Almost anything that was or is not threatening the US vehicle sales was
allowed in with severe restrictions that did not apply to the locals.  We
did not get Vanagons with diesel turbo, or with carburetors either.
The huge success of the HiAce was a serious threat to the local van
manufacturing.  The unions ruled them out.  The local manufacturers treated
the local market exactly as the drug dealers their own turf.
Z

----- Original Message -----
From: "J Stewart" <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 7:06 AM
Subject: Re: Just like a Vanagon, but modern..

> Still do, if you can call it that, the Sienna. More car like than van,
> though. Toyota's first mini van sold in the US (1983?) was cool looking,
> it too was Vanagon like only smaller, and even came as a 4X4. Mitsubishi
> had a nice looking small van back in the 80's as well.
>
>
>
> Jeff Stewart
>
> Sorry, left off the link originally. Here it is:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Hiace. According to this, the Toyota
> Hiace came in a camper version. Of course, Toyota sold vans in this
> country from long ago. Must be something other than emissions control that
> kept these from being marketed here.
>
>
>
> mcneely
>