Gerald's 1987 4WD LE
"Windsurf Van"

This one is kinda' shabby- the bodies of the vans from winter salt areas have had their day I think. My previous 87 4WD was getting to the point of needing more work than I wanted to do on it, so I gave it to my brother.
I'm a perennial van owner, having owned a series of 60s flatnose Chevys and Econolines and more recently a series of Toyota vans. This one is my second blue 87 4WD with standard trans, apparently rare in Canada. Unlike the previous one this one has the autolocking wheel hubs. It was $660 on ebay and came with all the paperwork from new. I'm the third owner and it turns out my wife knew the original owner who had bought it for his windsurf shop business.
I'm not fussy on the tacky 80s windsurf graphics but most of the stickers came off with a hairdryer. Inside it was in excellent condition, now deteriorating due to motorcycles, building materials and family. I've had it for nearly 2 years- 80,000km and the total cost (not including gas and oil) has been about $2000.
The previous owner warned me about the rad but i've also had to do the cylinder head and now chasing a whining noise somewhere in the drive line. Its not the tranny, not the transfercase (replaced them!) so the diff. is next. Its good having the old vans for spares.
This van has the middle row captains chairs, a nice touch but requiring the removal of 4 bolts to remove each seat, certainly less convenient than the latches used on the bench seat.
When I threatened to buy something newer and sensible, my sister was saddened to hear I was going to buy a gasp! Minivan. I had to point out that I'd always driven minivans. I guess these vans fit into a seperate category!
I think I can probably find one more before I'm forced into buying something newer (Previa) but I'm in no rush to move "up".