As I’ve mentioned before, taking a stroll on a Sunday afternoon through our suburban Tokyo neighborhood always turns up something interesting. Last weekend was no exception – sitting back in the weeds near an older apartment complex was this early 90’s Starcraft Starquest conversion van on a Ford E-series chassis. I had to shake my head a few times – I thought I was back in my old neck of the woods of central Ohio…
Starcraft made quite a few of these vans from 1977 to 2001, and at least one made it across the Pacific.
The company is no longer in the recreational van business but does assemble shuttle buses using the current Ford Transit chassis.
Couldn’t look inside or under the hood, but it’s likely to have the superb Ford 460 cu in V8 – a great engine whether in an F-250 or a Continental; smooth, torquey, OK, maybe just a little thirsty. The Triton 6.8L V-10 replaced it in 1997 – not a bad run, almost 30 years.
One has to wonder, what is the allure of an out-sized, gas guzzling, fake-wood paneled American van to the average Japanese consumer when there is no shortage of economical Japanese conversion vans. Toyota’s HiAce makes for a very nice one – either recreational or small camper. It comes with a thrifty 3.0L 4 cylinder turbo diesel and is right-sized for Japan’s small streets.
If I had run across the owner I would have tried to diplomatically ask the question – but its unlikely I’ll have the chance – this one had an abandoned vehicle notice on the windshield – 30 days to move it or the local constabulary will haul it away.
Being a teenager in the ’70’s, I’m familiar with these van’s reputation as “Dens of Iniquity”. I never had one, nor any of my friends, so don’t know if it’s true, but I can’t help thinking, what if GoPro cameras had been invented in the 1970’s…
No 460 in this one, those wheels are E150 only and the 460 was dropped from the 150 line up before this era van was introduced as that didn’t play well with CAFE.
Right. Without spending a ton of time reacquainting myself with the nuances of Ford van grilles through the 1990s, I’m recalling this being the earlier version. That makes the odds pretty good this has the 5.0 Windsor in it with an AODE or 4R70W on shifting duties. Maybe the 5.8 if the first owner was ready to take a mileage hit for increased payload, but probably the 5.0.
Durable as a cockroach, slow as a glacier (ok, 0-60 in 10-11 seconds) with the pulling power and mountain of torque to match, good for maybe 18-19 mpg on a good day at 55 mph.
Not a bad way to go, really. My F-150 with the 5.0 is running toward 200,000 with the enthusiasm of a puppy.
No payload advantage to the 5.8 but there is a towing advantage, when properly equipped. As far as the MPG difference I did not find a significant difference between the 302 and 351 powered vans that I had and in some situations the 351 probably did better thanks to not having to run it flat out as frequently, and hence open the power valve. Of course those were carb engines not EFI.
The problem was that the 351 got you the shorter 3:55 axle while the 302 came with taller gears. My 94 with the 351 never got under 12 or over 16 mpg until it was well over 10 years old.
I kinda wondered about how much of a difference that extra 0.8 L made really. I had my truck (a ’95 4×2 with the factory tow package) loaded full of household effects and towing a 2-place snowmobile trailer full of furniture when Mr. X’s mom passed last year. I maintained 75 miles per hour, and even with it kicking down and running at 3,000 rpm to climb the hills on I-94 I still managed 12 mpg.
Could have belonged to a US military serviceman. When the family left due a tour of duty, the van was sold several times till the upkeep was beyond the benefit.
Also, isn’t gasoline in Japan double the cost in the US?? Very expensive to keep moving unless gas on the base was much cheaper. I know someone who served in Japan and he a Kei car. I’ll ask if fuel on the base was cheaper.
These American conversion vans are not unknown as personal imports in the UK, where you have all the same problems – gas guzzler, wheel on wrong side etc, and lots of more space efficient European and Asian vans to choose from.
Maybe they just want to be different or just like this type of van – the interior setup does tend to differ a bit from Japanese & European alternatives.
I can only imagine the reaction of the average resident of Tokyo to something like this beast! My first guess would be utter confusion as they tried to figure out what the owner could possibly need such a massive beast to even accomplish.
True story-when I was going through grad school (at age 30), I had a classmate that was from China and one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. The first time she saw my 1978 Continental, she literally didn’t understand what it was supposed to be. It was so large and different than what she recognized as cars, even in circa 2012 American parlance, it literally confused her.
I imagine this van would elicit that same sort of reaction in Tokyo.
The confusion may be the appeal.
As one who owns a 2000 Ford E-150 van, I can only imagine the sheer delight this thing would be to drive anywhere in Japan. Mine can be a pill in the US if parking garages are involved – which I can’t imagine being any taller in Japan.
