•Fantastic Condition
•MOT till 25th July 2022
•Dry Stored
•Only 35,000 Miles

Think of the minibus and a converted van with many seats will spring to mind for most of you, as in nothing much to get excited about. But not all minibuses were built equally. As for the last five decades, the Toyota Hiace has been the benchmark for moving many people around in a single-vehicle. Since its introduction in 1967, the Hiace (pronounced High Ace) has yielded six generations around the globe, with variants including a van, campervan, pickup, ambulance and minibus, to name but a few.

introduced in the era of free love, the Hiace entered the world in 1967 as a cabover van design that didn’t look all that remarkable. But it was crammed full of innovation, with the Commuter version being capable of hauling fifteen people. Early versions had the luxury of a heater (ultra rare at the time) and design quirks such as reverse-opening side doors.

The third-gen Hiace arrived in the early 1980s with all the retro styling of the era. Velour seats, a super high roof in Commuter spec, and two-tone bodywork were in with a more traditional sharper-edged design that helped cement the phrase ‘multi-purpose vehicle’ (MPV) into automotive history. Both Standard Van and Long Van body styles were available.

This camper was ordered by Dormobile from Toyota in the factory medium blue with biscuit interior and was originally registered new on the 29th May 1986. It was understood to be a demonstrator for Dormobile and used as a show vehicle before finding its first owner 11 months later, a Mr Williams of Worsley of Manchester. He acquired the campervan on the 23rd April 1987 and it remained with Mr Williams until his death in 2014.

The camper was subsequently passed to his close friend Mr Scoltock of Knutsford, Manchester on the 22nd September 2014. He owned the vehicle until 2019 when ‘Dory’ was discovered quite by accident by the current owner in Mr Scoltock’s sizable private collection of classic vehicles. After lengthy negotiations ‘Dory’ finally made the journey to her current home in Lincolnshire.

There is a mountain of paperwork that comes with this Camper. It still has its original Dormobile handbook, Dormobile sales brochure and price list and a road test article from Motor Caravanners magazine. It’s original, official Toyota Range and Hi-Ace sales brochures, official Toyota workshop manuals, Russek workshop manual and its original owner’s manual too including the original handbook. As well as the V5.

You open the drivers door to find the “80’s Brown” coloured cabin, what you will notice straight away is, going by the pictures how very well presented and lovely condition it is. With all the original features, seats and colours, it takes you right back to the “easier” days. Where interiors where simple, clean and straightforward. The Stereo is all original and we are told that everything works as it should. Then into the back we go. 

The Dormobile conversion still retains its original sand-matt woodwork and beech worktops, cooker, wardrobe, beds and cupboards with some very subtle but necessary changes such as the cushions and an updated fridge. The sleeping arrangements are very flexible. In the roof are two single beds which, when moved together, make one massive double bed with opening rooflight and reading light. 

During the daytime these can be suspended from the elevated roof giving you full standing height within the van. The dinette table drops down to create a further double bed by rearranging the cushions. 

Underneath the seats is plenty of locker space complimenting the ample cupboard and wardrobe space. There is an onboard water tank with pump which gives you fresh water and the cooker, well, it’s original and as new with the original extractor fan still in action. The fridge (which as mentioned, is updated) is a brand new 12v fridge which can run off-grid for at least three days just on battery alone.

There is a 240v hook-up (with lead) and 3 pin sockets inside, also a 12v socket should you need it which has a USB port. There is a gas locker with cylinder to run the cooker which has been gas checked and certified. Apparently, everything in the camper works as it should. Incredibly, the camper still has the period Japanese made Kawasaki GA 1400 silent generator with the original handbook which the original first owner bought new.

This allows you to use campsites that have no electricity, keeping the battery topped up and means you can use 240v equipment in the wilds of nowhere! The generator is apparently in the same condition as the camper…and is described as “immaculate!” 

it still sports its original, Medium blue bodywork, wheels, interior and registration-etched glass all round. As you can see from the photographs, the bodywork looks fantastic and is described as fantastic condition. Like anything of this age there are very small points to raise. There is a small crack on the black plastic (see photographs) and a tiny (smaller than fingernail chip on the top corner of the windowsill.

Otherwise, we are told the van is in superb condition. The sills, going by the photographs supplied look in great condition and there is no obvious signs of rust anywhere.

The 2.0l petrol engine is barely run-in at the current mileage and has just been serviced. The engine emits no unwanted noises, it keeps perfect temperature, and the 5-speed gearbox (column change) is super smooth. On the MOT test, it was noted that the emissions were exceptionally low relative to the permitted amounts, demonstrating yet again, how well maintained ‘Dory’ has been for the last 34 years.

Take a look at the MOT page on the government website to see the history. We are told that the underneath is as good as the top and has been wax oiled from new.

This camper is for sale for the first time since 1987. It has clearly been looked after very well and carries with it bags of character, and period features – all of which can still be used today, due to the camper being very well maintained over the years. It's unclear how many of these are actually left, however very few of this generation are left on UK roads and even less in this condition.

An apparent direct quote from a fellow enthusiast has said about this camper “find another one. I would go as far to say, this is a sole survivor in this condition”. Which I’m sure you will agree is certainly high praise. This does seem a very rare opportunity to purchase a solid, charismatic, very useable, period campervan which is ready to go straight away.

A quick search will show you that there aren’t many of these around, even less for sale – and even less in this – (going by the description and pictures), in this condition!

Notice to bidders