Sanddancer
New member
Just thought I'd bring this to anyone's attention who may be interested...cool van
1998 Astro AWD Provan XL with only 60k miles
- Thread starter Sanddancer
- Start date
plh
Explorer
Probably not, its LHD
plh
Explorer
For sale is a 19989 GMC Safari Astro van AWD that was professionally converted, from new, by Provan out of Colorado USA. from the ebay ad, and a NA: VIN 1GCDL19W4WB153032
It is pretty cool non the less.
Last edited:
Herbie
Rendezvous Conspirator
Not sure what you're saying?
All Astro/Safaris were built in the same factory in Baltimore. All were LHD, all got VINs in that series. Passenger and Cargo vans were exported to Japan, (and elsewhere) most were sold in North America. You'll note this particular van has a km/H speedo, so it was clearly ordered for a market other than USDM. (This is a checkbox on the form if you're an upfitter buying incomplete vehicles.)
Provan was based in Colorado at the beginning of the company (after Dave Rowe sold Four Wheel Campers and started Provan) and would order chassis from GM, upfit them, and deliver to customers, including for export. Based on the mirrored layout (Left/Driver's side-entry), this camper was obviously intended for a RHD market. (I can't imagine why one would build a street-side door on purpose - you'd have to open the door into traffic to enter the rear of the camper.)
Of course, you'd never know for sure unless you had enough provenance/documentation to know where this unit was originally sold, but I'm saying we DO know for sure that other LHD, but drivers-side-entry, Astro/Safari based Tiger XLs and GTs were sold to the Japanese market. More than one of these has come back to the USA and been seen here on ExPo.
All Astro/Safaris were built in the same factory in Baltimore. All were LHD, all got VINs in that series. Passenger and Cargo vans were exported to Japan, (and elsewhere) most were sold in North America. You'll note this particular van has a km/H speedo, so it was clearly ordered for a market other than USDM. (This is a checkbox on the form if you're an upfitter buying incomplete vehicles.)
Provan was based in Colorado at the beginning of the company (after Dave Rowe sold Four Wheel Campers and started Provan) and would order chassis from GM, upfit them, and deliver to customers, including for export. Based on the mirrored layout (Left/Driver's side-entry), this camper was obviously intended for a RHD market. (I can't imagine why one would build a street-side door on purpose - you'd have to open the door into traffic to enter the rear of the camper.)
Of course, you'd never know for sure unless you had enough provenance/documentation to know where this unit was originally sold, but I'm saying we DO know for sure that other LHD, but drivers-side-entry, Astro/Safari based Tiger XLs and GTs were sold to the Japanese market. More than one of these has come back to the USA and been seen here on ExPo.
Sanddancer
New member
Hope this helps
Paisano3352
New member
The listing doesn’t come up. Looks like they took it down.
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Todd n Natalie
OverCamper
I would agree it looks like a foreign market van as the camper exit / entry door is on the drivers (left) side. Never see that here on North American RV's.
Regcabguy
Expedition Leader
The Japanese culture is so heavily regulated I'm surprised they'd allow a LHD vehicle there. On base there only rhd vehicles were permitted to leave.
Todd n Natalie
OverCamper
The dealership I worked at in 2007/2008 imported several cars from Japan. All early / mid 90's cars. Two 911's, Two 850i's, Two SL500, two 535i's and a 2nd gen Lightning (go figure) All were LHD. I was told LHD in Japan is a status symbol? Never been there so I can't confirm.
