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Japanese Mini Truck cargo delivery van: 2001 Mitsubishi Minicab Townbox

Sale price: $8,600.00 make an offer

Seller's notes: "It has the typical parking lot dings and scratches. Some typical scratches to paint from rocks thrown up from road. Some internal scratches and dings in cargo bay (I think it was used as a delivery van in Japan). Windshield ding repaired a few months ago (I have the SafeLite autoglass receipt). The 4WD didn't work when I bought the van. I only drive on the streets so I have not tried it again. Small seam on drivers seat coming undone. Please see pictures. I highly encourage an in-person inspection prior to purchasing since I may not be able to describe all conditions. This vehicle is sold as-is."

Sale type: Fixed price listing

Technical specifications, photos and description:

Year:
1900
Mileage:
42,300
Engine:
660 CC
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Japanese Mini Truck cargo delivery van: 2001 Mitsubishi Minicab Townbox for sale

Current customer rating: current rating for this car(2.05) based on 633 votes

This is my daily driver.  It is a ton of fun to drive (which is the main reason I bought it in the first place since I had previously driven a pick-up truck version and it was a blast).  It drives like a big go-cart!  Oh wait. it is a big go-cart!  I drive it 22 miles round trip to work each day plus around town on normal errands.  It has a large volume in the back with the rear seat folded down (the 2nd reason I bought it).  It is rated at 350 Kg (770 pounds) in the cargo bay.  Although I never had more than 200 or 300 pounds in the back. I did fill up the volume a few times.  

I have owned this van since it was imported into the U. S. in October. 2012.   It had about 33. 00 miles (53. 00 kilometers) on it when I bought it.  Myself or the shop did oil/filter changes every 3. 00 miles.  I have all the original importation paperwork (some of it in Japanese) which comes with the van.  The odometer is in kilometers:  68. 00 kilometers x . 62 = 42. 00 miles.

My job now requires I drive long distances on freeways. so I need to sell this and buy a freeway vehicle.  I am kind of bummed.

