Toyota TownAce

Toyota TownAce
Manufacturer:	Toyota
Production period:	1976 – today
Previous model:	Toyota MiniAce
Successor:	(minibus) only Toyota Previa in Europe , North America , Oceania Toyota Noah in Asia

The Toyota TownAce is a Toyota LiteAce- derived van from Toyota. It has been produced in Asia since 1976 as the higher-quality equipment, with different engines or purely as a minivan version of the LiteAce with partially different bodywork. Outside of Asia, only the minivan versions were offered under other names.

Toyota TownAce I, Toyota Van Wagon and Daihatsu Delta Wagon (1976–1982)

1st generation
TownAce Wagon
Production period:	1976-1982
Designs:	Minibus , box truck , flatbed truck
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.2–1.8 liters (50–70 kW)
Length:	3390 mm
Width:	1650 mm
Height:	1745-1990 mm
Wheelbase:	2195 mm

The Toyota Townace I (body code CR21) was than 7/8 seater in October 1976 Wagon ( minivan ) and Truck ( flatbed ) and Van ( Van and Combi ) in Japan introduced. It was based on the Toyota LiteAce , with which it had the same front and sliding doors, and replaced the Toyota MiniAce . Most recently, private customers bought it almost exclusively in the minivan version, or the commercial versions outside of Asia. Therefore, the focus of development was on a higher quality minivan version of the LiteAce and the commercial versions therefore corresponded to the LiteAce except for the front design and dashboard.

The TownAce was powered by the 1.2L 3 KJ, 1.6L 2T-J and 1.6L 12T-U gasoline engine in mid-engine design , which was located under the front seats, with front-wheel drive and 4-speed steering wheel gearshift .

From October 1978 the U13-T with 1800 cm³ replaced the U12-T and the 4K-J with 1300 cm³ replaced the 3K-J in order to comply with the stricter emissions regulations. A revision of the suspension system brought improved handling and stability. The van version "Super Extra" was introduced, with radial tires and a manual sunroof in the center of the vehicle and a raised roof of 1990 mm.

In October 1979, minor changes were made to the front and body with regard to noise reduction measures. The dashboard was redesigned and there was a new color. All of this should convey more comfort in a car. The Super Extra became the “Super Custom”.

In December 1980 extensive revisions took place due to the strong competition from the Datsun Vanette Coach, introduced in 1979, and the start of sales in North America as the Toyota Van Wagon. Instead of round headlights, the van now received two rectangular headlights. In addition to the steering wheel gearshift , a 5-speed stick manual transmission and a 3-speed automatic transmission were now optionally available. A new front suspension with stabilizer provided improved driving stability. Power steering and electric exterior mirrors were now available, as was air conditioning. The sunroof could now be operated electrically.

From February 1982 the Canyon was available with a “Sun & Moon roof” (similar to GMC Vandura ), bunk beds and electric curtains.

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  TownAce Super Extra

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  Rear view

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  TownAce Super Custom / Toyota Van Wagon

Toyota TownAce II, Toyota MasterAce, Toyota Van, Toyota Tarago, Toyota Model F, Toyota Space Cruiser and Daihatsu Delta Wagon (1982–1992)

MasterAce / Van / Model F / Space Cruiser / Tarago
Toyota Van
Production period:	1982-1992
Designs:	minibus
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.8–2.2 liters (58–73 kW) Diesel engines : 2.0 liters (54–63 kW)
Length:	4465 mm
Width:	1669 mm
Height:	1786 mm
Wheelbase:	2235 mm

