Date:         Fri, 12 May 2000 17:39:18 +1200
Reply-To:     Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject:      deja vw: is Toyota Lightace
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>For sale:
>            1986 Toyota Van LE Ps, pb, auto,
>            pioneer stereo. Great surf-mobile,
>            like a vw bus that doesn't break.
>            New starter, alt, battery.
>            Runs/drives great; Looks like sh*t.
>            $1900 (******)
>
>I like how he lists the parts that recently broke


This van is a Toyota Lightace, which was sold under the LE badge in North
America. Also badged in Japan as Lightace (basic van), Townace (Kombi
equivalent) and Masterace (Microbus), with the Townace Surf available with
full electrics, and  high smoked glass roof. Like the Hiace Custom & Super
Custom, the Masterace had torsionbar rear suspension in place of the
cartsprings found in lesser models.

The Lightace series is available with 2.0 gas engine or 2.0turbodiesel;
latest versions have 2.2 turbodiesel and must be real flyers.

I have seen one very late Lightace with a US-style front-mounted engine and
longish nose, boy was it ugly. Must be FWD. Glad it hasn't replaced the
forward-control vehicle, which is still made.

Andrew