(first posted 4/14/2019. Update 6/20/25: I see this truck regularly in my part of town; it’s a daily driver. The red paint is a bit duller now.) The 25 year rule for importing non-compliant cars and trucks is bringing all sorts of new eye candy to our streets. I’ve seen a couple of old Mercedes fire trucks from Germany, but this is the first Japanese one. And what great little rig it is, a 1994 Toyota HiAce 4×4, with 4900 miles on the odometer. It’s time to take this out in the boonies of Eastern Oregon and finally break it in.
Here’s the proof, if it’s needed.
It wasn’t, as one look at its interior makes obvious. It looks factory fresh!
I see thta’s a double seat on the left side, although one would want to have pretty skinny passengers there if there’s going to be two of them.
Plenty of room in the back seat.
And of course the fresh air section has room for a whole fire brigade.
I don’t know how big a fire brigade is, but there’s room for at least three or four.
The detailing is mighty fine.
When I saw this, I started imagining a little camper body on the back. This would be a lot better for exploring Saline Valley than my Promaster.
Welcome to America!
Diesel + manual transmission + manual transfer case. Perfect!
Damn, what a neat and capable 4×4! I’ve always been a fan of the no-nonsense Dyna. Shiploads of them must have been exported to Africa and the Middle-East in the past decades.
Sadly, the Dyna was withdrawn from our market years ago. I don’t know what killed it. Probably a combination of new crash protection regulations and emission standards for diesel engines. Then again, the always-diesel-powered HiLux and Land Cruiser 150-series are still being offered here. The Land Cruiser’s 2.8 liter inline-4 D4D engine would be perfect for the Dyna.
Edit: I typed Dyna while it obviously says HiAce. Or is this called a Dyna in some parts of the world? It looks so big…for what I remember as a HiAce.
Yes, it’s a Dyna in Europe indeed. I always get weirded out when I see they were called HiAce somewhere else!
They used to be manufactured in Portugal up until the very end, when both the Dyna and the HiAce van got the axe. Now the plant manufactures the Land Cruiser 70.
Right, that explains it, thanks. Below an example of what must be the last Dyna generation sold in Europe and built in Portugal.
You’re welcome 🙂
Indeed that was the last gen to be marketed in Europe and built in Portugal
If I ain’t mistaken, it’s still being produced in Japan, either as a Toyota or as a Hino. It had also been sold by Daihatsu in some markets up until 2006.
The last European HiAce was this one (pictured) Built for 17 years, from 1995 to 2012. It was already very long in the tooth when it was replaced by the Proace. Curiously enough, the new Japanese HiAce is now also semi-bonneted and adequate for Europe, making the cooperation with PSA hard to understand.
I wondered if it was a Dyna but then I saw a Hiace pickup outside a packhouse today exactly the same, there was a Dyna version like this and heavy duty Hi ace vans come as Dynas theres a lot of cross pollination in the Toyota commercial lineup.
Still called a Dyna in NZ but there is a lot od cross polination on Toyota commercials the same body shell is a light duty Hi Ace van and a heavy duty Dyna Dutro van often with dual rear wheels engines are all the same and the TDI 2.9/30 diesel is fitted to both and to lo spec Landcruisers.
Tatra could explain it better he is surrounded by JDM commercials.
Toyota commercial vehicle range started at corolla and Corona wagons configured as vans and covered the entire range of light commercials with Hino doing their heavyweight trucks.
On a related note, a merger between Mitsubishi Fuso (owned by Daimler Truck) and Hino Motors (owned by Toyota) is scheduled to be completed in April 2026.
Hino make a good truck, Fuso made a few good ones, their twin turbo V8s had a nice sound and pulled rather well, the Daimler truck dealers are pretty tragic here that would keep me away Ive seen them in action, 3 hours to top up a hydraulic tank is beyond the pale.
It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. Since Hino’s emissions scandal in the U.S. the brand went an extended time with no new trucks to sell. The recently returned to the market but their U.S. exclusive conventional trucks are Cummins powered now. Hino seems to have lost a lot of market share and I wouldn’t be surprised if Daimler shut the operation down in the U.S..
(rant mode on)
If memory (and the Internet) serves me correctly, the 25-year rule was created in the 1980s, largely at the behest of Mercedes-Benz USA (and perhaps other American arms of European manufacturers) who were suffering from the spate of “grey-market” importers. They were losing money to firms that bought cars in Europe and federalized them – more or less – and could sell them cheaper (and also sell models not officially sold in the US) than the official importers.
In other words, the rules exist to protect big companies from losing profits to small companies.
(rant mode off)
Now it’s backfiring a bit. In 1985, a 25-year-old car was from 1960, and in those days a 25-year-old car was mostly used up, unless it was a particularly special or collectible car. Nowadays, there are all manner of daily-driver-usable cars, like this one, that are eligible for importation. Haha on legislators.
