1988 Toyota Hiace Super GL - To be my home in NZ!!

[uncle silvia]

Yep I finally found a cool van

 

I went all the way down to Dunedin from Christchurch to pick up this (and have a few drinks with an old friend from the UK lol).

Picked it up for a reasonable $3000.

 

Spec:

1988 JDM Toyota Hiace Super GL

2.4 Diesel

209000km from new

Automatic

Long Wheel Base

Electric windows

Power steering

Air Con

Alarm

Chrome

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now its time to convert it to a full camper so i can live and travel in it for the rest of the year!

 

Oh and I might do a few little retro mods too........... thinking something like this............

[Station]

These cars always look better when the photo is taken in Australia/NZ. Don't know why.

[retrogeezer]

These cars always look better when the photo is taken in Australia/NZ. Don't know why.

coz they are not rusty as hell??

[Mr H Sceptre]

Rust makes a vehicle look better though.

[STUNO]

And a quality sound system too!That will help you join the current " freedom campers must be stopped" campaign that is on. Though shalt NOT park up by a deserted beach and actually SLEEP in your vehicle

[uncle silvia]

THAT sound system was poo and its going back lol!!

 

Ive just been given a set of rims for free off a 1988 Toyota Crown!! They actually look rather cool against the van! Pics soon

 

These............

[504GL]

It's amazing how little seems to have changed. My dad has a 2000 Hiace Petrol LWB which he's had since new and if you changed the lights, bumpers, grilles etc yours would look very similar. Extra points for it being JDM New Zealand is excellent for JDM stuff

[uncle silvia]

Heres those rims.................

 

Trial view.............

 

With my friends Nissan Vanette...............

 

Someones trying to out do my van for size lol................

 

[uncle silvia]

Heres an update............

 

My van now has its own space within Riverside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Police Style LOL:

 

1st Mod was to get some insulation in the panels:

 

 

Then make a start on fitting the audio:

 

 

 

 

 

And today i took it for a wash:

 

And I took some cool shots this evening:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Spottedlaurel]

Those wheels will improve its looks no end! They actually look rather like the trims fitted to UK-market vans in the ‘80s.

[UglyAmerican]

 

 

Dare I ask why?

[uncle silvia]

 

 

 

Dare I ask why?

Why What??

 

The van came with 1 6W speaker on the passenger side and no stereo in the dash at all! I love my music and my last job was a Car Audio fitter so would be rude not to have some sort of tunes in it! Speakers are only cheap ones I got free with the van and I mounted them in a way that wouldnt butcher the van at all! They sound surprisingly good for a cheap build costing me a grand total of £30

 

The carpet is only pulled back to run the wires!

[STUNO]

That should sound better tha the cheapo Philips thing!looked an car jam and it is a 2.5 diesel. should be ok with auto trans so long as you keep the fit-out light.Do you find the dreaded Road User Charges for Diesels a bloody nuisance I will not buy another diesel until the Govt, sorts the thing out for light vehicles. Enjoy it.

[Minimad5]

 

Is there any room for Me, a Mk1 Fiesta and a Rebel ?

Seriously ... i could do with getting away for a while

[uncle silvia]

That should sound better tha the cheapo Philips thing!looked an car jam and it is a 2.5 diesel. should be ok with auto trans so long as you keep the fit-out light.Do you find the dreaded Road User Charges for Diesels a bloody nuisance I will not buy another diesel until the Govt, sorts the thing out for light vehicles. Enjoy it.

Well its listed as the 2.4 but prob a 2.5 ish!I know the turbo ones have issues with cracked heads if they get to hot but this one should be ok if i look after it being a non turbo.My engine has just been rebuilt too so hopefully be ok.Ive not heard any probs about the trans????TBH this van is soo good on fuel it works out cheaper with the RUC really!$25 to 450km aint bad

[uncle silvia]

Time to start making it a little more liveable

 

The construction of the bed frame.................

 

 

 

 

Its made in 2 sections to allow it to be easily fitted/removed

 

 

 

Lots of storage

 

Trial Fit with mattress

 

 

Boards on top

 

 

Undercoat

 

Nice blue topcoat

 

 

Theres a few more little touches before its finished which ill do this weekend.

 

Oh and just to show she makes a good workhorse too, here she is in car towing form with a mates Mitsi Lancer and a F*%king big trailor lol (sorry for rubbish pics lol)

 

 

[uncle silvia]

Well heres a little update so far..............

 

I bought another "propper" mattress as the other one was too soft for me and got some matching blue sheets for it too lol

 

I put some curtain Tracks up with temporary blinds untill I get the curtains made for it...........

 

Bed still fits in lovely with the seats up being a LWB........

 

Bedding in and power "hook up" fitted lol..........

 

All moved in........... Tweed Jackets were for fancy dress honest..............

 

Home sweet home.........

 

Trying to change the headlight bulbs........

 

Done........... with some swearing and seized bolts............

 

Went on another towing mission and gave it the ultimate test......... 2 tonnes of Jag!!! It coped fine thank god lol........

 

 

The Riverside Fleet of vans...........

[Parky]

Thats absolute quality that is. Really missing Christchurch at the mo, must get back for a holiday in the next year or so. Might even postpone my shite purchase until I do, buy something rust free and original over there and have it shipped back. In fact does anybody do a regular NZ/UK export run? There must be loads of useful rust free straight parts over there that the JDM boyz would love to get an easy supply of over here. I remember seeing Marinas, Allegros, and even a few Renault 12's which may have been battered at the edges but were fundamentally sound and straight and most importantly rust free. If I ever attempted a full resto I would definitely look at sourcing a spares car from NZ for that reason.You guys must be loving it over there, you are so living the dream!

