[DETRoadster]

My wife has been bugging me for years about wanting to have a vehicle we can use to go camping in, for extended road trips, and to get up to the mountains to go snowboarding. Has to be 4WD, has to be big enough to sleep us plus the dogs, but also small enough to fit in our small driveway. After a ton of research I settled on a Mitsubishi Delica because apparently I like odd-ball, ugly, impossible to service vehicles. LOL. Had it imported over in February and it's been getting refurbished over the past few months. Went down to Portland this week to pick it up and drive back to Seattle. Ran like a champ. Despite having a diesel engine under her seat and sitting on top of the front axle, it was smooth and quiet enough that Bella conked right out for most of the 3.5 hour drive. The right hand drive took some getting used to but after maybe 30 minutes it was totally fine.

[upstatedoc]

Solid!

[chassis]

Very cool! Can you please summarize your import experience? I want to import a VW Grand California 680 4MOTION.

[DETRoadster]

Originally Posted by chassis

Very cool! Can you please summarize your import experience? I want to import a VW Grand California 680 4MOTION.

Well, I'm probably not going to tell you what you want to hear. I read tons of stories online from folks who said it was super easy and had no problem. I also read tons from folks who got completely F'd by the whole process. In the end I decided it wasn't worth my time to try to save a few bucks so I specifically found an importer/dealer who was able to locate what I wanted, import it into the country, and sell it to me fully titled with an Oregon state title. All I have to do it roll into the DMV and register it in my name. The convenience of it all costs money, but at this point in my life I have more of that that I have time or patience.

One thing to keep in mind is that my van is an '89. Anything 25 years or older can be imported legally, with relative ease. If it's less than 25 years old and was never sold here, good luck. You'll be breaking Federal law by bringing it into the country.

[NickyC]

Wow that's cool!

[DETRoadster]

Originally Posted by NickyC

Wow that's cool!

Thanks Nicky!

[jesm]

Awesome purchase! These cars were available in my country in the 80,90s.
Great Story!
JESM.

[roastbeef]

cool as hell. congrats!

[1MOREMOD]

So.ugly it's cool?

[ItsGary]

I've seen a few of these here. They have a weird road presence. Cool nonetheless

[pukicabuki]

Pretty sure I saw this, or it's twin, parked outside of a shop in the Merlo area of Beaverton over the weekend. It definitely stands out due to its uniqueness!

[Run Silent]

Nice! Glad to see you finally up and running. So cool and I imagine you are pretty stoked!

Enjoy!

[DETRoadster]

Originally Posted by pukicabuki

Pretty sure I saw this, or it's twin, parked outside of a shop in the Merlo area of Beaverton over the weekend. It definitely stands out due to its uniqueness!

Could have been me! We were in Beaverton on Friday. Left around 11:00 AM to head back to Seattle.

[OrcaPod]

Congrats!
I had Delica ('90 model with petrol engine) in my home country on the other side of the globe for few years.
It's an amazing vehicle for outdoors.

[Bumpinjeep]

These are pretty popular in the NW. If i see you around town, i'll wave from my M2, don't be alarmed!

[BayE30]

very cool! i almost picked one up that was titled in CA, but the premium was kinda crazy...

[King Rudi]

Dude! That thing is bad ass!!! I see it and instantly see a winch and a light bar adorning the top.

Does yours have the windows on the roof like this one?

https://www.curbed.com/2019/5/6/1853...shi-delica-4x4

[DETRoadster]

Originally Posted by Now_Rudi

Dude! That thing is bad ass!!! I see it and instantly see a winch and a light bar adorning the top.

Does yours have the windows on the roof like this one?

https://www.curbed.com/2019/5/6/1853...shi-delica-4x4

Thanks!!!

The winch would be awesome but requires pretty extensive modification to the front end. That brush guard is securely mounted to the frame, but the frame is somewhat flimsy stamped steel. I could probably get away with a small winch to pull small things but a real winch to pull the whole 6,000 pound van out of a mud hole would require extensive engineering work!

I'm torn on the roof rack and lamps. I love the look but right now it will just barely fit in my garage for service. I lose that with the rack and/or light bar.

Mine is a flat top roof. The one in that image is the optional "crystal light" roof. They are super cool and pretty easy to find, BUT, they are highly prone to leaking. We looked at a couple (the wife really wanted one) and they all had water stained headliners and smelled musty/funky. One was so bad it set me off into a sneezing attack and my wife started coughing uncontrollably. Found a bunch of black mold under the carpet in the back. No good.

[DETRoadster]

Got some time in the woodshop this weekend and fashioned a bench that pulls out into a bed. Temperdic toppers are on the way and the wife will sew them into a couple covers after she gets done making the curtains.

First camping trip planned for early August!

[Run Silent]

Originally Posted by DETRoadster

Got some time in the woodshop this weekend and fashioned a bench that pulls out into a bed. Temperdic toppers are on the way and the wife will sew them into a couple covers after she gets done making the curtains.

First camping trip planned for early August!

That's so freaking bad ass.

[DETRoadster]

Originally Posted by Run Silent

That's so freaking bad ass.

Thanks!

That plank in the upper left that's shorter and wider than the rest (on the far side of the transmission tunnel) is a lid that flips up to uncover a storage compartment. It has a latch on the backside to keep it shut. Plan is to store the dog food in there so it's latched shut, in ziplock bag, in a compartment, and under the mattress. Hoping to be able to leave the dogs in the van long enough to get gas, grab lunch, etc. without having them find the food and go to town on it. Time will tell if we are successful. LOL.

[Darth One]

That’s damn cool. Well done.

So besides camping, you can use that thing to ride out the zombie apocalypse. Or start a cult.