In November 1982 the Townace II was introduced, only as a van based on the Toyota Liteace II platform. However, it had a different body, interior and rear-wheel drive. In contrast to the LiteAce station wagon / minibus, the rear window was positioned a little higher. The TownAce was now, so to speak, the van of the LiteAce series and has therefore now become the Toyota MasterAce in Japan. The engines were now the 2TY-U with 1800 cm³ and 3TY with 2000 cm³ petrol engines with four-speed steering wheel gearshift . A four-speed automatic transmission for the petrol engines was now available as an option. A type 1C (1800 cm³) diesel engine, which came from the Toyota Corolla , with a standard five-speed manual gearbox was now available for the first time . From now on it was sold to North America as a Toyota Van with the petrol engines including the serial automatic transmission. It was exported to Europe as the Toyota Model F (in left-hand traffic countries such as the United Kingdom as the Toyota Space Cruiser ). However, it was only available in the big markets - in Austria e.g. B. the model did not exist - and only with the petrol engines with standard five-speed manual transmission . The variability in the passenger compartment was significantly improved and the standard equipment increased. So there was B. a dual air conditioning system, two sunroofs, digital clock, a radio, fog lights, a tachometer, central locking and electric windows and, if desired, tinted windows in the rear. The curb weight is given as 1380 kg.

• In 1984 sales started as Toyota Tarago in Australia.
• In August 1985 the interior and the front were redesigned. The 2.2 liter YR21 gasoline engine replaced the 3TY in North America and Europe. The 2C diesel received a turbocharger and became the 2C-T.
• All-wheel drive was optionally available in Japan from October 1985.
• From August 1986 a laminated glass pane was installed.
• In September 1987 the 2.2 l YR31 with catalytic converter and 73 kW was offered as an option in Europe. Standard in North America , where all-wheel drive was now also available as an option. This, like the diesel engines, was not available in Europe in order not to compete with the Toyota LiteAce . As a result, many MasterAce have been imported into the UK on the open market. Owners of gray import vehicles in Great Britain faced two main problems: the aging cooling system of the vehicle and a lack of operating instructions and other documents in English for repair and maintenance work to be carried out. Toyota GB supported them with spare parts, wrote an English operating manual (RM025E) and a workshop guide for the 2CT diesel engine and imported operating instructions and workshop guides for the all-wheel drive model from Australia.
• In August 1988 there was a facelift with changes to the front and instrument panel. The 2.2-liter YR21 was omitted.
• In 1990 the Van II, the Tarago and the Model F (Space Cruiser) were replaced by the Toyota Estima , which was called Previa in North America and Europe and was also called Tarago in Australia.

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  Facelift 1985

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  1988 facelift

Toyota TownAce III Asia Minibus 1986–1992, Truck 1986–1999

3rd generation
TownAce minibus 4WD
Production period:	1986-1999
Designs:	Minibus , box truck , flatbed truck
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.8–2.2 liters (58–73 kW) Diesel engines : 2.0 liters (54–63 kW)

From 1986, the Toyota LiteAce III was again offered in Asia with higher-quality equipment as the TownAce. While the truck corresponded to the LiteAce, the minibus / station wagon and panel van models were derived from the MasterAce.

The minibus / station wagon and panel van models were replaced by the new model in 1992, while the truck, like its LiteAce counterpart, continued to be produced until 1999, with a slight facelift at the front in 1996.

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  TownAce III Van

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  TownAce Truck 1986–1996

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  Facelift truck 1996

Toyota TownAce IV / Toyota MasterAce Surf and Daihatsu Delta Wagon (1992–1996)

4th generation
MasterAce Surf
Production period:	1992-1996
Designs:	Minibus , van
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.8–2.2 liters (58–73 kW) Diesel engines : 2.0 liters (54–63 kW)

TownAce Van

In January 1992 the 4th generation was introduced again as a higher-quality equipment of the LiteAce. Only the van, now called MasterAce Surf, differed from the outside with extensive panoramic glass panes in the roof, but was offered as LiteAce for export to Europe. From 1992 onwards, the LiteAce was only offered in smaller European markets such as Austria, Switzerland, the Benelux countries and the Nordic countries.

Now there was no steering column shift, power steering was now standard, anti-lock braking system optionally available. The engines were initially the same, but with a catalytic converter as standard. The truck was still based on its predecessor.

