>However, in such company the vanagon-transporter-caravelle excels (in my
>humble opinion). In Aus at least, the only other vans available in the
>80's were those of japanese origin, these were cheap, generally
>reliable, and made good workhorses, at least in dry environments. Didn't
>have quite the same reputation in europe, but they had other options.

Toyota vans are also very solid and are good in frontal impacts. Witnesses
were the professor and students in a mid80s Series 3 Hiace which hit a
concrete bridge on a fieldtrip while doing a good speed; it was driven the
400-odd km home, despite being a writeoff.

Andrew Grebneff
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Phone: 0064 (3) 473-8863
Fax: 0064 (3) 479-7527
165 Evans St, Dunedin, New Zealand
Fossil preparator, shell collector, Macintosh and VW & Toyota van nut
1984 Volkswagen Type 25 Caravelle GL (to be fitted with Subaru EG33 engine etc)
1986 CE80 Toyota Corolla DX diesel 1.8 sedan
1989 CE96 Toyota Corolla DX diesel 1.8 van
1989 CT170 Toyota Corona Select 2.0 diesel sedan
1992 CXR10G Toyota Estima Lucida 2.2 turbodiesel (=narrow-bodied Previa)