Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2007 21:58:59 +1300
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: Re: Importing a Hiace into the USA
In-Reply-To: <60e974a50710092238j471d72f5g6a42c4ddf144a43b@mail.gmail.com>
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<blockquote type="cite" cite>I am familiar with the Hiace, since
I have had a diesel-powered, '94 LWB model, Trakka Conversion, in
Australia, since 2000. My wife is Australian, and every other
year we travel around over there for four months at a time. I
have travelled extensively in North America, and have never seen a
Hiace here, leading me to question whether one has ever been
imported. </blockquote>
<div><br>
Is yours LWB or MWB? There were 3 wheelbases. Stupidly, in New Zealand
they call the MWB "long" and the LWB extra-long or Jumbo. In
the SWB the slider ends just before the rear wheelarch. The MWB slider
ends about 30cm before the arch & the LWB slider ends about 60cm
before. ALL LWB Hiaces of the 3rd & 4th generations (which I'm
sure share the same floorpans and suspensions ie H80 &
H100-series) have high roofs; high roof was an option on the other
wheelbases. The LWBs in both of these generations had an extra small
window just behind the slider.<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Here in Idaho, I once encountered a
diesel-powered, RHD Toyota FJ75 (?), the long-wheelbase, hard-top
troop carrier, which was never sold in the US. The owner told me
the importation was not too difficult due to the age of the vehicle,
which exempted it from compliance with Department of Transportation
specifications then in affect. The biggest problem for a
vehicle such as that, and more so the Hiace, would be the total lack
of parts support in North America.</blockquote>
<div> </div>
<div>Used Hiaces (and other cars) are coming into Canada from Japan in
small numbers. I saw maybe 3 in Calgary & the Rockies, all Super
Customs.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>As I have said, older Hiaces are there and I guess could be
brought in to the States. I still see the odd 60-series (82-88) Super
Custom around; saw one today. But most of them are probably rather
battered by now... people don't generally take care of older vans,
even ones with all the trimmings.</div>
<div><br></div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>I had the following page bookmarked in my
favorites for future reference; it may be of interest to
you.</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><a
href="http://www.autostadtwest.com/">http://www.autostadtwest.com/</a
></blockquote>
<div><br></div>
<div>God, what a morass of mindless bureacratic Big Brother crap.
Moneyspinning for Big Bro, of course. The only problem used
Japanese-market vehicles have in LHD markets is the headlights (need
to source RHD lights or tape-up some low-beam cutoffs on the RHD
lenses) and problems with visibility moving from parallel-parking
spots & for overtaking. In Britain there are large numbers of LHD
cars because they are cheaper on the mainland and many folk go over
there to buy.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Eventually the world is going to have to bite the bullet and
standardize... so which will wing-out? RHD or LHD??</div>
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