1984 Toyota Van LiteAce TownAce HiAce Ace Cargo Vanagon Bus RARE!

They were known as “city vans” in Japan, and they were designed to move passengers and cargo through the narrow streets and intense traffic congestion ofcities such asTokyo or Manila. Most Japanese automakers at the time sold a van in this class, and three of them chose to sell theirs in the U.S.: Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Toyota.

Known as the TownAce in Japan, Toyota’s contender arrived in the U.S. in 1984 dubbed simply “Van.” Not coincidentally, that was the year Chrysler rolled out the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager. Unfortunately for Toyota, the Van’s mid-engine layout–which contributed to the vehicle’s tidy overall length—limited cabin space and resulted in a passenger area that was cramped when compared to the new American vans.

Add to the mix the Chrysler vans’ more-conventional styling and slightly lower prices, and you had a formula for the Toyota Van’s eventual failure.