Imported Toyota HiAce Camper Van-3L Diesel 4WD 5 Speed (1996)

[Lorenzo395]

Rare find! Imported Japanese Toyota HiAce Camper Van!

• Vin cleared with the CHP, registered and insured in the state of California (right hand drive). *Purchased from importer
• 1996 3L Diesel engine, 5 speed manual transmission, 4WD front locking hubs.
• Low miles 129,462 miles (208,350 kilometers as read on dash). Great mileage 20-24mpg
• Deep cycle battery with portable 130 watt "Go Power" solar panel system (to charge while parked) in addition to alternator (which charges while engine is running)
• 750 Watt "Nature Power" inverter w two outlets in camper (additional USB port on solar panel)
• Two above head 12v lights
• Kitchenette w 12V fridge
• Reich 12volt water pump w 5 gal fresh water and 5 gray water storage
• Seat belts for 4 passengers. Dining seats 4 comfortably (up to 6)
• Dining table and seats convert to full size bed (sleeps 2-3)
• Extra gear storage under seats, in kitchenette cabinets and above driver/passenger cab
• Mechanical work done since purchasing January 1st 2021; New radiator (replaced first week after import). Additional work done at mileage recommended by the manufacturer; timing belt, water pump, thermostat
• **Known issues**. AC runs warm. Webasto Diesel Heater needs servicing. No other know issues...van runs great and is mechanically sound.

Price $26,000

 

[gildigger]

What is the purpose of the panels near the ceiling that are held in place by straps?


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[plh]

What is the purpose of the panels near the ceiling that are held in place by straps?


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emergency surf boards

 

[VinceAtReal4x4's]

This can't be technically legal in Ca. no matter what the CHP did (by accident). Just beware that the tags will likely be recalled at some point in the future when someone realizes it.

 

[Regcabguy]

The US could have sold a shitload of these to surfers,campers van lifers in the diesel form.
I guess the EPA deemed otherwise. Who knows?

 

[VinceAtReal4x4's]

The US could have sold a shitload of these to surfers,campers van lifers in the diesel form.
I guess the EPA deemed otherwise. Who knows?

More likely a safety compliance issue, or simply that Toyota did have a van here for a while. Americans never liked diesels in the consumer markets anyway. Land Rover Defenders are a classic case, where they were meeting US DOT/EPA specs until it became too expensive for LR to keep up. It's all about $$ of course. Like with this van in California... you might be able to make it actually smog legal via a very expensive process of having the motor "tuned" by the one lab near LA that does that, but you are looking at $10K+ at minium, even if they would touch it at all.

 

[Lorenzo395]

emergency surf boards

The panels flatten out and attach to brackets to make an additional sleeping area above the kitchenette (suitable for a child). It also works well for storage etc.

 

[Lorenzo395]

This can't be technically legal in Ca. no matter what the CHP did (by accident). Just beware that the tags will likely be recalled at some point in the future when someone realizes it.

In California a right hand drive is legal if it is over 25 years old...which this is. The Chassis # (same as their VIN) was run by CHP to authenticate, and then the DMV issued a legal title. I know many others, including the importer, who have successfully driven imports for many years in the state of California. You just have to do a little homework

 

[Lorenzo395]

More likely a safety compliance issue, or simply that Toyota did have a van here for a while. Americans never liked diesels in the consumer markets anyway. Land Rover Defenders are a classic case, where they were meeting US DOT/EPA specs until it became too expensive for LR to keep up. It's all about $$ of course. Like with this van in California... you might be able to make it actually smog legal via a very expensive process of having the motor "tuned" by the one lab near LA that does that, but you are looking at $10K+ at minium, even if they would touch it at all.

It is smog legal, and it didn't cost me anything. The importer (who is quite experienced with these) took the van to an authorized Toyota dealer in San Fransisco to have the diesel engine certified. They added a sticker that said "Toyota Motor Corporation Authorized Modification". This sticker was what got the vehicle cleared for smog at the DMV in Bishop California (see attached photo). It was actually quite easy and affordable (thanks to the advice of the importer). This is why this is such a great deal for someone...I did all the hard work lol!!

 

[Lorenzo395]

emergency surf boards

I HAVE put my snowboards there many times!

 

[VinceAtReal4x4's]

Sorry man but that's about a shadiest sticker I've ever seen. I'm actually a specialist at this stuff, being a 4x4 importer myself, off and on since the 90's and heavily experienced with Ca. DMV/CARB issues. RHD/LHD has nothing to do with it, it's the grey market diesel engine which is 100% not smog legal unless it was CARB certified with great expense (averaging $10K, and only for certain motors). Did you not ever notice how few grey imports are sold in Ca.? This magic van-man you are talking about.. who is it? What dealership? How does he get around laws that 100's of others can't? These vans are canceled by Ca. quite often actually. You joined this site to make a quick buck which happens all the time, but I like to warn people who may not realize the issues they could face based on my background doing this for so long... nothing personal, its just the way CA. is.

Grey market diesels are only smog legal if they are pre-1980 in Ca. with pretty much no exception. This van may have fallen through some loophole that someone overlooked before they cracked down on all this stuff years ago. You might get lucky with the sale and the next owner might get lucky as well. Hopefully they won't get a busy-body at CARB or DMV because if so, this will be 49 state legal only at that point. Just ask any of the 100's of guys who try this kind of thing in Ca... from imported Rovers to Cruisers to Gwagens and on and on... many cases of canceled registrations, nasty letters from CARB after getting tags, sometimes a few years after getting tags! ...and so on.

And by the way, a dealer can not "certify" any engine in any way. Someone told you a bunch of BS on that point, unless maybe they did that a very long time ago but without a current CARB/Lab sticker or original Ca. EPA compliance tag, it's not CARB legal, period. Dealers have ZERO ability to deal with grey market certification. People go through hell with these issues and many have lost their butts in fees and/or having to sell their investments due to shady sellers or sometimes just ignorant sellers. Do some research before promoting something with all that false confidence and listen up. Lay low and hope for the best is my advice (and people have paid me for importing advice).

Good luck!

 

[calicamper]

Not to pile on but even if your grey market vehicle has paperwork and gets by loose eyes and gets insured. If you get creamed by a red light runner both your insurance and the offenders insurance will leave you screwed every way possible. Happened to a good friend who still suffers from the collision that really messed him up. Not to mention getting screwed by both insurers. He only drives NA legal now and luckily was in a legal J80 when he got hit again a few yrs later. No thanks these days I drive a big ass 5star rig with a insurance company that hires pit bull lawyers to represent their clients.

 

[tbonebrown]

What is the interior height of the van?

 

[tbonebrown]

Bed dimensions would be good as well. Thanks!

 

[dman93]

I’m not an expert on CA law but 1997 and older diesels are exempt from the normal smog checks, whether on transfer of ownership or biennial with the same owner. I certainly see a lot of CA-registered non-US market diesels around, some of the local ones year after year (ie renewed registration). If DMV registered it, even erroneously, I’d think the chance of it getting revoked should be slim. 1998 and newer, I’d stay away regardless of what CHP or a dealer said or even did.