In the 90’s, some of the best vans in the world were being offered to the Japanese market. Vans like the Mitsubishi Delica, Nissan Homy, and of course this legendary Toyota Hiace offered exceptional interior space, abundant creature comforts, and superb fuel mileage all in a relatively compact package. So why weren’t these do-it-all roadtrip warriors offered for sale to the US market? We may never know, but now that import vehicles are taking America’s roads by storm, they’re a perfect option for any adventurous buyer looking for an equally as unique and adventurous vehicle. This 1996 model year Toyota Hiace (pronounced high-ace) is the quintessential loaded JDM adventure van. This model year introduced updates to the exterior that give it a more pronounced look. Spec’d from the factory in “Super Custom Limited” trim with Toyota’s stout 1KZ-TE turbo diesel motor, this is one well equipped example that shouldn’t be passed up. The exterior is finished in a lovely original two-tone gold and tan finish, with the original pinstriping and graphics still intact. Being all original, the outside of the car has definitely been well loved with various light scuffs and dings present on the body, but overall the paint has held up pretty well over the past 26 years, this one is so clean it even received a 4B rating at auction! A set of Treffer 15 inch wheels are the only modification on this otherwise stock beauty. The exterior is fully browned out and the interior follows suit with a nice pairing. The seats are trimmed in a matching gray suede cloth material which looks awesome and is completely appropriate given the rest of the styling cues. All upholstery is free of any rips and tears, with no appreciable wear on the bolster or door cards. As the driver, you have control over your choice of three different sunroofs, a manual tilt sunroof in the front, a full sliding moonroof in row two, and two pop-up windows in the rear. You also get a power adjustable stowing steering column that makes hopping in and out of this van a breeze. The rear climate control unit is fully operational, and even the power curtains still function like new! The cockpit of this van is a great place to be. The digital instrumentation is fully functional and displays just 137,440 verified km (85,401 original miles)! The factory digital climate control works and cranks out cold AC and hot heat, and even the display for the Sonar parking sensors is in operating order. All dash plastics are in great shape with no cracking or sun fading to be found. The wood grain trim on this Limited still looks as good as the day it left the showroom floor. Mounted below the passenger seat is the aforementioned legendary 3.0L 1KZ-TE four-cylinder turbo diesel. Paired to a smooth shifting automatic transmission, this is the perfect combination for driver’s looking to maximize their fuel cost and mileage on long road trips. The engine cranks over with no hesitation and happily chugs at idle. Shifts through the 4 speed automatic transmission are smooth and power is put down to the rear wheels with no hesitation. Stickers on the timing cover indicate a timing belt replacement and all other maintenance items seem to have been addressed by the previous owner. This is a turn-key adventure ready vehicle sure to serve its owner well for the near future with a passed VA state inspection, and be a valuable investment for years to come!