In August 1993, the turbo diesel's output was increased to 65 kW (88 PS), and the dual air conditioning system was now standard on the MasterAce Surf. In August 1995 the petrol engines were discontinued due to the stricter emissions regulations, and small modernizations were carried out. ABS has now been built into the MasterAce Surf as standard.

In 1996 there was the extensive special edition Birthday Limited on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the luxury van concept.

Toyota TownAce V 1996-2007, Toyota TownAce Noah and Daihatsu Delta Wagon 1996-2001

5th generation
Toyota TownAce Noah 1996-1998
Production period:	1996-2007
Designs:	Minibus , van
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.5–2.0 liters (60–96 kW) Diesel engines : 2.0–2.2 liters (54–96 kW)

In 1996 the 5th generation TownAce appeared. It was again a specially equipped version of the Toyota LiteAce. The van has now been marketed as TownAce Noah and also produced again as Daihatsu Delta Van and Wagon. Daihatsu was now also responsible for production.

The model range was now significantly smaller than its predecessor, as the main competitor in Japan was now the Nissan Largo . The engines were now the 3S-FE type petrol engine with 96 kW (130 PS) and the 3C / 3C-T diesel engine with direct injection with the same output. The motor was arranged vertically and drove the rear wheels via a cardan shaft. All-wheel drive was again available as an option. The TownAce had driver and passenger airbags and power steering as standard, while the TownAce Noah also had ABS, electric windows, central locking with remote control and a navigation system . There was also the steering wheel gearshift popular in Japan.

In January 1998 there were minor improvements and slight revisions to the front of the TownAce Noah / Delta and the performance of the diesel engines was increased.

In 1999 the TownAce also received a new front design. The LiteAce Truck which was still based on the 3rd generation received a comprehensive revision but was no longer produced as a TownAce Truck.

In November 2001 production of the TownAce Noah and the Daihatsu Delta Van / Wagon was discontinued in favor of the Toyota Noah .

In 2003 there was another slight facelift with a modified front.

In 2004, the engines received a revision due to stricter emission standards. The diesel engines were now equipped with NO _x storage catalysts .

From 2005 onwards all versions had ABS.

Production was stopped in June 2007.

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  TownAce 1996-1999

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  Toyota TownAce Noah 1998-2001

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  Toyota TownAce Noah 1998-2001 rear view

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  TownAce 1999-2003

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  TownAce 2003-2007

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  Rear view

Toyota TownAce VI since 2008

6th generation
Townace VI
Production period:	2008 – today
Designs:	Minibus , box truck , flatbed truck
Engines:	Otto engine : 1.5 liters

The 6th generation has been in production since January 2008. It is based on the Daihatsu Gran Max using badge engineering and is also built by Daihatsu in Indonesia . As with most of the previous models, the TownAce is just the higher quality equipment of the identical LiteAce.

The Daihatsu engine "Astra" acts as the drive, placed under the passenger seat. This is the VE 3SZ-1.5L DOHC type with VVT-i injection. Compared to the predecessor, there was initially only rear-wheel drive and, as with this one from 2001, no van model is built anymore. In addition to the 3-seater truck and panel van, a 3- or 6-seater station wagon is also available. Two sliding doors and an optional high roof for station wagons / box vans are available as standard. The maximum payload is 750 kg, in a panel van 800 kg and in a truck 1000 kg. This means that the dimensions are at the level of the introduction of the LiteAce I in 1970. The TownAce was originally introduced as a special offer for private customers of the Toyota MiniAce , since the MiniAce had become uninteresting for commercial customers due to the insufficient dimensions and backward technology after the appearance of the LiteAce . With the Toyota Pyxis , a model was then introduced with the dimensions of the MiniAce.

All-wheel drive has also been available as an option since July 2010 .

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  Rear

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  dashboard

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  TownAce Truck

Web links

Commons : Toyota TownAce  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Toyota conversion of a Toyota TownAce to a camper
• Superstructures and production data of the Toyota TownAce (Russian)
• FAQ about the Toyota TownAce (English)
• Toyota Estima Motoring Community - with its own TownAce chapter
• History of the Toyota Tarago in Australia