>>Toyota Van

Toyota Van

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Toyota Town Ace/Lite Ace
Manufacturer	Toyota
Production	1984–1989
Successor	Toyota Previa
Class	Minivan
Body style(s)	3-door van
Layout	FMR layout/Four Wheel Drive
Engine(s)	2.2L 101 hp (75 kW), Toyota Y Engine#4Y-EC
Transmission(s)	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Wheelbase	88.0 in (2235 mm)
Length	175.8 in (4465 mm)
Width	65.7 in (1669 mm)
Height	70.3 in (1786 mm)
Fuel capacity	15.9 US gal.

The Toyota Town Ace/Lite Ace was a vehicle made by Toyota and distributed worldwide in a multitude of different versions. It featured a sharply sloped front, in contrast to the upright flat front common in other similar Japanese vans. Also, it was released at the same time as the competing Dodge Caravan, and it is North America's first rear-wheel drive minivan before the 1985 Chevrolet Astro/GMC Safari.

The American model was officially known as the Van (Vanwagon in early press materials). In Japan and Europe, it was known as the Space Cruiser, while Australia referred to the vehicle as the Tarago. In Sweden it was sold as the Toyota Model F. The rear wheel drive versions were imported to the US from 1984 to 1989, and the four wheel drive versions were imported from 1987 to 1989.

The Toyota Town Ace/Lite Ace was replaced in the United States by the Toyota Previa in 1991.

The Wonderwagon ad campaign in the 1980s advertised the Van as the "Toyota Wonderwagon", leading to some confusion. However, only the passenger models were referred to as "Wonderwagon" and the cargo versions are consistently referred to as "Cargo Vans". The Van used an front mid-engine layout, where the driver and front passenger sat directly above the front axle. The engine was placed similarly to American 1960s Compact vans between and behind the front seats, leaving a gap behind the front seats, which makes service a challenge since the engine cover must be removed in the passenger compartment. American full-sized vans and minivans by this time put the engine forward of the passenger compartment with either front wheel drive (minivan) or rear wheel drive (full-size).

First generation Toyota Town Ace.