(Same goes for state-issued classic car plates. Yesterday I saw an old box truck, that was serving as a mobile knife-sharpening service, sporting Nevada “Classic Vehicle” plates. An old box truck is hardly a “classic” in the minds of most folks, but it falls within the statutes as written, so it can run those plates.)
In my state they have Collector Vehicle license plates and they are not for vehicles that are working, ie you put them on your old pickup and technically you can’t use it to “haul a load”. They are also not supposed to be used as a daily driver, however that doesn’t mean that people don’t do it.
In Nevada, a “classic vehicle” is simply any vehicle 25 years or older. Period.
Mileage is capped at 5k/year, but nobody actually checks, you have to sign a sworn affidavit every year.
When I got my collector plates for my Jetta (30 year old requirement in Wa.) I talked to a guy that had them on his pickup, he got a ticket for having two motorcycles in the back, which both had collector plates as well. Appears Nevada doesn’t have this restriction.
There’s no evidence in this comment of your memory failing you, Evan, and you’re right that this what you describe is all over the internet—but like much on the internet and in the motorsphere, it’s poorly-informed sour-grapes half-truth.
Fact, contrary to common myth among certain segments of the gearhead population, is US vehicle safety and emissions regulations are different than European, Japanese, and Australian regs. And while there’s lots of different-but-not-better, and plenty of instances where this or that foreign standard requires better safety performance, there are also many instances wherein the American reg is more stringent in ways that matter. Side impact protection, fuel system crashworthiness, interior material flame retardance, bumper performance, lateral conspicuity, and emissions to name some of the major ones. The American grey market was a crapmess of shoddily hacked cars and sleazy vultures and unsafe, polluting cars. See here and here and here for three pretty good (and pretty hair-raising) reports on the subject.
That said, you’re right that the 25-year threshold, which was justified in terms of low-use collector and enthusiast vehicles, is nothing to do with safety or emissions—it’s purely protectionist, as is Canada’s 15-year rule. If private import of foreign-spec vehicles is to be permitted, then the way to maximise safety and minimise pollution associated with those vehicles is to favour newer vehicles rather than older ones. Newer vehicles in any developed market are safer and cleaner than older ones.
Collector plates are a state-by-state and province-by-province deal, nothing to do with the Federal 25 or 15 year rules. Constraints associated with those plates vary widely. Some jurisdictions have usage restrictions (by month, by permitted mileage, by type of usage); some have none. Some have condition and originality requirements (see BC’s extremely stringent requirements!), some will let you slap collector plates on any pile o’ junk that’s managed to evade the crusher for however many years. Some require no emissions or safety check at all, some require one, some require one every so often.
“lateral conspicuity”
Hmmm- Thanks to the internet (and Daniel) for teaching me something new everyday.
Y’welcome. I’m not quite sure what I taught in this case…that the US spec is better on that front, or that conspicuity is a word! :^)
I used to believe the stories about how poor quality grey market cars were in the ’80s. I certainly wanted to believe them. Otherwise I’d have been a fool for paying West German 528i prices for a new 325, or West German 944 prices for a new 924S. Unfortunately, many of those stories were planted and bought by corporations that wanted to protect the $16K delta between a German 635CSi and a US one. Now that ’80s cars are collectible, I keep coming across grey market Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Porsche cars that have stood the test of time and are commanding higher prices at auction than federalized ones. The efforts of the German companies to slander private importers decimated their value for a decade or two, but reality has shown they were much better than described in all that propaganda.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/100th-congress/house-bill/2628
You might want to read this bill and research how Mercedes-Benz brought it about.
https://autoweek.com/article/car-life/who-really-benefits-25-year-import-rule
Sometimes a story is true but SEO can be used to make it hard to source, like when a big corporation is willing to buy politicians to take advantage of its customers.
Very cool, would make a great base for a “slide-in” camper so it can do some work on the weekdays.
I’ve posted links to the dealer before and something they frequently have are fire trucks. I’d certainly take the Toyota over this http://sodo-moto.com/listings/1988-nissan-atlas-2/ if for no other reason that the Nissan is only 2wd. Occasionally they’ll have Kei class fire trucks from in plant use.
Of course what isn’t mentioned here is that these little trucks are woefully under-powered, and low geared. Usually small capacity NA diesels, or small petrol engines. Diff ratios of well into the 5’s for petrols, and even near 4 for diesels…… not great for touring….
Fair few of those running around Vancouver. This one’s especially adaptable to its new locale because it has standard-size (sealed beam) headlamps, which were widely but not exclusively used in Japan in the same timeframe and same sizes as in the States. So the Japan-spec left-traffic lamps can easily be swapped for right-traffic units. Later Japan-market vehicles with composite headlamps make real problems, as illustrated here and here (posts 5 and 12 are mine).
