https://imgur.com/a/3Qr7Q6V I recently imported a 1993 Subaru Sambar Dias II van. It's everything I had hoped for and more. Turns a lot of heads and puts a smile on people's faces when they see it. 660 cc straight 4 Supercharged Full-time AWD 5MT with bonus extra-low gear Dual sunroofs! Current plans are to just get it all fixed up. Do all the basic maintenance, fix anything that doesn't work. Later I may paint it. Already fixed: New tires Oil change Supercharger oil top-up (was extremely low) Scrape off failed rear window tint Wiper blades Still to do/fix: Rust spots Dents AC doesn't blow cold Tachometer doesn't work Transmission fluid Driver's side mirror bracket is broken Stereo/speaker upgrade Paint steel wheels white or get matching hub caps Add seat belts to rear seats Clean the hell out of the interior
That’s a clean looking van! How does she drive around town and in the freeways. I bet it takes forever to get gas or make any stops because everyone wants to ask a million questions!
I love it. But everytime I see a Dias I think of that guy on youtube when he says "super-chahged" at 20:30
Yeah, I'm getting better at giving people the 10-second explanation so I can be on my way. It handles fine around town and it's squirrely but manageable on the freeway. Speaking of getting gas, it only holds about 7.5 gallons, and only gets about 25 mpg, so I'm filling it up a lot. That video helped convince me to get the car, actually. If you search for "sambar van" on Youtube, that's the first result, and the third one is my van.
The range is probably typical. 7.5 X 25 = 183-miles. My 77 Toyota Hilux , 13.2 gal X 14mpg = 184-miles 89 Bronco, 32-gal X 6.5-mpg = 192-miles 69 F250, 20-gal tank, 8-mpg = 160-miles 01 Minivan, 13.7 gal tank, 17-mpg = 232-miles
I've been thinking about adding lap belts to the back seat. Any chance you've got them in yet? Where'd you mount to and what type did you get?
I haven't yet. I've just finished adding extra clamps to hold the rear platform down so that seat belts will have some chance of actually working. I'll post some pics of that as well as the seat belt install once it's all done. It went pretty smoothly because I used an import broker. I paid $5k and that was 1/3 vehicle, 1/3 shipping, and 1/3 import broker.
The following is the one I purchased just a couple days ago...(excellent shape w/new timing belt & tensioner) Going to do a full tune up on it wires, plugs, cap and rotor and also valve lash check.
