Backyard Project? 1986 Toyota Van/Camino
Huh? That would be one legitimately elicited response to this 1986 Toyota Frakentractor. The famous bluesman Muddy Waters wrote a song many years ago called, “The Blues Had A Baby And They Named It Rock And Roll” (Hard Again, c. 1977 Blue Sky Records) and this Toyota mashup looks like a van that had a baby and the results weren’t so, ah, I don’t know – more like a “Return to Sender” sort of an affair. Mitchell G. has been hard at work finding this bit of automotive creativity, so let’s take the plunge and give this oddity a once over.
Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate automotive adventure, but this van/Camino hybrid may be pushing that “what if” envelope a little too far. The listing is very light on details but this “thing” started out as a 1986 “Toyota Van”, as it was known in the U.S., had its rear section cut away and converted into a pickup truck bed. The front end reminds me, slightly, of a Tesla Cybertruck while the heavily hooded headlights look like something Mopar-ish from the ’80s. The metal work is fair, better than I could ever do, but this thing is still awkward looking. That said, the cargo bed shows reasonably well – it would seem to be functional.
I believe the engine is a 102 HP, 2.2 liter, inline four-cylinder powerplant but I’m not certain as the listing makes no mention and the included image isn’t very revealing. The transmission for this rear-wheel driver is an automatic, most likely a four-speed with overdrive, but that’s not detailed either. And of course, “Was running before parked.” as the listing claims – how original!
The interior is Toyota Van all the way though it is a bit grimy with dirty, ripped fabric seating upholstery, an aftermarket steering wheel, missing steering column shrouding, and what looks like a custom center console. There also appears to be some kind of a box-thing attached to the passenger side of the dash – no idea what that’s for.
So, why, why, why? I dunno, maybe because it could be done? I can sorta see the van to pickup conversion but the front end treatment? That one I don’t get and it’s probably the most obvious visual weakness in this most unusual vehicle. Want to see more? This Lancaster, California creation is available, here on Facebook Marketplace where it’s available for $3,800. Potential buyers? I guess there’s a bottom for every available seat but in this case…
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Comments
First Reaction: What The He__?
Quickly followed by: Why?
If you’ve been to Lancaster/Palmdale (I have), you would get it. 🤪
“Out in back of Palmdale, Where the turkey farmers run” fz
My first reaction was WTF?, then why? Too much time and too much Jack Daniels?????
At a stretch maybe a prop for a movie.
I’d say too much meth.
Deora II?
Deora 0.5
Good Night To All
Flint
Toyota made this very van into a truck from the 70″s all the way through to today, In many configurations.
When you ask your mom for Dodge Deora and she tells you “We have Dodge Deora at home”
Looks like am 80’s version of Elon’s Cyber Truck. Of the two, I like this one better.
I’m not opposed to the idea, but I am horribly opposed to the execution
Oh boy, here we go, kind of. There are many that will applaud the initiative, it’s what made this country great, and the few naysayers that couldn’t tighten a screw, couldn’t do this anyway, I think it’s really cool. Not a fan of the “cabover” pickups( Econoline, A100)but someone did a lot of work here. Was it worth it? Nah, as with most of these kooky one off projects, few have the vision the creator had and may or may not be sold. Have a much better chance with it being finished, I’d say.
Oh, just one more thing( Columbo), since this post will undoubtedly get a lot of attention, I wanted to say, we refer to the show American Pickers a lot, and this is exactly the kind of things they run across,,,I read that Frank Fritz died yesterday, he was 60. :(
What????? Frank has passed? So sad. My best wishes for his family.
It does make you realize how much work goes into a good design and a good execution when you see something that is less than perfect. The front end seems like it was a lot of work, bit it does not fit the character of the rest of the vehicle when viewed from the side. Maybe someone thought they were creating the next Daytona/Superbird – a highly modified body for some effect. Not my style, but it was someone’s dream, and you have to respect that they went out and tried, which is more than a lot of us here can say.
I suspect that this might be a prior Gene Winfield project. His shop was in Rosamond (if I recall correctly) for many years, just a stone’s throw from Lancaster/Palmdale up in Mojave. If you don’t know, Gene was a prolific custom car builder and built some pretty legendary machines in his day. One of them was the Pacifica, Ford Econoline, which is similar to this vehicle in a general sense.
I hope this doesn’t become a duplicate post. I tried to do an edit and it locked up on me.
Ian Roussel did his version of the Deora on a Econoline, a few years back. And he’s right near Winfields shop, as well.
Gene also designed/built the full scale shuttlecraft from the original Star Trek series, and one of his cars was featured briefly in an episode as the ‘Jupiter 8’, so the guy got around.
In California? Says it all.
Alls I can say is good for a Mad Max movie lol.
Uhhhh . . .
the ideas is good (C the pic of what Toy its self did – Gerry) but the dor panel (@ window), the chop top (isnt it? looks too low) and front view are really NOT good. Shame. Nice price fora custom (may B he nos what he gotts?) but I still wouldnt drive to inspect.
Nice try, a swing…
‘nda…
miss
(just “strike 1 or 2” not oudda game)
I love it, but I am a sucker for anything converted into a truck
That scallop shape on the side window is absolutely hideous.