At the risk of using an inappropriate term, this vehicle is also a “chick magnet”. My wife and some friends saw this truck on the streets of Eugene and they were all talking about how “cute” it was and how much they would love to have one. Soooo, head over to Eastern Oregon while it’s still green and lush, AND find a woman who likes your ride.
Why does my browser mark this the only site “Not Secure”? I’ve been a daily visitor since 2012 & sometime during the last week the padlock icon has been replaced with “Not Secure”. All of my other frequented websites still have the padlock icon.
Dynas in 4WD but otherwise very like this one were once a staple in Oz country firefighting units, and probably still are. I’ve personally had one involved in saving me in this fire-prone country.
Cool little truck! As a firefighter, I am intrigued by the info that is NOT in the article. What kind of fire truck is this? What was its role? This truck doesn’t line up with any common type of urban fire apparatus in the U.S. It does not have a water pump or water tank or an aerial ladder, so it isn’t a “fire truck” in the normal sense that people mean that this truck could put out any fires by itself (except perhaps carrying fire extinguishers).
Being 4×4, perhaps it is a wildland fire truck. It can carry 4-6 men and it carries some hose and other tools used for wildfires. It obviously wasn’t used very hard. Fire apparatus can beat up quickly, even if it doesn’t get driven a lot of miles. Used hard and put away wet, literally sometimes!
It looks like all the fire-fighting equipment has been stripped out of the back to make room for that bench.
There are a few vehicles like this or the one on Jay Leno’s Garage that get bought by companies that do testing of fire systems, because the have all the pumps set up and are not far off being a new vehicle in terms of wear and tear. Having said that, I’m sure an hour meter would be a good contrast to the odometer, for something that likely spends a lot of time running but stationary.
This was on BringaTrailer a while back. Neat but a what do you do with it kinda vehicle…
Japanese Nostalgic Car recently featured a Jay Leno’s garage video where he drove a Toyota Land Cruiser-based fire truck set up similar to this one. Yes, this truck did carry the Dyna name in some markets, but in terms of a HiAce, it is similar to the third-generation one that came out in the 1980s before the LH112 which is ubiquitous here.
Pretty neat .
Too bad they removed the slide out pump and hoses etc. .
-Nate
I like the “T-Belt” warning lamp. Good of Toyota to give you a light to indicate that your timing belt has broken and your valves are now toast.
(Actually, assuming that it’s a mileage-triggered reminder light, it’s probably a good idea and one that is more specific and useful than the more generic “Maintenance Needed” light that they now throw.)
It lighted up twice in my 2002 Land Cruiser 90 (Prado) D4D. At exactly 150,000 and 300,000 km. A reminder light it is. Luckily.
The 2nd generation of HiAce was extremely popular vehicle in Southern China when China opened up in early 1980s. Its passenger version with air conditioning was even used as officer vehicle to replace those Chinese and Russian made cars. I am certain Xi’s father, then was the governor of Canton Province was driven around with a HiAce one time. Of course later they got a taste of upscale Japanese sedans like Toyota Crown and S Class Mercedes.
I wondered if Xi’s father might even once get a Toyota Century?
Still, the HiAce still in production had let some spin-offs like a luxury variant named the GranAce also known as the Granvia and other names depending of which market it was sold. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_HiAce#GranAce/Granvia/Majesty/HiAce_Super_Grandia/HiAce_VIP/Quantum_VX
Then Toyota use the suffix “Ace” for other models like the HiAce and ProAce who’s a rebadged Fiat Ducato and its Stellantis relatives https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2024_Toyota_Proace_Max_Electric_-_front.jpg but that’s a story for another blog post. 😉
I don’t want to bore everyone about Chinese Communist politics here. I am sure Xi’s father never heard about Toyota Century, back then there were few Nissan Presidents in Beijing, but the upper ranking central government officials preferred W126 Mercedes as their regular ride even the upper upper echelons have their assigned HongQi CA770/772 as symbol of power. As Xi’s father unlike his son now , he was a much more moderate guy partly he was out of favor before establishing People’s Republic, further marginalized in 1950-60s and purged during Cultural Revolution. When he was resurrected after death of Mao, he was assigned to work as a governor of Canton Province, and instrumentally started the economic openness in Southern China. He was always viewed as moderate guy. There was a story that his office air conditioning — those days air conditioner was not common in China, was a gift from a Macau casino billionaire, it was a National (Panasonic) stand-up unit. Later the guy was transferred back to Beijing central government to rejoin the upper governing body. But his ranking was just within top 20, not very high because he took no side in every matter. In some cases, he did advocated some sort of political reform, a big No No for communist China.
