vanette.

pip bip - choose Corrour > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
06/15/2017 at 05:04

rarely seen now here, most have been driven into the ground.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > pip bip - choose Corrour
06/15/2017 at 05:10

Most of them now live a second life in developing countries I guess.

pip bip - choose Corrour > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
06/15/2017 at 05:11

not the ones that came here, motors will be clapped out first.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > pip bip - choose Corrour
06/15/2017 at 06:38

Australia isn’t the most friendly enviornment for cars I imagine.

pip bip - choose Corrour > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
06/15/2017 at 06:42

no, best part about down here is little to no rust.

fintail > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
06/15/2017 at 09:09

Funny thing, in NA I think all 3 JDM style vans were simply called “van”. I remember Toyota had a “wonder wagon” name, but I don’t think it was official. I am surprised they sold in any numbers, the thought of crashing one is frightful.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > fintail
06/15/2017 at 09:25

That’s a new one to me that nobody bothered to give their van a proper name. We had the Mazda Bongo, Mitsubishi L200, Nissan Vanette, Toyota LiteAce/HiAce. All of them were replaced by semi cabo vers ala Volkswagen Eurovan style.

fintail > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
06/15/2017 at 11:33

I think people in NA are oversensitive to odd names, or marketers think people are sensitive.

Come to think of it, I recall the boxy 84-91 Civic wagon being called a “Wagovan”, but I don’t think any car was badged as such.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > fintail
06/15/2017 at 12:00

The Japanese in the other hand pick rather awkward names because foreign languages are so cool and hip. Just think about the Isuzu Homy Super Long...

I think you’re right, the only decal I recall the Civic wagon had was 4wd or something similar.

fintail > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
06/15/2017 at 16:16

Yeah, those names would never fly in NA, people are too boring here, and relatively scared of weird names - the vans were weird enough.

I think the Civic said “Real Time 4WD”, to which I would reply something about “fake time”.