Bangerwatch: Toyota Space Cruiser
The Toyota Space Cruiser is no stranger to PetrolBlog. In fact, it has already made an appearance in the Whatever happened to? feature as well as a subsequent Real World Review. Well now it’s time for the Japanse MPV to complete its hattrick as we’ve just spotted a little gem on eBay.
To paraphrase a line from the musical version of War of the Worlds, you’d be forgiven for thinking the chances of finding a Space Cruiser in good condition would be a million to one. Over two decades of abuse and being central to family living will have taken its toll on one of the earliest forms of what we now refer to as an MPV. Endless trips to the drive-thru’, numerous rugby kits slung in the back, days at the seaside, boiled sweets, sick, slammed doors – it’s a wonder people carriers actually make it to their third birthday.
Which makes this Toyota Space Cruiser spotted on eBay quite a find. According to the description it has had just one previous owner since 1990 and has accumulated just 45,200 miles in the process. Heck, this thing isn’t even run-in.
The condition of the thing is quite remarkable, with the interior looking – to use a well-worn cliche – factory fresh. And the exterior highlights the importance of an overnight garage, which has clearly managed to keep the worst of the Cornish salt air at bay.
It comes with a fresh MOT and a recently completed trip to France and back under its belt.
Yes, the opening price of £1,750 is a little optimistic, but we’d hazard a guess that this is one of, if not the best Toyota Space Cruiser left in the UK. There are 94 manual Space Cruisers left on the road – many of which will be long past their sell-by-date having completed intergalactic miles and suffered years of torture at the hands of screaming children.
PetrolBlog wants this Space Cruiser more than just about every other car on eBay right now and the fact that it’s situated merely an hour away from PBHQ isn’t helping matters.
It takes some finding as it’s currently listed on eBay without a title or sub-description. This may explain why there have been no bids. Either that or it’s the over-ambitious price tag…
Still would though. Wouldn’t you?
8 Comments
That’s at the upper end of the pricing scale for those, but similar to another method I’ve recently discovered for getting hold of stuff like that: Grey imports.
It’s amazing how cheap things like that are on the personal import sites. You’re usually talking under $1,000 for the car, and maybe another $1,500 for shipping. So you could realistically find a tidy Japanese example with no rust for no more than £2,000. Not that I can find any at the moment to prove it, and naturally there’s SVA and stuff like that to pay for, but invariably the price is far under that of the imported stuff you see on ebay.
Hmmm – that’s not a bad shout actually. Whilst a UK car would be preferable, a grey import could be worth a look. Would like the reassurance of a UK history though…
My neighbours used to have one when I was growing up – I was facinated by it, mainly as it was just so weird. My dad’s Granada just never seemed as fun in comparison…
Ha! Weird is good.
I think…
My enduring memory of the Town Ace is my Dad finding one for sale at a local garage when I was about 10, so early 90s. I have 3 brothers and the size and practicality og the thing delighted him.
He actually rang my mother to come and look. She did. She said no in zero seconds flat. She wouldn’t be seen dead driving us to our little countryside school in it!
Funny – that’s exactly the same reaction I got when I showed this one to Mrs MajorGav.
Rearrange dead, over, body, my.
Shame!
Hi, I’ve just bought a 1984 white space cruiser. It is completely original and has covered just 84,300 miles which are genuine. Its a 1 owner vehicle and is in pretty good nick considering its 29 year old. Just wanted to know roughly how much this would be worth? I paid £800 for it with 5 month tax & 2 months M.O.T. I just hope it doesn’t need anything for the new M.O.T, looking around at it I don’t think it will. The engine & gearbox is lovely and so is the blue velour interior which is in marvellous nick!! Just wanted to know what their worth as they are quite difficult to find.
regards, Dan.
Wow – a good find!
Pricing a Space Cruiser is incredibly difficult, but £800 doesn’t seem that bad. A lot will depend on the MOT. I’ve seen them go for anything between £500 (rough) and £,1500 (good), but they’re so rare, it’s hard to put a real price on them.
Good luck with the MOT – let us know how she gets on.