There’s no rule saying that just because you have a plain white or silver car that it needs to stay that way. You can jazz it up with stripes, or add a second paint color, and have something that looks really striking. Today we’re going to look at two vehicles that have had such treatments.
We looked at two classic six-cylinder coupes yesterday, and it sounds like it was a hard choice for some of you. The rust and general shoddiness of the BMW turned some of you off, but from the sound of it, for a lot of you that Corvair was just too damn charming to pass up. It won by a decent margin.
I think I agree. I’ve always admired the BMW 6 Series, and that example doesn’t scare me, but when it’s up against a nice Corvair like that, for a thousand dollars less, it’s a much harder sell. Like a lot of you, I’d prefer the second generation Corvair, but I don’t think you’re going to find one of those in that shape for four grand.
As hard as I try to find cars in good colors, I have had my share of boring ones. I’ve had several silver cars, and a couple of white ones, and one Corolla that was kinda the color of dirt. (I’m sure you know the color I mean.) In several cases, I’ve thought about adding stripes, or painting them, but I never followed through on it. I admire the sellers of these two cars for taking it upon themselves to spice these two up. Let’s check them out.
1988 Toyota Van LE – $5,895
Engine/drivetrain: 2.0-liter OHC inline 4, four-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Olympia, WA
Odometer reading: 179,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Japanese vehicles often have more interesting names in their home market than here in the US. I’m not sure why we don’t get the cool names; some marketing person thinks they won’t work, I guess. But it is kind of a shame. In 1984, Toyota started importing its TownAce line of cab-over-engine vans, but instead of calling it the TownAce, we got the spectacularly descriptive name of “Toyota Van.”
Much like the old Ford Econoline and Dodge A-series vans, the Toyota Van houses its engine in a lump between the front seats. Access for maintenance is via a panel under the driver’s seat; the seat and panel lift up out of the way so you can get to the oil filler, oil and transmission dipsticks, radiator cap – and that’s about it. Anything more serious requires some more surgery to the interior. It’s not fun. Luckily, the Van’s 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine is just about bulletproof. This one runs and drives just fine, according to the seller, even with nearly 200,000 miles on it.
I don’t know why we don’t get any photos of the driver’s area. The seller says the interior is “almost perfect;” why not let us see all of it? The back seat area looks great. I hope the front looks just as good, but not showing it makes it seem like they’re hiding something.
The combination of the red, orange, and yellow stripes and the aftermarket wheels really make this van look cool – and in my opinion, that’s not easy to do with these things. I’ve never been much of a fan, but this one works for me. It shouldn’t have any rust on it, being in the Pacific Northwest, and I don’t see any damage except one ding in the tailgate.
1992 Geo Tracker – $5,500
Engine/drivetrain: 1.6-liter OHC inline 4, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: El Mirage, AZ
Odometer reading: 55,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Little soft-top SUVs are another one of those vehicles that are sorely missing from the market these days. Back in the 1990s, there were a bunch: the Jeep Wrangler, the Isuzu Amigo, the first-generation Kia Sportage, the first-generation Toyota RAV4, and of course, the Suzuki Sidekick, and its badge-engineered twin, the Geo Tracker. They were inexpensive, fun, playful vehicles that sold well, so why doesn’t anybody sell them anymore? Sure, you can still get a Wrangler, or a two-door Ford Bronco, but they’re not exactly cheap, or small, and they take themselves too seriously. This Tracker doesn’t take itself seriously at all, and that makes it way cooler.
Power for this little bundle of joy comes from a Suzuki-built 1.6-liter four, backed by a five-speed manual gearbox. Don’t let the chunky tires fool you, though; this Tracker is strictly 2WD. It runs and drives well, and has a new battery. It also has air conditioning, which was just recently converted to R134a refrigerant, and works great.
Someone has been to Mexico, it looks like. This Tracker’s red and white vinyl interior looks for all the world like a south-of-the-border custom job. I like it, personally; it’s a hell of a lot more interesting than the standard Geo dark gray. They were thorough, too: Not only are the front seats done, but the back seat and door panels are as well. The carpeted dash cover sort of ruins the effect, though.
The theme continues outside, with a two-tone paint job and a matching spare tire cover. Now that’s commitment. I think it needs a third color dividing the red and white, though; at the moment, it looks a bit Marlboro-like. The convertible top is new, the seller says, so you don’t have to worry about leaks.