[michiel]

Looks good! Nice Jag too.

[uncle silvia]

Thats absolute quality that is. Really missing Christchurch at the mo, must get back for a holiday in the next year or so. Might even postpone my shite purchase until I do, buy something rust free and original over there and have it shipped back. In fact does anybody do a regular NZ/UK export run? There must be loads of useful rust free straight parts over there that the JDM boyz would love to get an easy supply of over here. I remember seeing Marinas, Allegros, and even a few Renault 12's which may have been battered at the edges but were fundamentally sound and straight and most importantly rust free. If I ever attempted a full resto I would definitely look at sourcing a spares car from NZ for that reason.You guys must be loving it over there, you are so living the dream!

Funny you should say that as Im currently looking into exporting parts and maybe cars back to the uk! Im hoping to send my van back to the uk full of parts later this year so if anyone wants anything let me know via PM and Ill see what i can do!I am surprised at how much Mint Euro Classic and Retro stuff there is here! I often see most of the stuff on this site but in mint or at least running order! 100s of Jags, Old BMWs, Porsches, Mercs, Pug GTIs, Old Citroens and tons of old British tat too! Its awesome! If someone is after a car Im pretty sure I can find one for them somewhere! Im just a PM away

[Parky]

Yeah, good idea. You guys still in Christchurch? I lived in Russley and worked at the ASB Bank in Riccarton Mall when I lived there. If you are around that way, go and have one of the smoothies in the mall as they are amazing. Avoid Hungry Wok though!So are you into the whole Urban Pacifika vibe yet? There are some class bands around NZ who will never get any recognition which is a shame. I was well into Nesian Mystik, Salmonella Dub and Scribe when I was over there. Especially Scribe, theres something about a rapper who can make Christchurch sound as dangerous and edgy as the Bronx.I had a 1991 Corolla and an 87 Microwave back Civic when I lived there. Both spotless and rust free although mechanically a bit tired. I should have brought the civic home, I loved that little heap.And you have unlimited access to Whittakers bars as well you jammy devils!

[STUNO]

I shared a flat in London with one of the Whittaker boys in the 70's And it is easy and fairly cheap (I understand) to get vehicles to and from UK. It looks like car dealer uncle sylvia may have more details. I have real trouble recognising a 15 year old car as an autoshite candidate, because EVERYONE has one. My Laurel was commented on by the tester at its last test as being like new underneath after 11 years My neighbours Hi Ace is fitted out similarly to yours, but the centre section underneath the bed slides out and stands on legs.

[uncle silvia]

Well im still looking into prices at the moment for shipping am weighting on some quotes to come back!

 

Does anyone else know of any other good shipping companys??

 

Anyway heres another update on the van and its journey round NZ

 

Little trip to the races

 

Wheels get a clean up

 

trial fit

 

liking the idea of whitewalls eventually

 

getting tyres swapped over for the good ones and tracking done

 

um ....well.....yes!!!!

 

First day with rims on on "Club K" Toyota run

 

 

on route to Hanmer Springs

 

 

 

Finally got some curtains fitted

 

 

hiace......... loved by everyone lol

 

3 position table designed by me lol

 

 

 

 

 

firewood mission

 

chilling in the sun

 

cleaned it all up and got some nice shots

 

 

 

stickered up

 

"No Cruising" lol

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs059.snc4/35322_411200899091_511144091_4562954_691746_n.jpg

 

Taking in some culture

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs215.snc4/39102_411208244091_511144091_4563199_2887073_n.jpg

 

inside

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs115.ash2/39102_411208254091_511144091_4563201_3786871_n.jpg

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs115.ash2/39112_411208314091_511144091_4563207_761941_n.jpg

 

more to come!!

[face]

Awesome

[fotorabia]

lookin good Mate...good work the van looks ace...u should go back to christchurch and do some before and after shots..

[Vin]

Must say I've always liked this version of the Hiace. Looks very well proportioned.

 

Did the UK ever get them like this in an 'MPV' format?? If so will most of them now be dead or on the Nairobi Airport run??

 

I assume only chance of getting one is to go the JDM route? If this is the case is it easy to remove all that JDM clutter?

 

I quite fancy the idea of owning one as an all round daily.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

We only got the Space Cruiser in 'MPV' format, which was based on the smaller Lite Ace I think.

They get all kinds of plush vans in Japan, I quite fancy something along those lines, they seem so useful.

[Tayne]

.

[uncle silvia]

cheers guys!

 

Yea i love it and its very usefull indeed (my home atm lol)

[uncle silvia]

There's a Hi-Ace on the ebay tat thread.

Ah this one!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TOYOTA-LIKE-HIACE-2-0-PETROL-MINIBUS-CAMPER-MPV-NO-VAT-/180558038254

 

Its the slightly facelifted one and is super custom so has a few more extras over mine like twin sunroofs more seats and a turbo diesel engine!

 

The only issues with them for my use was they were a short wheelbase and the rear floor is raised for the rear seats where mine is handily perfectly flat.

 

Mine still has electric windows, power steering, Air Con and full carpets and headlining etc so is still very comfy and has more room inside than one above.