The reason they don't import "commercial" vehicles is because in the mid to
late fifties, for those not old enough to remember, VW sold countless
numbers of the Transporters because it could carry what ever for very little
money. The auto makers yelled "foul" and the us goverment put a high terrif
on imported complete vehicles sometime in 1962. We were then given the
famous Corvair Greenbriar and the Ford Econoline. They were both total junk,
IMHO. Anyway that's why we don't have good small panel vans. Notice the
small jap diesel trucks come in without bodies and then get bodies put on.
Another tidbit is that the Kenworth delivery truck, not the tractor trailer
type but the kind with the body on the back, were made by VW in Brazil!

Joe

----- Original Message -----
From: "Zach Kaplan" <zakaplan@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2000 12:15 PM
Subject: Re: Importing a Transporter/Eurovan diesel

> Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ> wrote:
>
> > Why not get an Estima/Previa and strip out the interior? The early (IRS)
> > examples handled well, though the live-axle later ones do NOT.
>
> I looked into the Previa. I think it is the most beautiful van ever made
and
> the Toyota reliability and ease of getting replacement parts would be
nice.
> However the length and height of the cargo area is borderline inadequate
and
> the fuel economy is mediocre. Diesel versions of the Previa weren't sold
in
> the US. I've been told the IRS version of the Previa was never sold in the
> US. As far as Toyota vans go the ideal for my application would be a
Hi-Ace
> but that size Toyota van was never sold in North America. I don't know why
> they don't import vans like that and give Ford, GM and Dodge some
> competition.
>
> Zach Kaplan
>