Personalizing a car to suit your own tastes can sometimes ruin it for other people, but I applaud the boldness shown by these two. They’re a lot more interesting looking than they would have been as just plain silver and white. And they’re both cool and reliable vehicles. It seemed like a nice way to send you into the weekend. What’s your pick?
This one’s tough. On merit, I voted for the Toyota Van (still such a striking model name, isn’t it). Problem is, I wouldn’t be able to bring it home, because it would literally trigger my wife, who spent the worst two weeks of her life in a similar one on a road trip with her family when she was 15. Packed to capacity with people and beyond capacity with stuff – check. No A/C in June – check. Car trouble in the literal middle of nowhere for an entire hot afternoon in the era before cell phones – check. Whiny sister – check. Creepy neighbor boy (along for the ride with his mom) who tried to feel her up while she took a nap – check.
She told me the story when I was shopping for a cheap daily that I could haul music gear in when needed, and I mentioned that one of these would be a solid choice, but I hadn’t seen one in years. She instantly said, very sternly, “NO IT WOULD NOT, AND I’LL TELL YOU WHY.” It is the one and only automobile that I am actually strictly forbidden from owning, if I want to stay married.
So I vote for the van, but if I pull up in the driveway in it, my wife would lock the doors and throw all my stuff out in the yard, and I’d hear from a lawyer.
$5500 for the best looking Tracker on Earth with low miles? Yes, please.
I was gonna enthusiastically shout BOTH until I noticed 2WD on the Suzuki. What’s the point? Town Ace wins!
Geo Tracker for me. I like the paint job and theme and I like the manual.
At least I could sell the Geo to someone who needs a tow vehicle for an RV. My dad had his “Suzuki Suzie.”
I was all excited to vote for the Tracker until the sad trombone played at “RWD”. So van life for me. I had a high school buddy who’s dad had first one of these, then the even rarer Mitsubishi version (or maybe the other way around, it was 40 years ago). Very cool, yet very terrible at the same time. Especially in the hands of a 17yo with an immortality complex heading to the mountains to ski. <eek>
I see your point about Marlboros, but I also get some Coca-Cola vibe from the colors.
I think the cloth seats in TownAce would be more comfortable.
Every single example I ever saw in the wild was white. And I always pictured a bunch of Japanese scientists hopping out of one to confront Godzirra.
I live about 30 miles north of where this Van lives (Tacoma) and there are quite a few RHD imports putting around town here. I have seen several very luxuriously appointed vans from Toyota, Nissan and Mitsubishi. It’s really fun to see them. A couple have been diesels and imagine parts are a pain, but who knows. And they probably rarely need them.
I avoid the traffic of Seattle now, so I don’t know about up there, but I don’t see the volume of RHD vehicles in Olympia, Portland or Eugene.
I’m in Portland, and believe me they’re here (including one that I have). Vanlifenorthwest.com, javan-imports.com, and ottoex.com are at least 3 importers based here
That’s very cool. What do you have? I have driven RHD cars, but only in the countries for which they were designed. Ireland and Australia.
I used to do a lot of project work at TV stations in PDX, but I’m retired now and am mostly trying to pass through to visit family in N California, usually stopping off in Medford on the way down and in Eugene on the way up. I spent almost every other week over the summer getting my mom into assisted living, with the help of my brother who lives nearby.
I’ve put 9K miles on my previously very low mileage Accord since June 1.
It’s getting to be the time of year where I don’t want to go over the Siskyous and deal with snow and chains.
I’m down here now but heading N tomorrow. My next trip, I’ll just take a flight on Alaska and rent a car out of SMF.
But I am looking forward to the seared Ahi Tuna Salad at Hop Valley in Springfield on my way home.
I have a ’94 Toyota HiAce LH85 (an old fire truck). I love it, it’s perfect for the streets around here. It’s narrower than our Volvo wagon, and with its lift kit you have great visibility. The RHD is great for narrow streets, because I know just how far I can go on right side. The previous owner had it down in Baja for a couple of years, but since it doesn’t get much above 60 I just drive it around town
That sounds fun! Most of the RHD stuff around Tacoma are kei trucks of various brands.
Geo Tracker! We get lunch at an old diner in Lodi (yes, the one that Fogerty was stuck in) every month or two, and the interior of the Geo is a good match for their red and white vinyl booths. Nothing like hardwired associations with patty melts and fries to put a smile on your face every time you go for a drive.
Which Lodi? I imagine it was the one in CA, but I heard there is one in NJ.