Another thing is Chairman Mao vehicle was Zil 115, the armor version of Zil 110, a gift of Stalin. It had such thick windshield glass, chauffeur complained it distorted the outside images. If we look at Mao parade photos with Red Guards in Beijing streets during the Cultural Revolution, we would find that vehicles. We were told that was his only official vehicle, he didn’t use HongQi 772, the type of vehicle Nixon used during visiting China, or the Mercedes 600 (W100) China purchased from West Germany in 1960s.
I have just experienced the most powerful manifestation of the CC effect ever.
Today, driving through my home town, was a truck so similar to this, it was almost supernatural.
It had been a long time since I have seen this model of a Toyota Dyna as they are known in Australia, of any description, most of them were tray or van type single cabs.
No this was the exact same configuration, the first one I have ever noticed, except white with the back section loaded with a motor bike and camping stuff.
I used to drive an 86 model 2 ton tray, which my boss rated at 3.5 tons capacity, or maybe even 4, I can’t remember, I did some research and found the legal load limit was 2 tons, I know I had well over 4 tons on it one Saturday morning, I had to drive across Melbourne, I can’t imagine doing stuff like that today.
Long story short, these were tough trucks.
I just realised today how rare that model Hi Ace has become, they were everywhere being beaten to death by tradies but have gone away almost, the Dyna was made of sterner stuff and single and twin cab dropsiders are still common, red would have been unusual they mostly Toyota 101 white, same paint as my daughters Corolla very handy,
This is a Hino Dyna. Called in Europa Toyota Dyna. In Japan sold too as Toyota Hiace Truck because only the First and Secend Version from the Toyota Hiace was built as a Pick up Version. In the Commentars someone is writhing the last Toyota Hiace in Europa was changed with the Toyota Proace. This is not full True. The Last Toyota Hiace in Europa was the Commercial Version of the Toyota Minivan Granvia. The Granvia was Substitude for the Hiace Minibus and Van Version in Japan. This is the Reason why the Hiace H 100 was taken from the Europa Market and changed with all Possibly Versions from the Granvia. The Hiace Minibus was exported from Japan and the Van where built in Portugal, so Toyota can now built all Versions in Portugal for Europa. To this Time the Granvia was more Modern then the Hiace H 100. All of the Same Typ who Hiace is going out of the Market here, Isuzu Midi, Nissan Caravan, Mazda Bongo, Mitsubishi L300 to L 400 and first the VW Transporter 1990. The Granvia was changed in Japan to the Toyota Alphard. This Van was driven with Front Wheel Standard. There are no Commercial Versions. In Asia would no Requiriment for a New Granvia Commercial Versions then the Most Deals in Commercial was with the Hiace. So Toyota built it in Japan too 2002 and then the Japan Montage is going to China. All Versions in Japan was changed 2004 with the New Hiace H 200. A New Version for Europa was not be Profit and in the Rest of the World was the Hiace. The Toyota Hiace in Europa was Sold in the Most Versions with the Small Versions. So Toyota wanted Changed this Versions with a Modell from PSA for 2007. But Fiat, in Partners with PSA by the Sevel Product say No. So Toyota built the Granvia in Europa further then the now 2009 would Modernisation of the China Version. Too this Time Toyota sold too the Previa in Europa. At the Last Time the Big Solds in Europa was only sold in Norway. But 2012 Toyota have no Profit too build this Version ago. 2012 Fiat Sold his Shares on Sevel Nord Arregement with PSA so PSA take Arregement with Toyota to development a New Version from Citröen Jumper and the Peugeot Version for 2016. Too the Citröen Modell was sold with Badge Engineering from 2013 as Toyota Proace. But the ProAce is Really more Succesor then the Toyota Liteace. The Proace City is Badge Engineering from Citröen Berlingo for 2019. With the Build of Stellantis was the Way free for Toyota to Succesor the Hiace in the Hight from Earlier. The Proace Max is a Badge Engineering Modell from the Fiat Ducato/ Ram Promaster. So Toyota now have Modells in Europa which succesored all there One Modells before ore not have early because of the ProAce City. The Proace before the Liteace and Small Versions of Hiace and The Proace Max for Hiace and Dyna in the Pick up Version.
Here in Minnesota I haven’t ever seen one of these mighty-might HiAce firetrucks even at our larger car shows. Although I haven’t been to a car show in over a decade. This truck is just dripping with capability and potential for the future. If I owned this I would leave the enclosed interior bone stock except for a GPS to convert to mph. Then I would clean out the bed and install a diy mini camper while trying to keep as much of the original metalwork as possible. You could drive around town blasting the siren for a couple seconds and if you could get a Japanese speaking emergency warning message over the PA loudspeaker just to mess with people. Everybody would get a kick out of that and no one would take you seriously so you have lots of fun with that while putting a smile on peoples face.