>This article from NYTimes.com
>has been sent to you by sbsyncro@hotmail.com.

A good read!

It ignores, of course, the various 4WD vans from Japan:

Izuzu Fargo
Mazda Bongo (=Ford Econovan/Spectron)
Mitsubishi Delica/L300/Express
Nissan Vanette, Urvan/Homy/Caravan
Toyota Liteace/Townace/Masterace, Hiace, Estima (=Previa)

... most of which were released at about the same time as the Syncro
(seems ideas occur to everyone when "the time is right"), though of
these, only the early Estimas are IRS. Only the Delica is a hardcore
offroader, though some of the Hiaces have bigger wheels and higher
suspension (like my LWB 86) and are no doubt pretty capable offroad.
Earlier models are all old-fashioned "traditional" dual-range
parttime 4WD, with manual locking hubs. Autolock hubs came in on the
88-89 new models and I don't know about the others, but the Hiace got
full-time 4WD in the early 90s. To my knowledge only the Homy & Hiace
4WDs are available in longer wheelbases; the Mazda & Delica 4WDs are
SWB only. I think the Hiace is even available with 4WD in the
extralong wheelbase option (this and the big Nissan are available in
THREE wheelbases). Of course the small Vanette & Liteace are SWB
only, even in 2WD versions.

Can't say I've ever seen a 4WD camper van, mainly because the only
ones sold new in NZ were the Mitsubishis (sold with the L300 badges).
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin, New Zealand
64 (3) 473-8863
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Fossil preparator
Seashell, Macintosh & VW/Toyota van nut