The one in California, just south of Sacramento. Fun little town to visit if you’re passing through. Lots of wineries in the area.
I used to be a news photographer for KCRA, so I used to be quite familiar with that Lodi and a lot of Northern California. But that was quite a while ago. (80s-early 90s) I am sure it’s quite different now.
It’s different and not different. The downtown has been a little revitalized, but the buildings are probably the same ones from back then. The wine business has really changed, though. There are something like 85 wineries in the area, although they’re really suffering economically and there will likely be fewer in a year or two.
Thanks for the response.
Yeah… I read a sad article a few days ago about wineries in the Napa Valley tearing out vineyards. Apparently due to reduced demand for wine these days. Condos? Some other plant?
I was really fond of Silver Oak and Miner Family, both in Oakville. Both had great cabs.
There is a serious glut in wine production in California. Profits are way down, and with the current dictator in office, labor is not easy to get enough of.
Yeah, I’ve had occasion to drive around both Lodi and Sonoma counties recently. The number of vineyards with dried up, unpicked grapes still on the vine is like nothing I’ve seen in forty years of living here. Between lack of labor and prices falling, there was a lot of wine not made this year. Surprisingly, though, we saw the same in the Pfalz region in Germany a month ago.
The one John Fogerty got stuck in, again.
Is that why I’ve always been a sucker for bright yellow cars with black trim and wheels – because it subconsciously makes me think of Waffle House?
Okay, I could see that. Wow, you taught me something about myself today.
Close call. If the Geo was 4WD I’d pick it, but it’s not so the van wins.
yep 2WD rules it out
I’ll take the Geo, even though it’s not four wheel drive. Always go with the Tracker!
I SO want that Toyota van, even though I have an 86 Vanagon which you think would scratch that itch. Well, the heart wants what it wants…
That Tracker is in nice shape but that paint job is giving me the willies
Oh, I knew the paint scheme was reminding me of something! Good eye!
https://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1961_willys_wagon-4x4_willies-red_white-116-45452.jpg?w=940
Realistically neither. No interest in a COE van where you sit directly over the front axle. Also no interest in a 2wd Tracker.
That said if I have to choose it has to be the Toyota as at least it would be useful for trips to the Home Depot.
Both today.
Really.
Gimme that van. I could use it today. I was getting ready to vote on the Geo until I saw that it was a 1.6L with only RWD. That won’t do for a cheap rock hopper so today is a van kind of day with stripes!
TIATA
Normally, I’d vote for the better deal, which is the Tracker today. But I’d actually buy that van if I had the space. Even if the driver’s seat is trashed, the rest is so nice that I could overlook any oil leaks.
You spell go GEO.
Two days in a row I wish there was a “Both” option.
Tough choice as I’m a fan of both of these vehicles. I’m a huge fan of 80s/90s-style graphics, as anyone who’s seen my Ram 50 can attest.
The Toyota gets higher marks for rarity as Sidekick/Trackers are still not a crazy-uncommon sight around here, which speaks well for them. As a matter of fact, this Tracker won the Best Graphics prize at a TriangleRAD event this past summer.
I appreciate the workmanship that went into the Tracker, but the aesthetic of the TRD-style stripes on the van is more my bag.
I gotta go with the YO! Van. The tracker had me until I got to the 2WD part. Plus the ‘Yota is just so damn charming, the Geo is a bit too loud for me.
TIL there was a 2wd Tracker.
I’m having flashbacks to the HiAce I was driven around Roppongi in one afternoon with a bunch of my young Japanese Conversational English students.
Make mine the Van.
“Engine/drivetrain: 2.0-liter OHC inline 4, four-speed automatic, RWD”
Was that not a 2.2L by 1988?
Tough choice today. I had a Suzuki Sidekick that I miss, and this one has the better transmission despite losing the 4WD. Plus two door soft top is just fun.
The Van is awesome and would be more practical for me, but the auto and the mileage delta tips it to the Tracker. My Sidekick had 230k on it when I sold it and ran great, so I’d fully expect this to have 100k or more miles left in it than the Van.
Both are really nice and would be smart purchases, but I won’t be needing a people-mover any time soon, and my left leg hasn’t yet been hit by a Minié ball and sawn off by the barber-surgeon, so the Tracker takes it.
The Toyota wins by default.
That’s a fair price for a Toyota van, a crackhead price for a Tracker even though it’s the Wrangler Done Right