I get lots of stares because of driving from the right side of the vehicle (Right Hand Drive - RHD) and because no one else has a van this small.  The vehicle is 4 1/2 feet wide and 10 feet long (exterior dimensions).   Yes.  That is small. Take a look at the pictures next to a Sprinter van. ;)  When at a stop light. I commonly see the people in the car behind me pointing and smiling. I wave. ;)   Two or three times a week. someone comes up to me in a parking lot and asks me questions about the van since they have never seen one of these before. That is pretty fun.  They like the Matchbox stickers. ;)   This van would be great for delivery and advertising or just plain fun to drive around.  It will easily run 60 MPH on the flat. slower up hills. Gets 30 -33 miles per gallon (about the same as 50 Kilometers per gallon as others advertise for Japanese mini trucks) to/from my office with some hills (in northern Arizona).  I guess it would get a bit better mileage on the flat.  
The speedometer is in kilometers per hour but there are many smart phone apps with a GPS Miles per hour read-out.  Once you drive it for a few days using the miles per hour phone app. you know which speed indications are the 35. 40. 45. 50. 55 mph positions and you don't need the GPS phone app any more.  It has an 8 gallon fuel tank.  The gears on the shifter are in the same place as American cars: you just move the shifter with your left hand.  The pedals are all in the same place (accelerator on right. brake in middle. clutch on left) so your feet already know what to do. ;)  It took me about a week to get used to the turn signal being on the right (near the driver door) and the wipers on the left.  I did not have a hard time staying on the correct portion of the lane. even driving from the right side of the car.  Of course. it only takes up half the lane anyway! ;)
This vehicle is a 2001 Mitsubishi MiniCab Townbox.   Ebay wont let me list it as a 2001 since it has a non-standard VIN.  VIN is: U62V-0402111.  It is a Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) vehicle not designed for import into the U. S.  Search wikipedia for "KEI truck" and "Mitsubishi Minicab" for more information on this type of truck/van.  See posted picture of data plate with VIN.  This vehicle is titled and registered as an ATV in Arizona.  See posted picture of title & registration.  In Arizona. it can be driven on streets but not on freeways.  Please check the laws in your state to see what is legal to drive there prior to buying the van.  
It does 50 MPH very. very comfortably.  I rarely get it above 55 since the speed limits to/from work are 50 mph.  I had thought about putting bigger tires on the van so it would go faster on the flat without making the engine rev up too high but the speed limit to/from work is 50 mph at the highest.  The engine is still running plenty slow at 50 mph so I have not installed bigger tires.  First gear is very low so larger tires would not impact the vans's take off from a stop.  It doesn't have an RPM gauge. but you may want to install one to see what engine RPM you have if you want to drive it at 60 MPH (or more?) all the time.  The brakes work very well - it can stop very fast.  It is very easy to shift.  I have been driving a stick for 35 years and this is the easiest to get started in first gear of anything I have ever driven.  Engine starts up right away and runs like a sewing machine every time. ;)
The "Mitsubishi Matchbox Microvan" has power steering. air conditioning. heating. Japanese Kenwood stereo with CD player (will play mp3s on CD).  front & rear wipers/washers. full set of lights (low & high beam). turn signals. and back-up lights.  Electric door locks (lock the door from the driver door and the entire vehicle locks).  There are seat belts and shoulder belts for the front seats.  Dome light in cab and in cargo area.  Windows roll up and down on both front doors.  Sliding door windows roll down half way.  Engine is under front seats (see posted pictures).  The engine is water cooled.  Rear hatch opens up all the way for 100% access to cargo floor.   Sliding doors on both sides.  
The tire jack is under the back seat. A good full-size spare is underneath rear of vehicle.  The rear bench seat folds down flush.  The cargo floor is above the wheel wells so there are no bumps in the cargo floor.  The rear door opens all the way up so the cargo bed width and height is completely accessible.  Black rubber mats on floor of both front seats and one in front of rear bench seat.  It is a 12 volt system so the cigarette lighter runs my cell phone charger.  There are two cup holders in front of the shift lever.  The emergency/parking brake lever is between seats.  I installed a K&N reusable (cleanable) air filter on the engine so you never have to buy another air filter.  There is a green 1/8 inch thick mat custom fit to the cargo bed (not in pictures but included with sale) so cargo bed floor is nearly perfect.
The van comes with engine. chassis. and electrical manuals (all in English).  See posted pictures of maintenance manuals.   I have had the van worked on at the local import car shop.  They had no problem ordering parts.  In fact. it has the same engine as a Toro riding truck. ;)  I believe it is the Toro Workman 3200.  It has a 3G83 engine. This van has electronic fuel injection. not a carburetor.  The engine has 3 cylinders (like most Japanese mini trucks).   I buy the engine oil filters at the local auto parts store.  It takes  3 1/2 quarts of 5W30 engine oil.  I don't have to add even a half a quart of oil between oil/filter changes.
Most Japanese mini trucks imported into the U. S. are pickups (not vans) since shipping costs more for vans.  Vans take up more space in the shipping containers because you can't stack the vans on top of each other like can be done with mini trucks.  This van has larger leg room in front than the other Japanese mini trucks I have driven.  I am 5' 11" and have several inches before my knees would hit anything.  I have 6 inches of head room.  If you look around on the internet. you will find lots of the pick-up truck versions but few cargo vans.  The vans you do find are listed at or near $10. 00 - especially with this few miles/kilometers.
I will leave the three Matchbox stickers on the "Mitsubishi Minicab Townbox Matchbox" van unless you specifically ask me to remove them. ;)  Sometimes I call it the Mitsubishi "MicroMachine. "  I have thought of painting it up as the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine.  Mmmm. "Mitsubishi Mystery MicroMachine. " ;)
There is a mandatory $500 deposit to PayPal within 24 hours of winning. This is not negotiable. The remaining balance must be paid within 7 days of winning and paid by cash. cashiers check. or wire transfer only.  This is not negotiable.  
The van is sold as-is. where-is.  I encourage you to come and look at the van and take a test drive in person prior to purchase.  If you like. I will drive it to a local shop where you can have it inspected.  I am in Prescott. Arizona 86301.  The title is signed and notarized and ready to be sent to the winner immediately upon full payment or I can send it with the van.
If you need to have the vehicle shipped. I would be happy to coordinate with the auto transport company on my end to facilitate pick up.
Please email me with any questions.  Please ask if you need additional pictures or close-ups of anything.

Also published at eBay.com

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Comments and questions to the seller:

from Asad khan, dated 06 february 2022
Dear sir hope you are fit and fine.i have the same vehicle that u have but i am having the following problems
The engine is over heating
Engine oil is getting low quite dramatically
I don't know what to do with it sir...they are alot of suggestions but i don't trust none of them because they are not the experts
Would u suggest me a machnic or a whats app number


from michael, dated 22 october 2014
is this still available?

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