The best thing for this van would be to pull the drivetrain and scrap the rest of it.
Compared to rest-of-the-world vans these really aren’t that big. Encountering them in the UK, they don’t look out of place in size terms. (whereas 1970s land yachts and modern pickups certainly do)
Large American vehicles are not at all uncommon in Japan-Plenty of Jeep Cherokees and Grand Cherokees, Blazers and Suburbans (even 73-87 generation, I saw) & others. Astro Vans have a a cult following there.
About 15 years ago in Fukuoka, I even saw a ratty 80-ish Camaro that would not looked out of place in Trailer Park, USA.
Ford has been offering a minibus Transit for many years, it’s called the Kombi. Mostly used as taxi or shuttle bus. Using one as a privately owned MPV for the family is a bit too much, I guess. The Starcraft shuttle bus is absolutely bigger, it looks like a bus conversion of a semi-integral motorhome. Strange that the company left the RV business, they pretty much built one with that Transit bus…
Plenty of classic US conversion vans can be seen at US Car Shows. Running op LPG, to keep fuels costs acceptable. Most of them with a full-custom interior, with a minibar and shag carpet. The works, you know.
Sometimes the UK Bedford CF vans got the same treatment, I can’t remember ever seeing it in any other Euro-van.
Those wheels tell me that this is a 1995 or 96. The grille was updated in 1997 so 1997 and up is out.
The 5.0 (302) and 5.8 (351) were the most common engines in the pre-1997 E-150s.
Starcraft originated in Goshen, Indiana in Elkhart County, which is about halfway between South Bend and Fort Wayne.
Elkhart County, Indiana. That sounds familiar, somehow. Wasn’t that the camper trailer & motorhome capital of North America ? With a concentration of manufacturers of such vehicles ?
Yep. Still a ton of RV manufacturing happens there even now. Also, there’s a Recreational Vehicle/Motor Home Hall of Fame there if you’re really keen on RVs/MHs/Caravans.
Right, thanks !
Also a center for musical instruments manufacturing. Conn, Selmar, Geminehardt, although it is just a shadow of what it used to be…
It was also a hotbed of the assembled car manufacturers back in the twenties. Sort of a Little Detroit.
That Van is functionally obselete especially in Japan.
I grew up during the 70’s in Goshen, IN, home of Starcraft. The van conversion business saved our local economy (Starcraft was one of many van conversion operations in north-central Indiana). These rigs were common sites, and most were family haulers akin to modern-day full-size SUVs. Funny to see one in Japan!
I’m not sure about now, but in the past, LHD American vehicles held a lot of cachet in Japan. I remember reading that one manufacturer (I don’t remember which) sold a LHD model in Japan rather than the available-in-other-markets RHD version.
Regular readers will know that New Zealand imports an enormous number of used JDM vehicles each year, and among these are quite a number of E-Series, Ram vans and Chev/GMC vans (and Camaros and Firebirds, and Cadillac and Lincoln limos) that were sold new in Japan and are now commencing a second life down under. I’ve seen quite a few of the American-built Toyota Hilux-based motorhomes (Dolphins?) here too that have come in as used JDM imports. Wasabicars has some fascinating pics and info on LHD American vehicles rusting away in Japan.
There is getting to be a fair number of ex-JDM vehicles in Korea. There’s a little Daihatsu Copen in the parking lot of the complex where I live.
Only problem, this a LHD country. The last thing I’d want want to do is sit on the opposite side from almost everyone else on the road. To each his own, however.
Also, Vancouver is rife with RHD JDM stuff, mostly Mitsu Delicas. I’m actually surprised that some politician looking to make a name for him/herself in regulation hasn’t targeted this phenom yet.
My kind of vehicle, but the LAST thing I’d want in Japan!
“One has to wonder, what is the allure of an out-sized, gas guzzling, fake-wood paneled American van to the average Japanese consumer when there is no shortage of economical Japanese conversion vans.”
Maybe the owner has a sense of style and wouldn’t be caught dead in that dreadful toaster box Toyota pictured.
These vans were a common sight in the US throughout the 80’s-90’s and early 00’s. I guess it was the mini-camper or the long distance traveler vibe that made them popular. I’ve known a number of people who had them. I never quite understood the appeal, but maybe I’m different…
interesting! there is a car dealership not far out of town that had one of these sitting for years. exact colour too. it was supposedly a florida van that had been driven back to Canada. now I’m curious. I ll have to take a run out and see if the old girl is still there!
In Korea, these types of conversion vans are popular with entertainment personalities, erroneously referred to in as “talents”.
They function as mobile dressing rooms.