Toyota Townace

[Barry Cade]

A strange thing happened this evening- I got a massive urge to have an old Toyota Townace in my life. I know the heads go, and most have expired in a cloud of steam on the hard shoulder, but does anyone have any real life experience of them on here??

 

I really want a Royal lounge 4x4, Auto with electric curtains!!

 

Will a Kwak ZZR600 go in the back?

[Formula Autos]

Wossa Townace?

 

Presumably some form of camper/dayvan going by the curtains comment.

 

Grey import, no doubt?

 

Pics and info please.

[overheadvalve]

Googled, i have not seen one in the flesh for ages.

Was this the one that suffered from the unfortunate

braking problem

[warren t claim]

I owned a Townace a few years ago and it was far from trouble free.

 

4wd came in handy though.

[Barry Cade]

It was the UK version- the Space Cruiser which was found to be a little *unstable* under braking.. Toyota seemingly cure this by bolting a lump of lead to the floor.

 

I'm reading all sots of horror stories about Townies, but there is just something about them that makes me WANT.

 

Came across this whilst looking, anyone got an old Toyota?

 

OLDEST TOYOTA PART 2

 

Created August 05 2011, last modified August 05 2011 11:08:16

Our search for the oldest Toyota took us to Rochdale today where we found Mr Granville Haworths beloved Toyota Space Cruiser from 1984.

 

 

 

The vehicle, which was bought by his father from new is still in pristine condition and according to its owner still ‘runs like a dream’. The seven seater comes complete with all original fittings including blue carpet and blue velvet seats!

 

‘The car’s been in our family since new’ Mr Haworth said, ‘in some respects it is part of the family, its not a show vehicle we still use it all the time, in fact I’m off to play golf in it this afternoon.’

 

‘I do get some funny looks when I’m in it, when I took it in to RRG Toyota last year for some paint work, all the mechanics came out of the workshop to have a look at it- some of them trained on these types of vehicles and some had never seen one before’

 

The Space Cruiser is in fantastic condition, obviously well loved and looked after by its owners, and all of us at RRG hope they have many more happy years together.

 

If you know anyone who has an old Toyota please get in touch, we’d love to hear your story, or share your stories on our Facebook site

[Albert Ross]

"I’m off to play golf in it this afternoon"

 

Now that's big inside....

[dollywobbler]

I'd go for a Mitsubishi Delica instead. The L300 version isn't quite as ugly (or complicated) as the later ones and they can be had with all manner of electronic goodies. They're pretty good in the rough stuff as well and judging by the L400 my mate owns, they can take a beating! They also look slightly like cartoons - a 4x4 MPV!

[wuvvum]

I had a Royal Lounge 4x4 turbo diesel auto a couple of years ago. It was a pleasant enough thing to drive, very comfortable for what is basically a van, and the 4wd came in very handy in the snow. They're not the fastest of vehicles or the most economical but they're very easy to drive and a lot more manoeuvrable than a Delica, which has a turning circle the size of the M25. Earlier Townaces are 2-litre, which seem less prone to chocolate cylinder head syndrome than the 2.2s, although they can blow head gaskets if they're not properly maintained (which is often an issue with them as the type of people who drive them often can't be arsed to tip up the entire p/s cab floor to get at the engine). But then Delicas have head issues as well, and they seem to fetch more money than Townaces. And they're a lot higher up so harder to get a ZZR600 into the back of.

[Barry Cade]

Thanks Wuvvum, good info there. I owned a Liteace van a good few years ago- 1500 petrol, and I really liked the thing. I'm assuming a Townace is just a posh Liteace- if so I'm on the lookout for one now.