Greetings from NY, USA!

Greetings from NY, USA!
1989 Toyota Hiace Super Custom









Where's the Hiace?

Welcome. Again a Hiace in a country where it was never sold, nice!
(also nice car in front of that haha)

I think it is a Japanese import version with RHD? Because the sliding door is on the other side? Edit: also by the looks of your username hehe

Anyway, please tell me what you did with the windows!   Did that came orginally with the van? Or is that DIY?
I got sliding windows in the front side windows which I like, but this would be great for the rear side windows.

Nice looking van!

Hiace4wd wrote:

Anyway, please tell me what you did with the windows!   Did that came orginally with the van? Or is that DIY?
I got sliding windows in the front side windows which I like, but this would be great for the rear side windows.

My windows are identical, so i guess it was an option or a popular mod!

Ok nice. I couldn't find it in the parts system yet.

Yes, the van was imported from Japan. The vehicle in front in the photo is a Toyota Soarer. We have a small group here in NY we call Japanese Steel Auto Group. In addition to mine and the Soarer, we have 2 buddies with Skylines, a Toyota Mark II, a Daihatsu Hijet Pick-Up and a Honda Acty Pick-Up. All RHD.

The windows came like that. It is a simple latch system that allows me to open them like that or close them.

Next step is wheels and a slight drop.

The photos were from a ride I did a few weeks ago in NYC called Street Icons. It was a call to all 90's Japanese cars. If you search Street Icons on Instagram or YouTube you will find some pics/vids.

I see 2.4 EFI. So is the 2RZ-FE or do you have the diesel?

Yeah I saw that it's a Soarer, with 2JZ or 1UZ?
Now, did you know that these both engines fit in the Hiace? Okay, maybe with some customization but people did it.

I like the latch system, I thought about it but then I prefer to have it vertically.
However, I did not know it was delivered originally. But just like sliding windows, they are hard to find, definitely in Europe. Rest of the parts is easy.
I have to check if this could be done the DIY way. Reusing the original window glass but then put it ontop of the rubber lining or something?

Hiace4wd wrote:

I like the latch system, I thought about it but then I prefer to have it vertically.
However, I did not know it was delivered originally. But just like sliding windows, they are hard to find, definitely in Europe. Rest of the parts is easy.
I have to check if this could be done the DIY way. Reusing the original window glass but then put it ontop of the rubber lining or something?

It looks quite cool but means you can never have the window open more than very slightly.
It's a pretty simple system though, one could almost use 6mm polycarbonate and tinting as an alternative source of the glass if you wanted to experiment.

That's an awesome van. Looks good on the road.

vanmobile wrote:

That's an awesome van. Looks good on the road.

Thanks. Same to you!

New wheels. Volk Racing GT-U from Rays Engineering. Imported to USA from Japan.

Also some pics of my Honda Ruckus in case there are any other enthusiasts on here...

Wow that's big for a Ruckus!
Did that start out as a 250?

You also need to join maximuppets: http://www.maxi-muppets.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=4
And I think there's a Ruckus following on advrider.com too.

The main flaw I can see with your ingenious customisation is that it's no longer going to fit into the van...

The Ruckus started as 49cc. Now it's 150. Gets me up to 60mph which is good enough around here.
With the 3rd row removed the Ruckus fits no problem. I'll post a pic tomorrow because I'm traveling to a car show.

Cool!
Love to see it in the van - do you use a ramp to wheel it in from the back?

BTW I missed your Rays wheel pic - they look great, 17" or 18"

I have 18" Rays on mine, fitted in Japan.

Looks great!

Yes, I use a simple, folding, metal ramp.

Some other goodies...

That look really good, thanks for the look inside your van!
Like the Japanese touches and the use of the seat anchors as tie downs: great idea!
Your centre box between the seats is different to mine. I'm starting to think that there's no two Hiaces quite the same in the world!

Yes. Too many versions to keep straight.

Another cool little idea I stole from a friend. I got some Japanese coins and have them on my keychain. All the coins are from 1989...the year of my Hiace.

Nah, it only gets real when the car is from the same year (and month) as you are

(this is the case with my MR2)

Hiace4wd wrote:

Nah, it only gets real when the car is from the same year (and month) as you are

(this is the case with my MR2)

Wow. Did you actively search for that (a vehicle made same year/month as your birthday) or did it just happen?

VNFRMJPN wrote:

Hiace4wd wrote:

Nah, it only gets real when the car is from the same year (and month) as you are

(this is the case with my MR2)

Wow. Did you actively search for that (a vehicle made same year/month as your birthday) or did it just happen?

No, I just wanted that MR2 badly. I already knew it was of the same year, a 1985 model (the first ones) but that was no specific reason to buy it. (although the later models are a bit more tame with catalytic converter etc)

Once I bought it I noticed it was registered in the same month as I was born. But I guess it wouldn't have taken 9 months to get there?

Anyway, I have it now for 10 years, fantastic car to drive. I also had Celicas which I sold, but I would really miss the MR2 the most if I would sell it. Even though it is not the prettiest of cars, like the Celicas were.

Where's the Hiace? Sandwiched between the Honda Acty, the Acura NSX, and the Daihatsu Hijet Jumbo.

7's Day, New York City, 7/7/2018

The new line-up.